REM members respond to Rock Hall honour

For the members of R.E.M., the announcement that they've been elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was welcome news, on two separate fronts. Lead singer Michael Stipe told us that the group was thrilled by the selection, not least of which because they've never been much good at self-examination: "With the exception of the best-of packages that we've put together the last couple of years, we're really wretched at looking backwards -- we... our, our strength tends to be in looking forward -- and so, it's really an honor that someone took the time to look backwards, and to kind of recognize what we've done in our past."

Bassist Mike Mills was also glad that R.E.M. was chosen, but he was really psyched that one of the band's heroes finally got the nod: "I'm actually probably happier for Patti Smith than I am for us. She's been up before and hasn't gotten in, and, you know, I was afraid that her lack of huge record sales might blind people to her influence."

The rest of the Class of 2007 includes Van Halen, the Ronettes, and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. All will be inducted at the Rock Hall's annual ceremony, which is set for March 12th at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.
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