REM conquer the world - and spark years of rumours

REM's rise had been slow and careful: from club-level college rock band, to American counterparts of the Smiths, to the world's leading alt-rock band, to makers of unlikely hit singles. By the time their eighth album, Automatic For the People, was released in 1992 they were on the brink of U2-type superstardom – and it scared them. "It's weird being a media figure," said a fearful Michael Stipe to Melody Maker in October 1992, just after releasing Automatic for the People, a strange album of organs, mandolins and shadowy sounds which would become REM's bestselling LP. Even when the single Everybody Hurts propelled the album to No 1 worldwide, Stipe refused to promote it by touring, prompting years of rumours about his sexuality and physical health. Few imagined the confident frontman who would emerge from this period as an out-and-proud icon.