R.E.M.’s Bill Berry regretted quitting after onstage aneurysm as band reunites for first interview in 30 years
The drummer, who left R.E.M. in 1997, performed with bandmates Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills when they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame last week
R.E.M’s Bill Berry became emotional as he reflected on his decision to leave the band at the height of their success.
Berry and fellow University of Georgia students Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills formed R.E.M. in 1980 and became one of the bestselling bands of all time. During a 1995 concert in Lausanne, Switzerland, Berry suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and collapsed on stage. The drummer made a full recovery but stunned fans two years later when he announced that he was quitting the group.
R.E.M. continued on as a musical trio with Stipe, Buck and Mills until disbanding in 2011. Ahead of their induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame last Thursday, the original four members reunited for their first group interview in almost 30 years.
While speaking with “CBS Mornings,” Berry was asked if he ever had second thoughts about walking away from R.E.M.
“Of course I did,” the 65-year-old said as he became emotional.
Berry paused for a moment and wiped away tears as “CBS Mornings” correspondent Antony Mason asked, “You OK?”
“Yeah,” Berry said. “That was a weird time for me and I made it weird for these guys, too.”
“No, you didn’t,” Buck said, while Stipe reassuringly squeezed Berry’s shoulder.
“We respected your decision 100%,” Mills told him.
“You had some major health issues that you were dealing with at the time,” Mason pointed out.
“Yeah, I’m not going to use that as an excuse,” Berry replied.
However, he explained that his medical crisis in Switzerland had been a turning point, saying, “It may have lowered my energy level and I just didn’t have the drive I once did.”
“I didn’t regret it at the time, but I’ve sort of regretted it a little later,” Berry said.
“But enough about me,” he said with a smile as the group laughed.
Along with Berry on drums, R.E.M. featured Stipe as the lead singer, Buck as the guitarist and Mills as the bassist. After debuting their first single “Radio Free Europe,” the band began their rise to fame and released a succession of successful albums including “Murmur,” “Reckoning,” “Fables of the Reconstruction,” “Lifes Rich Pageant,” “Document” and “Green” during the 1980s.