R.E.M’s Bill Berry Reveals His Regrets For Quitting

Bill Berry departed from R.E.M. in 1997, a decision he later admitted to “sort of regretted.” Berry, along with R.E.M.’s founding members Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe, recently discussed this period during an interview with CBS Mornings, ahead of their first reunion in over two decades. When asked if he had second thoughts about leaving the band, Berry reflected:

“Of course, I did. That was a weird time for me, and I made it weird for these guys, too.”

On March 1, 1995, Berry experienced a life-altering event when he collapsed on stage in Switzerland due to a brain aneurysm. Although he recovered and returned to the band, this incident significantly impacted his passion for being part of R.E.M. He said:

“I’m not gonna use that as an excuse.
“Maybe it reduced – maybe that thing in Switzerland – brain aneurysm, and successful surgery – it may have lowered my energy level. I was type A, hyperactive until that, and I just didn’t have the drive I once did to do this.”

Before their recent reunion, Berry last performed with R.E.M. at their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2007. Reflecting on his departure in 1997, he initially felt confident about his choice. He explained:

“Yes [I had to give it up], and I didn’t regret it at the time.
“I sort of regretted it a little later. That was a long time ago. That was over a quarter of a century ago.”

Berry decided to leave R.E.M. due to several personal and health-related factors. His brain aneurysm and subsequent surgery played a role in waning the boundless energy and enthusiasm he had before. Despite the challenges, Berry looks back on his time with the band without major regrets, acknowledging that his decision, though difficult, was made with the best intentions at the time.