The ILM thread. My vote goes to Peter Buck. His band Tuatara has put out a couple of good records, not to mention the Hindu Love Gods or the Minus Five. Also, when I was a freshman in college in 1981 and REM was getting an incredible amount of hype and attention around Athens, I saw firsthand Michael Stipe turn into a primadonna, while Buck would still hang out at the Wuxtry, talking about bands and music with the regulars.