Not so shiny or happy:

REM were forced to cancel a UK show on Monday night after bass player Mike Mills was rushed to hospital.

The musician collapsed just an hour before the American rockers were due to go onstage in Sheffield and was immediately taken to the nearest medical centre. A spokesperson for the group said: "Mike could hardly stand up let alone play."

After arriving at the hospital, Mills complained to doctors he was suffering from severe flu symptoms and loss of balance and after being given a thorough medical examination was diagnosed as suffering from an ear infection. Mills' illness left 12 000 fans, who had battled through a blizzard to get to the venue, devastated and fearing they would be going home bitterly disappointed.

However, fellow bandmates, singer Michael Stipe and guitarist Peter Buck, came out to explain the situation and treated fans to a short acoustic set of the band's classic hits.

Posted by Lawren at February 23, 2005 06:27 AM

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