[10-31-97 Fri] R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry has been with the highly influential band for more than 17 years, and he has now announced his departure. Berry, who formed the band with singer Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, and Peter Buck in 1980, announced his decision on Thursday Oct 30, saying, "I've been playing drums since age nine. I'm at a point in my life where some of my priorities have shifted. I loved my seventeen years with R.E.M. but I'm ready to reflect, assess, and move on to a different phase of my life. The four of us will continue our close friendship and I look forward to hearing their future efforts as the world's biggest R.E.M. fan."
Berry's decision is announced as the band is currently writing songs and getting ready to record their next album. They are also planning a tour in 1999 to support the album. So far, the band will remain just three men, and will bring in outside musicians to help with recording and touring. The split has been declared by the band as still friendly, and there are no hard feelings at all.
"It's the end of an era for us... Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe... and that's sad," frontman Stipe said. "I'm happy for Bill; it's what he really wants and I think it's a courageous decision. For me, Mike and Peter, as R.E.M., are we still R.E.M.? I guess a three-legged dog is still a dog. It just has to learn how to run differently."
"As sad as this is," Mills said about Berry's decision to leave, "the fact that Bill is still around to be my friend puts everything in perspective. I look forward to playing golf with Bill, and music with Michael and Peter."
R.E.M. - October 31, 1997
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