Peter Lawrence Buck ( born December 6 , 1956 in Berkeley , California ) is an American guitar player and songwriter . He is most famous as one of the founders of the alternative rock band R.E.M. . Peter Lawrence Buck ( born December 6 , 1956 in Berkeley , California ) is the guitarist and co-founder , along with Bill Berry , Mike Mills , and Michael Stipe , of the alternative rock band R.E.M.