Bill Berry

William Thomas Berry (born July 31, 1958) is an American musician who was the drummer for the alternative rock band R.E.M. Although best known for his economical drumming style, Berry also played other instruments, including guitar, bass guitar and piano, both for songwriting and on R.E.M. albums. In 1995, Berry suffered a ruptured cerebral aneurysm onstage and collapsed. After a successful recovery, he left the music industry two years later to become a farmer, and has since maintained a low profile, making sporadic reunions with R.E.M. and appearing on other artists' recordings. His departure made him the only member of the band not to remain with them during their entire run. Berry eventually returned to the industry in 2022.

Early years (1958–1980) William Thomas Berry was born on July 31, 1958, in Duluth, Minnesota, the fifth child of Don and Anna Berry. At the age of three, Berry moved with his family to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, where they would remain for the next seven years. In 1968, they moved again, this time to Sandusky, Ohio.

In 1972, the Berry family made their final move, to Macon, Georgia, just in time for Bill to start high school at Northeast High School. It was there that he met bass guitarist Mike Mills, and they played together in several different bands, including Shadowfax.

Berry and Mills moved to Athens, Georgia, in late 1978, where they met Michael Stipe and Peter Buck. Prior to dropping out, Berry studied pre-law at the University of Georgia.

R.E.M. years (1980–1997)

R.E.M. was formed in 1980. In addition to his duties as a drummer, Berry contributed occasional guitar, bass, mandolin, vocals, keyboards and piano on studio tracks. In concert, he sometimes performed on bass, and supplied regular backing vocals. Berry also made notable songwriting contributions, particularly for "Everybody Hurts" and "Man on the Moon", both from Automatic for the People. Other Berry songs included "Perfect Circle", "Driver 8", "Cant Get There from Here" and "I Took Your Name". The song "Leave" was also written by Berry for R.E.M.'s album New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996), which was his last album with the band.

Berry was also responsible for toning down the lyrics of the song "Welcome to the Occupation." Stipe's original lyric was "hang your freedom fighters" which, given the Reagan administration's active support for the Nicaraguan contra "freedom fighters", sounded violent and militant, although Stipe himself countered that the line could be taken multiple ways ("hang" as in either "lynch" or "frame on a wall"). Berry's objection ultimately led the line to be changed to "hang your freedom higher."

"A lot of [Bill's] stuff is under under-known, under-appreciated, under-rated," said Mills in 2024. "He's a great singer; he comes up with some amazing melodies that I would never have thought of, and ways to sing it that I would never have thought of."

During 1984, Berry also was drummer for the impromptu Hindu Love Gods, which featured his R.E.M. bandmates Peter Buck, Mike Mills, rocker Warren Zevon, and Bryan Cook.

On-stage collapse and leaving R.E.M. (1995–1997) On March 1, 1995, at the Patinoire Auditorium in Lausanne, Switzerland, Berry collapsed on stage during an R.E.M. show from a ruptured brain aneurysm. He recovered and rejoined the band, but left in October 1997, saying that he no longer had the drive or enjoyment level to be in the band, and that he wanted to not travel. He later explained on VH-1's Behind the Music: I didn't wake up one day and decide, "I just can't stand these guys anymore" or anything. I feel like I'm ready for a life change. I'm still young enough that I can do something else. I've been pounding the tubs since I was nine years old ... I'm ready to do something else.

Acquiescing to Berry's wishes, R.E.M. announced that it would reluctantly continue as a three-piece outfit. They continued to tour with several accompanying musicians, including long-time sidemen Ken Stringfellow and Scott McCaughey and employed Joey Waronker and Bill Rieflin as live drummers over the next decade.

In 2024, when asked if he regretted leaving the band, Berry said: "Of course I did. That was a weird time for me. And I made it weird for these guys too." He added that his aneurysm lowered his energy level. "I was Type A, hyperactive, until that. And I just didn’t have the drive I once did to do this. I didn't regret [leaving] at the time; I sort of regretted it a little later."

Semi-retirement (1997–2022) Berry left the music business and became a farmer, working on his hay farm in Farmington, Georgia, near Athens in late 1997.

Prior to the group's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Berry granted his first interview in several years, discussing life after retirement. "It's a great chance to get back together and perform with R.E.M., which I always loved doing", he said.

Berry appeared in the 2020 Song Exploder documentary about the band's song "Losing My Religion", even playing part of his drum line from the song. In the same documentary, Peter Buck says, "There's no drummer like Bill Berry on Earth. None. I have a lot of drummer friends, and they all ask me the same thing: 'What's his secret?' And I can't tell you, because I don't know. My theory is that he uses the space between the high hat and the snare drum in a kind of disco-y way, without being too disco."

Return to the music industry (2022–present) In 2022, 25 years after his departure from R.E.M., Berry formed a new supergroup called The Bad Ends with Athens- and Atlanta-based musicians. Mike Mantione of Five Eight on guitar and vocals, Dave Domizi on bass and vocals, Geoff Melkonian on keyboards and vocals, Christian Lopez on guitars and mandolin, and Berry on drums and backing vocals. The origins of the group are a chance meeting between Mike Mantione and Berry on a street in Athens. Mantione had recently been described by Peter Buck as "the unsung hero of Athens rock and roll" and offered Berry "an opportunity to play in the game again", as in playing music professionally. They released their debut album, The Power and the Glory, on January 20, 2023.

On February 8, 2024, Berry joined the Michael Shannon / Jason Narducy band on stage at the 40 Watt Club in Athens to perform the piano part in "Perfect Circle", the song that R.E.M. had resumed performing and dedicated to Berry after he left the band in the late 1990s. On February 27 and 28, 2025, Berry made appearances throughout Shannon and Narducy's performances at 40 Watt Club, including tambourine on "Pretty Persuasion" with all three other members of R.E.M.

Personal life On March 22, 1986, Berry married girlfriend Mari Berry. They divorced in 1997. When crack began to infiltrate Athens in the early 1990s, the couple moved to nearby Farmington. His farm, which includes sheep, is at the north end of his property. A caretaker works on the farm; Berry does not anymore. He has a garden, but his caretaker also looks after that. "I get the rewards of it, but he does all the work."

Berry was an avid golfer while a member of R.E.M.

Discography With R.E.M.

Without members of R.E.M.

With Peter Buck and Mike Mills ArtistReleaseYearRoleNotesHindu Love Godsn/aFebruary 14, 1984 – Athens, United StatesDrums, guitar, bassThis ad hoc band, with local pianist and singer Bryan Cook of Time Toy, formed during a break from R.E.M. Their first gig was at the 40 Watt Club. Set: "Bangkok", "With a Girl Like You", "I'm Through with You", "Walk, Don't Run", "Personality Crisis", "Narrator", "Pipeline", "Needles and Pins", "California Sun", "Government Center", "Hippy Hippy Shake", "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone", "Permanent Vacation", "Jump" and "Color Me Impressed".Hindu Love Godsn/aFebruary 29, 1984 – Athens, United StatesDrums, guitar, bassAnother performance at the 40 Watt, with opening act Wheel O'Cheese (a pseudonym for Love Tractor.) This time the line-up was augmented by Michael Stipe and singer Warren Zevon. Michael played drums on "Rebel Rebel" and sang from "Little America" on. Bryan Cook only sang on "Gonna Have a Good Time Tonight". Set: "Up on the Cross", "Boom Boom Mancini", "Trouble Waiting to Happen", "Werewolves of London", "Gonna Have a Good Time Tonight", "Little America", "Second Guessing", "Gloria", "Rebel Rebel" and "Wild Thing".Hindu Love Godsn/aJune 1, 1984 – Athens, United StatesDrums, guitar, bassPerformance at the Bourbon Street Club. Set: "Color Me Impressed", "White Light/White Heat", "There She Goes Again", "Government Center", "Broken Whisky Glass", "Little Willie", "Authority Song", "Personality Crisis", "Hang On Sloopy" and "Gonna Have a Good Time Tonight".Hindu Love Gods"Gonna Have a Good Time Tonight"/"Narrator"1986Drums, guitar, bassThe Hindus went to John Keane Studio in 1984 to record this single. The a-side is an Easybeats cover, the b-side is a Bill Berry original that pre-dates R.E.M. IRS released the material two years later with a cover painted by Bill.Hindu Love Godsn/aJanuary 20, 1986 – Athens, United StatesDrums, guitar, bassThe band reformed for a benefit concert at the 40 Watt for recently deceased Minutemen guitarist D. Boon. R.E.M. performed a set and were joined in their first encore by Cook. Stipe sat out "Gonna Have a Good Time Tonight". Set: "Strange", "Gonna Have a Good Time Tonight" and "Pills".Hindu Love GodsHindu Love Gods1990Drums, guitar, bassWhile recording the sessions for Warren Zevon's album Sentimental Hygiene, the guys also cut several blues covers and a Prince cover. The material was released as an album by Warren's label, Giant, in 1990. Tracks: "Walking Blues", "Traveling Riverside Blues", "Raspberry Beret", "Crosscut Saw", "Junko Partner", "Mannish Boy", "Wang Dang Doodle", "Battleship Chains", "I'm a One Woman Man" and "Vigilante Man".Hindu Love Gods"Raspberry Beret"/"Wang Dang Doodle"/"Mannish Boy"1990Drums, guitar, bassSingle from the self-titled album. Some versions do not have the last track.Indigo GirlsIndigo Girls1990Drums, guitar, bassOn the track "Tried to Be True". Michael sings on "Kid Fears".Southern Gentlemenn/aMay 11, 1988 – Athens, United StatesDrums, guitar, bassThe instrumentalists from R.E.M. joined Roger McGuinn of The Byrds in the middle of his set at the Uptown Lounge. Set: "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere", "Mr. Spaceman", "The Bells of Rhymney", "Mr. Tambourine Man", "Turn! Turn! Turn!", "Eight Miles High", "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" and "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better". McGuinn had guested at several R.E.M. shows as well.The SpongetonesTorn Apart1984ClappingOn the track "Shock Therapy", with Don Dixon and Mitch Easter.Nikki SuddenThe Jewel Thief1991Drums, guitar, bassOn the tracks "I Belong to You", "Alley of the Street" and "Jigsaw Blues".Nikki Sudden"I Belong to You"/"Alley of the Street"/"Jigsaw Blues"1991Drums, guitar, bassSingle from the album.The Troggs"Don't You Know"/"Nowhere Road"February 2, 1992Drums, guitar, bass, co-writingSingle from Athens, Andover.The TroggsAthens AndoverMarch 23, 1992Drums, guitar, bass, co-writingBerry, Buck and Mills, along with Peter Holsapple, act as a backing band to Reg Presley on this album and co-wrote the track Nowhere Road. Recorded at John Keane Studio in August and September 1991. Tracks: "Crazy Annie", "Together", "Tuned into Love", "Déjà Vu", "Nowhere Road", "Dust Bowl", "I'm in Control", "Don't You Know", "What's Your Game", "Suspicious" and "Hot Stuff". R.E.M. briefly considered recording an EP named The Godlike Genius of the Troggs as Presented by .The Troggs"Together"/"Crazy Annie"/"Turned into Love"1992Drums, guitar, bassSingle from the album.The TroggsAthens and Beyond1999Drums, guitar, bassRe-release of Athens, Andover with bonus tracks.Warren ZevonSentimental Hygiene1987Drums, guitar, bass, co-writingThis was touted as a comeback album for Zevon and featured several guest stars in addition to R.E.M., such as fellow Duluth native Bob Dylan, Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Neil Young. The entire band performs on the song "Bad Karma", with Michael singing backup and playing shears as a musical instrument. All three members perform on Boom Boom Mancini", "Detox Mansion", "Bad Karma" and "Even a Dog Can Shake Hands", the latter of which they co-wrote with Zevon. Peter and Bill play on "Sentimental Hygiene" and "The Heartache".Warren Zevon"Sentimental Hygiene"/"The Factory"/"Leave My Monkey Alone"August 1987Drums, guitar, bassSingle from the album. Some versions do not have the last track.Warren Zevon"Bad Karma"/"Boom Boom Mancini"/"Leave My Monkey Alone"November 1987Drums, guitar, bassSingle from the album. Some versions do not have the last track.Warren Zevon"Reconsider Me"/"The Factory"/"Bad Karma"February 1988Drums, guitar, bassSingle from the album. Some versions do not have the last track.Warren Zevon"Splendid Isolation"/"Even a Dog Can Shake Hands"/"Bad Karma"/"Gridlock"1989Drums, guitar, bass, co-writingSingle from the album. Some versions do not have the last two tracks.Warren Zevon"Even a Dog Can Shake Hands"1999Drums, guitar, bass, co-writingUsed as the theme song to the television series Action.James Mercern/aJanuary 6, 2018 – Portland, OregonPercussionPerformance at the Wonder Ballroom on the second night of the Help the Hoople benefit for Scott McCaughey. Berry, Buck and Mills joined Jenny Conlee of The Decemberists backing James Mercer for his performance of "You Are the Everything".Filthier Friendsn/aJanuary 6, 2018 – Portland, OregonDrumsPerformance at the Wonder Ballroom on the second night of the Help the Hoople benefit for Scott McCaughey. Mike Mills took lead vocal duties with Corin Tucker and Chloe Johnson on backing vocals and Kurt Bloch on guitar. Set: "The One I Love", "Texarkana", "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville", "I Believe" (with Colin Meloy of The Decemberists on lead vocals), and "Superman".

With Peter Buck

Reunions with R.E.M. Performances of the three-piece R.E.M. reunited with their original drummer. ReleaseDateNotesn/aOctober 10, 2003 – Raleigh, United StatesAfter walking across the stage to shake Joey Waronker's hand on August 29, 1999, at the Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta, Bill walked onstage at the Alltel Pavilion at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, North Carolina to sing on "Radio Free Europe" and drum on "Permanent Vacation".n/aAugust 10, 2005 – Athens, United StatesThe band reformed to play a friend and guitar tech Dewitt Burton's wedding reception at Kingpins Bowl and Brew in Athens, Georgia. The set: "Sitting Still", "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville", "Wolves, Lower", "Begin the Begin", "The One I Love", "Permanent Vacation" and "Radio Free Europe", with a short instrumental interlude between the last two numbers.n/aApril 1, 2006 – Athens, United StatesAt a Minus 5 show in the Georgia Theatre, Bill, Mike and Michael joined Peter, Scott McCaughey and Bill Rieflin for an impromptu performance of "Country Feedback". Bill played bass, with Mike on keyboards.2006 Christmas singleSeptember 12, 2006 – Athens, United StatesThe band reforms to play at the "Finest Worksongs: Athens Bands Play the Music of R.E.M." tribute at the 40 Watt, playing "Begin the Begin" and "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)". Proceeds went to the Community Connection and Family Connection/Communities in Schools charities.n/aSeptember 9, 2006 – Atlanta, GeorgiaThe band was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame at the Georgia World Congress Center. They performed "Begin the Begin", "Losing My Religion" and "Man on the Moon". Bill, Peter, Mike and Scott McCaughey also accompanied Gregg Allman on a performance of "Midnight Rider" to round out the show.n/aMarch 12, 2007 – New York City, United StatesFor the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, the band played "Begin the Begin", "Gardening at Night", "Man on the Moon" (with Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam), and "I Wanna Be Your Dog" (with Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye).#9 DreamMarch 17, 2007While preparing for their performance at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the original four members of R.E.M. recorded this John Lennon song in John Keane Studio, with production by Jacknife Lee. The song was released as a single on March 17, 2007 and was the first track to be released from the benefit compilation Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur, released on June 12, 2007.n/aJun 13, 2024 – New York City, United StatesAt the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, Berry, Buck, Mills and Stipe played an acoustic version of "Losing My Religion".