R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe has dismissed rumours he is difficult to work with - insisting his reputation stems from a recent interview following the death of his friend Heath Ledger.

Stipe is convinced that he was branded an "impossible person" when he was asked questions about Ledger's untimely death in January (08).

The singer is adamant that he was justifiably upset during the questioning - as he was close to the late actor. And he insists he was unfairly labelled as difficult to work with after the incident.

He says, "There was a recent piece that made me out to be this impossible person, but I was having a really bad week, and for a good reason.

"Heath, a friend of mine, had just died, really tragically. It was obvious why I wasn't that excited about talking about my new pop record. But I answered the questions, you know."