R.E.M. II: The band’s absence from the...

R.E.M. II: The band’s absence from the concert circuit during the “Out of Time” period fueled rumors that lead singer Michael Stipe was suffering from AIDS. The band’s continuing absence could add even further to the speculation.

“Ah, that’s been around for a long time,” Buck says, dismissing the reports. “We’ve all been tested. We have insurance at the level we’re at. But in a way, those rumors might be positive because it makes people aware. These are perilous times, and anything that makes people think about it is fine.

“We all took it with a grain of salt. Michael is the healthiest person I know. No one here was mad about the rumors. People talk all the time. For years people said I must be a junkie because I wore long-sleeve shirts. But now I’m in my T-shirt mode, since I actually have muscles.”