R.E.M.

YOU CAN JUST HEAR THE PHONE CALL. "The album's ready. Hire the Irish castle!" When the world's biggest bands have something to promote, money's no object. R.E.M., Monster in the can, US press duties done and dusted, have elected to move lock, stock and stretch-limo into a castle in ...County Clare for a fortnight of intensive chin music with the fourth estate. The cost is doubtless shocking, but lording it like this beats the hell out of dragging your entourage all over Europe. Let Mohammed drop by the mountain's temporary gaff instead.