Bill Berry Now 2023:Why He Left REM, Health Issues, Debut With New Band, and More

Bill Berry left R.E.M. after 17 years of career with the band, but where is the drummer now?

Berry left the music industry heartbroken when he announced his retirement from music and his exit from R.E.M. after completing its "New Adventures in Hi-Fi" in 1996. He said, at that time, that he would become a farmer in Georgia instead, although he reunited with his former bandmates on occasional events.

Why Did Bill Berry Left R.E.M.?

A year after Berry departed from the group, his former bandmates reflected on losing the drummer during their interview with MTV. Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, and Mike Mills appeared alongside its former member even after he made the announcement.

During the conversation, the drummer explained that leaving came into his mind when the band started working on the 1996 record in Hawaii. Per Berry, he did not have "the same drive" to work in the group anymore.

"I wasn't enthused about it," he said. "I thought maybe this was a phase, maybe I don't want to bring this up right now, but months later, I felt the same way. I still do to this moment."

Still, he noted that the thoughts first lurked around when he started having health issues.

Bill Berry's Health Issues

Berry suffered a brain aneurysm that required him to undergo surgery. He revealed that he initially reassessed his priorities but did not think about leaving R.E.M. for good when he was recuperating.

Although he recovered from it, the feeling when he noticed the symptoms still lingered in him for years. He told Los Angeles Times (via Express UK) that it felt like a bowling ball hit his head when he developed a headache before their performance in Switzerland and eventually collapsed due to the serious condition.

Buck, at that time, told The Boston Globe that Berry immediately underwent an operation soon after receiving the test results.

Where Is Bill Berry Now? Former R.E.M. Member Debuts in New Band

Over a decade after Berry's exit, R.E.M. announced its disbandment three decades after its debut. On the other hand, the drummer found a new home and joined The Band Ends ahead of the release of its debut album, "The Power and the Glory," in January.

The band includes Mike Mantione, Dave Domizi, Geoff Melkonian, and Christian Lopez.