Michael Stipe speaks about REM's future

REM frontman Michael Stipe has commented that the band would split up rather than change their line-up.

The band began as a four-piece, recording Chronic in 1981, but were left as a three-piece when drummer Billy Berry decided to leave the band ten years ago.

According to Concert.com.au, Stipe says that the band would rather split than carry on without himself, Mike Mills or Peter Buck.

He explained: "If two members had left, we'd have to do something different.

"People miss out on one key thing about when Bill left music to be a jobbing farmer.

"The first thing he said to us was, 'If I'm going to be the guy that breaks up REM them I'll stay and be miserable and, in some limited capacity, I will still be the drummer of REM. But I don't want to travel or do press.'

"I love the guy too much to have him miserable. But if someone else left, it wouldn't be fair to carry on using the moniker."

The band are currently on a European tour to promote their latest album, Around The Sun.