R.E.M. guitarist bailed in alleged "air rage" assault

Monday, April 23rd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LONDON (AP) _ R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck was cleared to tour after appearing in court Monday to answer charges of allegedly assaulting two crew members on an overnight flight from Seattle to London.

Buck, 44, who was arrested Saturday after arriving on a British Airways flight, was released on $44,000 bond pending a further court appearance on June 18.

``I am grateful for the court allowing me to undertake our promotional tour,'' Buck said in a statement which was read to reporters by attorney Bertis Downs.

``The matter will now be delayed until mid-June and of course I will be here. I am sorry for the incident and of course I am embarrassed about the whole thing.''

R.E.M. is scheduled to play in the South Africa Freedom Day concert in London's Trafalgar Square on April 29, and then tour to promote a new album.

Buck, who lives in Seattle, was charged with assaulting two crew members, disobeying a lawful command of the commander of an aircraft, being drunk on an aircraft, damaging a quantity of airline crockery and of threatening behavior.