It’s so rare to hear anything from Bill Berry. He was such a great drummer but he had to quit for health reasons. What an excellent interview! One funny true story is that Michael Stipe agreed to let him in the band because he said he liked his eyebrows. 😆😂🤣
He says that there was no deadline, but there was -- to NAME the damned record. According to numerous sources, they spent months failing to agree on anything. Then Mike Mills threw a bit of a hissy fit, and said, "DON'T YOU SEE, guys? We HAVE to call it SOMETHING!!... We are simply **OUT OF TIME!!**" And there ya have it. Great (and true) story! This upload was fantastic, and most appreciated. We all miss ya, Bill!
whether it was his aneurism or just being tired of being in the band, either way, the band ceased being REM when he left [if not arguably after Automatic For The People]
the 'sound' of the drums on all of REM's (especially early) albums is what I would want drums to sound like on a record. Most o0f this is due to Bill's talent and style, although the engineer surely deserves credit for this as well. I luv ya Bill. Been listenin' to your music since 1985 when I was 13. My best friend's older brother was several years older than us and was in college at the time. He played REM all the time which is how I got turned on to this music in turn a whole new world of music through college radio (which I hadn't listened to before). okay then
"I was really worried about the strings. They tend to have kind of a snob appeal about anything that isn't, you know, before 1900 or whatever." = PRICELESS
I have tried again to give all the REM albums after Berry a chance. Some told me this or that were good. I tried listening to them again. NONE of them are good. They all suck. Not even close to the old REM. That tells me, that BILL BERRY was the genius of the group. He is the best modern songwriter of all time. And no one knows it. Go back and listen to old REM. We know Berry plays drums and he also plays the bass. Listen to how the basslines were essential to their songs. Berry did the drums, he did the bass, he did back up singing and probably came up with the harmonies. Probably the only things others did was Stipe came up with some mumbled words for his hooks and Buck came up with some guitar licks. That's it. Berry is THE guy.
Had a cool dream thanks to this video! Bill and I were married or living together along with Peter and Mike. They were in the bedroom talking and I went in and told Bill I was nauseated. Peter and Mike are like 'whoa you work fast there Bill'. Not my first REM dream (ha) I usually dream that I am telling Michael thank you for saving my life but this time I was married to the cutest man ever!
Robby..? Is it you or Michael sharing with me all these WÓNDERFUL video's..? I judt want to know to thsnk Michael as well if itd him... WÓWWW YHÁNKS YOU GUYS... you are RÉÁLLY GRÉÁT GRÉÁT GUYs... BÉÁÚTIFUL BÉÁÚTIFUL Personalities... New wave was what i álso LÓVED at school but i never learned much about music...just heard it on the radio...VÉRY STRÁNGE that i NÉVER heard about R.E.M.... i CÁN'T BELÍÉVE IT!!!!!!@ WHÁT A SHÂME...!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Near Wild Heaven. My first kiss that song was playing sitting on the edge of the Tennesse River in K-Town with my first boy. Bill Berry is the Charlie Watts of the Athens Scene. :)
Amazing to think this was 33 years ago. Yikes! It's fun to hear his predictions about the songs on Out of Time and to know years later how much Stipe despises Shiny Happy People. They each had their views and individuality and I love that they agreed on songs and albums even when they personally had opposing views. I haven't found anything where he discusses how he thought Fables "sucks" and would love to find it to one see if it is true and if so what his reasons were. Music is completely subjective so I have no issue with his view but remain curious as to the reasons.
Stipe and Buck seem to get the limelight but I get the feeling they wouldn't have got as far without the rock solid rhythm section Mills and Berry gave them during their early years.
I agree. I think he was their true secret weapon given that he was on drums and only did subtle backing vocals. By all accounts he was a master song writer and lyricist and contributed far more creatively than the average REM fan seems to realize.
This man is awesome, love hearing from the unsung guys in bands. He is TRULY one of the most under appreciated or under-noticed guys in music history.
Bill was their secret weapon. Terrific drummer.
It’s so rare to hear anything from Bill Berry. He was such a great drummer but he had to quit for health reasons. What an excellent interview!
One funny true story is that Michael Stipe agreed to let him in the band because he said he liked his eyebrows. 😆😂🤣
Great eyebrows 4 sure.
Huge crush on this guy! Love his voice too!
He says that there was no deadline, but there was -- to NAME the damned record. According to numerous sources, they spent months failing to agree on anything. Then Mike Mills threw a bit of a hissy fit, and said, "DON'T YOU SEE, guys? We HAVE to call it SOMETHING!!... We are simply **OUT OF TIME!!**" And there ya have it.
Great (and true) story!
This upload was fantastic, and most appreciated. We all miss ya, Bill!
I love the old stuff. Dont go back to Rockville And so central rain. As a drummer this man is AWESOME. A lot of people miss him.
Dont go back to Rockville❤
I believe that Bill should have stayed with the band as a recording member, even if he gave up touring with them. They lost a lot when he retired.
whether it was his aneurism or just being tired of being in the band, either way, the band ceased being REM when he left [if not arguably after Automatic For The People]
the 'sound' of the drums on all of REM's (especially early) albums is what I would want drums to sound like on a record. Most o0f this is due to Bill's talent and style, although the engineer surely deserves credit for this as well. I luv ya Bill. Been listenin' to your music since 1985 when I was 13. My best friend's older brother was several years older than us and was in college at the time. He played REM all the time which is how I got turned on to this music in turn a whole new world of music through college radio (which I hadn't listened to before). okay then
Such a pretty human being.
"I was really worried about the strings. They tend to have kind of a snob appeal about anything that isn't, you know, before 1900 or whatever." = PRICELESS
I have tried again to give all the REM albums after Berry a chance. Some told me this or that were good. I tried listening to them again. NONE of them are good. They all suck. Not even close to the old REM. That tells me, that BILL BERRY was the genius of the group. He is the best modern songwriter of all time. And no one knows it. Go back and listen to old REM. We know Berry plays drums and he also plays the bass. Listen to how the basslines were essential to their songs. Berry did the drums, he did the bass, he did back up singing and probably came up with the harmonies. Probably the only things others did was Stipe came up with some mumbled words for his hooks and Buck came up with some guitar licks. That's it. Berry is THE guy.
Fully agree, great comment
I agree also; huge REM fan but just couldn’t get into the Monster album or anything afterwards. The sound just wasn’t there;
I don't think I've ever heard or seen so much of Bill Berry.
The most formidable eyebrows in rock
Had a cool dream thanks to this video! Bill and I were married or living together along with Peter and Mike. They were in the bedroom talking and I went in and told Bill I was nauseated. Peter and Mike are like 'whoa you work fast there Bill'. Not my first REM dream (ha) I usually dream that I am telling Michael thank you for saving my life but this time I was married to the cutest man ever!
the only man to successfully rock the unibrow. REM where my first love musically, I drifted off once Bill had to leave.
"I'll tell you what; I think we're on fire!" Fantastic!
This is Wolverine people...not Hugh Jackman...Berry, Bill Berry
"Three actually"
Yes, Chronic Town definitely counts.
'poster torn - reaping wheel'
Robby..? Is it you or Michael sharing with me all these WÓNDERFUL video's..? I judt want to know to thsnk Michael as well if itd him... WÓWWW YHÁNKS YOU GUYS... you are RÉÁLLY GRÉÁT GRÉÁT GUYs... BÉÁÚTIFUL BÉÁÚTIFUL Personalities... New wave was what i álso LÓVED at school but i never learned much about music...just heard it on the radio...VÉRY STRÁNGE that i NÉVER heard about R.E.M.... i CÁN'T BELÍÉVE IT!!!!!!@ WHÁT A SHÂME...!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I always referred to him as the Human Metronome.
Bill Berry
31/07/1958
63 años
Near Wild Heaven. My first kiss that song was playing sitting on the edge of the Tennesse River in K-Town with my first boy. Bill Berry is the Charlie Watts of the Athens Scene. :)
bgw073074 tmi
bgw03074 nei
e
peterbuckrocks YOU rock!!! i love love love your REM videos!!!!
Holy Eyebrows
out of time still makes my nostrils flair
That's not a unibrow, that's a forestache
admtech69 kkkkkkkkk
Michael Stipe
04/01/1960
62 años
Amazing to think this was 33 years ago. Yikes! It's fun to hear his predictions about the songs on Out of Time and to know years later how much Stipe despises Shiny Happy People. They each had their views and individuality and I love that they agreed on songs and albums even when they personally had opposing views. I haven't found anything where he discusses how he thought Fables "sucks" and would love to find it to one see if it is true and if so what his reasons were. Music is completely subjective so I have no issue with his view but remain curious as to the reasons.
Everything REM did after Bill left was just crap in my opinion. Bill is an extremely underated drummer. Try to play some of his early stuff. Damn
Fully agree 👍
Stipe and Buck seem to get the limelight but I get the feeling they wouldn't have got as far without the rock solid rhythm section Mills and Berry gave them during their early years.
I agree. I think he was their true secret weapon given that he was on drums and only did subtle backing vocals. By all accounts he was a master song writer and lyricist and contributed far more creatively than the average REM fan seems to realize.
This guy just died-way 2 young,so sad-tell me its not true
Actually bill berry is still alive.
Patrice Daynes fake news
Its not true
Love the low pitch of your tom-toms & floor toms!