REM's Michael Stipe admits he had 'crushing shyness'

REM singer Michael Stipe has opened up about his previous battle with shyness and lack of self-confidence.

The US star told The Sun that he used to hate undertaking interviews in the band's early days.

This was partly because Stipe felt his other bandmates were better speakers than him.

The singer said: "Along with Courtney Love, Peter [Buck, bandmate] is one of the most well-spoken and best read people I know.

"Mike [Mills, bandmate] comes in as second best read. Even in their early twenties, they were very, very smart. I, on the other hand, had immense, crushing shyness and immense insecurity about my education. I've been in therapy for years over my insecurities about lack of articulation. Early on, for me to even finish a sentence was a near impossible task.

"I had hair in front of my face. I was really, really, really shy and did not anticipate that I would actually have to talk about my work and look people in the eye."

Stipe concluded: "By the mid-Eighties, I had my big nervous breakdown which lasted 18 months. But I emerged out of that a different person and I've learned how to articulate my thoughts. I've learned how to sit there without sweating and shaking. I grew out of my shyness."

REM meanwhile split in 2011 and Stipe admitted recently that they will never reunite.

Watch REM being interviewed below: