R.E.M.'s Peter Buck arrested, charged in connection with airline incident

R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck appeared in a London court on Monday (4/23), where he was charged with several criminal offenses, including assaulting an aircrew and being drunk on an aircraft, according to published reports. On Saturday (4/21), Buck was arrested at London's Heathrow Airport after allegedly causing a disturbance while in transit from Seattle to London on a British Airways flight.

Buck was released on a bail of 30,000 pounds (about $43,000), and must return to the court on June 18 to face the charges against him.

Buck's release will allow him to participate in R.E.M.'s imminent promotional tour in support of its forthcoming album "Reveal" (Warner Bros.), due on May 15. The group has one-off performances and television appearances scheduled throughout Europe from April 26 through May 12; a May 15 appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman" is also planned.

"I am grateful for the court allowing me to undertake our promotional tour," Buck said in a statement that was read by the group's lawyer, Bertis Downs. "The matter has been delayed until mid June when, of course, I shall be here.

"I am very sorry for the incident and, of course, very embarrassed about the whole thing," the statement continued. "However, on the advice of my lawyers I have been advised to make no further comment."

Buck was charged with being drunk on an aircraft, disobeying an aircraft commander, two counts of assault on aircrew, threatening behavior and criminal damage, the latter of which allegedly occurred when Buck upended a service cart containing serving dishes.