A DOZEN THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT R.E.M.

1. Michael Stipe has very long hair which he tucks into a flesh coloured skull cap for public appearances.

2. The band played three songs at the seventh birthday party of Princess Beatrice.

3. Before 'The Power of Love', 'Famous Worksong' was Spielberg's choice of theme for Back To The Future.

4. Mike Mills is a world authority on C4 comedy 'Father Ted'.

5. As a boy, Peter Buck was hospitalised by a bad accident with bonfire toffee.

6. R.E.M. supported celebrity atheist Richard Dawkins on a lecture tour of Luxembourg.

7. Bill Berry's eyebrows were inspired by the moustaches of Magnum PI.

8. 'Automatic For The People' was originally entitled 'Lactic Acid For The Pope'.

9. The video for 'Drive' was shot in Nantwich.

10. The band perform the theme to BBC's Newsnight.

11. The blue stripe worn on stage by Michael Stipe is actually cream for dry skin.

12. 'All The Way To Reno' is the first song on Charles Kennedy's i-pod.

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