R.E.M. member became 'drunken lout'

Buck denies the charges

LONDON, England -- Guitarist Peter Buck from rock group R.E.M. turned into a "drunken lout" on a flight, assaulting cabin staff and breaking crockery, a London court has heard.

Following a heavy drinking session on a British Airways transatlantic flight, Buck, 45, ignored every effort to calm him down and was eventually warned by the pilot, the court heard on Monday.

He was warned that if he did not calm down the plane would be diverted and he could be removed and prosecuted.

Buck denies one charge of being drunk on an aircraft, two counts of common assault involving cabin services manager Mario Agius and stewardess Holly Ward, and one charge of damaging BA crockery.

Buck tore the warning notice into pieces in front of Captain Tom Payne and swore at him. His behaviour then deteriorated, prosecuting lawyer David Bate told west London's Isleworth Crown Court at the beginning of the trial, which is expected to last eight days.

"He went on to upturn a breakfast trolley, smashing the crockery inside.

"He then picked up a knife and tried to slip it up his sleeve before it was taken from him by one of the crew," Bate told the court.

When told again by the captain to calm down he threatened to take BA to court for assaulting him.

"He said to the captain, 'I am R.E.M. and I can make up a story that I was assaulted,' " Bate said.

Buck then repeatedly walked between club and first class, "apparently looking for something", before eventually settling down and falling asleep -- "no doubt to the enormous relief of crew and passengers alike", Bate said.

When the plane from Seattle had landed at London's Heathrow Airport in April last year, Buck was asked by police to comment on his allegedly "loutish and drunken behaviour."

Bate said: "Claiming to be shocked at what he had done and remembering nothing of it, he said he had acted like a jerk going on vacation."

When interviewed by police, Buck told them that he was "deeply sorry" for what had happened.

He went on to explain how he had worked 18 hour days and had had little sleep.

Buck told officers: "I have never done anything like this before. I'm just appalled and shocked at my behaviour and apologetic to the people who had to deal with me ... There is no excuse for behaviour like that."

Agius, the cabin services manager, said he banned Buck and his friend from drinking three hours into the flight because of their anti-social behaviour.

Soon afterwards the guitarist allegedly seized a bottle of wine and Agius took it back.

Asked what his reaction was by Bate, Agius replied: "The only way I can describe it is like taking a toy from a child."

Agius said that after tearing up the warning, Buck mistook a trolley for a CD player and tried to insert the CD into it.

During the conversation Agius said Buck vented his frustration by punching a wall of the plane.

"He punched the wall, pretty hard. It made a lot of noise. It appeared to me to be in frustration."

Then Buck allegedly tried to sit next to a woman passenger, claiming she was his wife, and threw yoghurt at Agius.

The trial continues.