R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck has begun work on his first solo album. Scott McCaughey, longtime R.E.M. sideman and regular Buck collaborator in the Minus 5 and the Baseball Project, confirmed the news in an interview on the KIRO 97.3 radio show Seattle Sounds, noting that the guitarist's material was going to be pretty "out." McCaughey offered few details about the record, but said that it's possible Buck –who never sang on R.E.M. records – would sing on the album, if not in concert.

It's unclear when Buck will finish the record, much less release it, but McCaughey says the guitarist is considering putting the album out only on vinyl and declining to release it as a download.

Buck's solo album is likely to be the first record released by a member of R.E.M. since the band disbanded last year. Frontman Michael Stipe has made it clear he has no interest in recording new music, and multi-instrumentalist Mike Mills has not announced plans for a new project.

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