TVRock: Welcome Michael Stipe, Bill
Berry, Peter Buck and Mike
Mills of REM to the MTV Arena!
Peter Buck: Im' ready to go, fire away.
Bill Berry: Hello, welcome on.
Michael Stipe: Hi, we're all here together.
MTVRock: After more than 17 years in one of the most
influential bands of the last two decades, drummer Bill Berry
announced on Thursday that he is leaving R.E.M. MTV News first
carried the news Thursday afternoon that Berry, who formed the band in
1980 with Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, and Peter Buck, has decided he is
"ready to reflect, assess, and move on to a different phase of my
life." (For the whole story, check out "R.E.M. Splits With Drummer
Bill Berry" in the News area of MTV Online.) The remaining members of
R.E.M., who recorded 11 albums with Berry behind the kit, say that the
move is a totally amicable one. As proof of that, all four members of
the band are here at MTV Online to discuss publicly for the first time
the move, which Stipe called "the end of an era for us." And now,
let's get to those questions!
MTVRock: Grimmissi asks: Bill, what are your plans for the
future?
Bill Berry: Right now, I'm uncertain... That's part of the reason
for doing this... so that I can be free to find another opportunity to
explore some other options.
MTVRock: JackoREM asks: On Rough Cut you said if any one of you
were to leave the band, it would no longer be R.E.M. How will the
band's formula change with Bill gone?
Mike Mills: We don't have a formula. We will miss Bill hugely on
both a personal and a professional level, but the fact is the 3 of us
are very happy and excited about the direction our music is taking
now, and we want to carry on. We're sorry that Bill isn't coming with
us.
MTVRock: DCurrin72 asks: Bill, did your health problems you
had on tour affect your decision to leave?
Bill Berry: I would say that the opportunity I had to reflect
while lying on my back in a Swiss hospital bed... I began to sense
that my priorities had shifted somewhat. and that I was looking
forward to maybe a simpler life... with less travel involved.
MTVRock: DCurrin72 asks about other bands: What new bands have
caught your interest?
Peter Buck: Gosh...
Michael Stipe: I would say the new Radiohead record is great,
Faithless...
Mike Mills: Garrison Starr.
Bill Berry: Verve
Peter Buck: Spiritualized Record, Radiohead, the new Dylan record
is great.
Michael Stipe: Their record is called "Reverence" and it's really
genius. Patti Smith.
Peter Buck: the new single by The Verve, Patti Smith and
Stereolab.
Michael Stipe: Out of Athens, Elfpower, Neutral Milk Hotel, and
Olivia Tremor Control
MTVRock: OtisCat asks about people potential reaction to the
news: Hi, guys, and Happy Halloween! When I told my wife the news
about Bill this morning, her first response was: "Well, so much for
THAT band." Are you expecting this type of reaction? Thanks!
Michael Stipe: We don't know your wife...
Mike Mills: Or you, for that matter.
Michael Stipe: We're still REM, we're now a three person band. Bill
didn't want to break us up...
Mike Mills: It's good that she thinks so much of Bill, but we do
plan to continue. And we will be good.
Michael Stipe: and we didn't want to make him miserable by keeping
him onboard. He really wants to reflect and reevaluate what he does
from now on. We support him in that.
MTVRock: RockGrrl asks: Hola Mike, Peter and Michael! Just
wondering if Bill's decision had anything to do with the band's last
"Tour from Hell" experience?
Bill Berry: Indirectly, there might possibly be a connection. As
I referred to earlier... my medical experience allowed me the time to
question what I want to do from that point on.
Michael Stipe: It's not uncommon for people who have experienced this
type of invasive surgery and ... near death experience to want to
re-evaluate and look at their lives. I can say that Bill is of sound
mind and body making the decision that he made this week. If he
wasn't, we wouldn't be here, the four of us, presenting this the way
that it is.
MTVRock: Yobbam asks: I just wanted to know if the band would
ever do another mtv unplugged? I love you guys, and find the river was
my wedding song. Thanks Yobbam
Mike Mills: Right now we don't have any plans for particular shows
but we did enjoy the last Unplugged, so maybe.
Michael Stipe: The reason we are doing this like this, is that for
once, we have nothing to hide.
Mike Mills: And I hope your wedding was lovely.
Michael Stipe: I'm not fond of bongos. So if we do another
Unplugged, maybe we'll use a drum machine.
MTVRock: DCurrin72 asks: Do you guys like to play new material
versus old material in concerts?
Mike Mills: We like new material in concerts mostly, because it's
fresher for us.
Michael Stipe: We're usually more excited by the newer stuff.
Mike Mills: But there are old songs that we still love to play.
Peter Buck: yes
MTVRock: Bacchanal asks: What was it like playing at the Tibet
concert in New York?
Mike Mills: It was very challenging and very satsifying to be
playing for such a good cause.
Michael Stipe: Strangely enough, we used a drum machine. Radiohead
were amazing.
Mike Mills: There were a lot of other great performers on that
show and it was exciting to be a part of it.
Michael Stipe The tributes to Jeff Buckley were amazing. And Bjork
was fascinating as always. Plus, they had great juice backstage.
MTVRock: BAtman976 asks: Alot of people have alluded to the
fact that your music has become much more mainstream. What is your
reaction to this?
Mike Mills: I think the reality is that mainstream has moved
closer to us.
Michael Stipe: Go Mike Go! If they think that Ebow the letter is
mainstream, that proves what Mike just said.
MTVRock: Mcski3 asks: Hi guys, In the past, you've rumored
the Band would play one last gig on New Year's Eve 1999 and then just
walk away. Just a rumor or is it a plan?
Mike Mills: That was a joke that someone said one time, and we
wish that we'd never said it.
Bill Berry: That would be me. That's my fault.
MTVRock: MDSHRIVER asks: with no replacement drummer, does this
mean the new album will feature a medley of percussionists?
Mike Mills: We'll use a lot of percussion and some old, funky drum
machines
Michael Stipe: Right now were using drum machines circa 1971 in the
demos.
Mike Mills: and who knows what else, in the next 6 months.
MTVRock: Dave3451 asks: What are some of your musical
influences?
Mike Mills: Read the bio, Dave.
Bill Berry: I started listening to R&B... so that was my first
musical influence.
MTVRock: Smd217 asks a "what-if" question: if you could be any
kind of animal besides a human...what would you be?
Michael Stipe: I resent that question.
Mike Mills: That's too silly.
MTVRock: Gayl C asks: How do you thinnk the music will change
from now on?
Mike Mills: It's too early to be specific about it,
Michael Stipe: It's really hard to say...we've had exactly three
weeks to absorb this massive change.
Mike Mills: but this record will have less live drums, but it was
going to be that way anyway.
Michael Stipe: We're very challenged by it...We haven't had much
space for creative thought since Bill's announcement. But, being able
to tell the fans, and not have to keep it to the four of us.. I expect
the ideas will be coming.
MTVRock: BMiMuse asks: Bill, I was wondering what your plans
are now. Do you have other musical projects ahead, or are you going
to take a well-deserved break?
Bill Berry: ummm well deserved break is in my immediate future.
Future musical plans are uncertain.
MTVRock: JenBeeker asks: How long are you going to be just a 3
man band? Will you ever pick up an Official REM member?
Mike Mills: Almost certainly not.
Michael Stipe: the answer is no. REM has always only been the four
of us. We're now a three piece musically and we have to honor Bill's
decisions... to figure out a new direction.
MTVRock: K8inAthen asks: Will REM be staying in Athens during
this change in band members? Will any local Georgia musicians be
performing with the band?
Michael Stipe: Well we're here right now. In fact, if you look on
the second floor, you can see us...
Mike Mills: Well, I live in Athens primarily, and I don't see that
changing.
Michael Stipe: sitting on the table.
Mike Mills: As far as Georgia musicians, I play with them around
here,
Bill Berry: I have no plans to leave the Athens area for a long
time.
Mike Mills: but we don't know about the record.
Michael Stipe: The window is open because your central heat is
screwed up.
MTVRock: ElecStrin asks: Is there a city or region of the
county that is your favorite playing live?
Mike Mills: We've always loved Boston, Chicago, Omaha, New
Orleans...
Michael Stipe: Playing live is gonna be a different thing from now
on...so maybe we'll have to pick...
Mike Mills: and everywhere else is a close second.
Michael Stipe: a different favorite place.
Bill Berry: Basically, I like San Francisco the best -- I enjoyed
playing there.
MTVRock: U4ROY asks: Bill has said he's not 'as into it as he
was'....I'm really sorry, but how can you NOT be into being the
drummer for R.E.M? He's got all the free time he wants -- AND he
plays in a killer band -- what's not to be into??
Bill Berry: Free time. I don't know what free time means.
Mike Mills: Being in a band is not about having free time. Being
in a band is a full-time job and very demanding
Michael Stipe: It's all consuming.
Mike Mills: and it's a lot harder than it looks from the outside.
Bill Berry: After 17 years, I'm finding it difficult keeping...
the same level of enthusiasm I had in earlier years.
Michael Stipe: Even when you're not actually in the studio or on
tour, you're still in a band,
Mike Mills: And if you don't love doing it, it's way too difficult
to do with only half enthusiasm.
Michael Stipe: people react to you differently if they know that.
and Bill doesn't know what it feels like to NOT be in a band. That's
what he's really excited about.
MTVRock: MelMooney asks: Will Bill still be involved with any
song-writing? If not, how do you think the band's music will change?
Mike Mills: Bill won't be doing any songwriting with us for the
foreseeable future,
Bill Berry: I will not be involved in the songwriting process.
Mike Mills: but generally every song that someone brings in gets
changed into a group song anyway,
Bill Berry: That makes it increadibly difficult to answer the last
half of the question.
Mike Mills: so it will be hard to see the difference, even for us.
MTVRock: DCurrin72 asks: What can we expect muscially on your
next album?
Mike Mills: A very diverse group of songs.
Michael Stipe: Musically - cinematic. The lyrics are proto embrionic
at this point. I've got four titles that I will not reveal at this
time because I'm not sure how good... they are. I'm gonna travel in
the upcoming weeks and try to get inspired. Try to clear my head a
little.
MTVRock: Aluther22 asks Are you still good friends with
Courtney Love?
Mike Mills: Yes.
Michael Stipe: the answer is yes.
Bill Berry: yes.
MTVRock: AndyNYC1 asks It always seemed to me that you guys
were more than a band, the best of friends, and it showed in the
music. Do you think you can harvest the same feelings without him.
Mike Mills: Well, the 3 of us are still the best of friends, and
Bill is also a best friend.
Michael Stipe: What REM is, is more friends than music at this point.
Mike Mills: He just won't be in the same room with us as often.
Michael Stipe: The music seems a part of something much bigger.
We're hoping our fans will recognize this for what it is. Support
Bill in his decision to leave. And support the remaining three of us
to continue. And when I say support, I'm not talking record sales.
MTVRock: KMercum97 asks: I love your new and changing style of
music, but are you ever going to go back to any of the OLD REM ways?
Mike Mills: We don't know what the old REM ways are, and besides
that, we don't look back.
MTVRock: MPProject...here's a interestingly general question:
Do you believe that adults who possess or grow marijuana for their
personal use should be subject to arrest and imprisonment?
Mike Mills: No.
Bill Berry: No.
Michael Stipe: Absolutely not. That's ludicrous. I also feel like
George McGovern should have won the 1972 election.
MTVRock: Daisy94 asks: hi, michael are you angry at billy
coorgan for stealing your hair cut?
Mike Mills: Michael got a nasty letter from Yul Brynner just
before he died.
Michael Stipe: I'm angry because he's taller than me.
Michael Stipe: I didn't die, I'm online.
MTVRock: PunkRat69 asks: People say your music is depressing.
How do you respond to that?
Michael Stipe: I agree. What do you want?
Mike Mills: Take some Prozac.
Michael Stipe: Cowboy.
MTVRock: We have time for one last question: SILPIX asks:
Although I'm a bit nostalgic about the whole thing this seems like it
could be an exciting time for the remaining members. Do any of them
feel this way?
Mike Mills: Absolutely, that's why we're continuing. We're both
very sad and yet very upbeat about the direction we're taking.
Bill Berry: It's an exciting time for me...
Michael Stipe: It's sad. It's kinda shocking. It's not what any of
us expected.
Bill Berry: because I now have time to be the biggest R.E.M. fan
in the world!
Michael Stipe: I'm really excited for Bill. For us, it's gonna be
really challenging. And, I think we're up to it.
Peter Buck: Change is a good thing challenge is a good thing. I
think the three of us will rise to the challenge and we're happy about
it.
MTVRock: Thanks to R.E.M. for taking some precious time from
their schedule to chat with us!
Bill Berry: Let this whole thing go. Leave these guys alone so
they can continue to make great music.
Michael Stipe: Bill, that's really sweet. Thanks to everyone for
coming on and have a great Halloween.
Mike Mills: Thanks, everybody. Keep the faith.
Michael Stipe: Take care and we'll be talking to you soon.
MTVRock: And as always, thanks to the audience for their great
questions!
Michael Stipe: Bye bye bye bye bye bye
Copyright 1997 MTV Networks
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