Berry, Bill
From Astro-Databank
| Name |
| ||
| Birthname | Berry, William Thomas | ||
| born on | 31 July 1958 at 14:37 (= 2:37 PM ) | ||
| Place | Duluth MN, USA, 46n47, 92w06 | ||
| Timezone | CDT h5w (is daylight saving time) | ||
| Data source |
| ||
| Astrology data |   08°04'   21°19 Asc. 15°16'
|
Biography
American musician and long-time drummer for R.E.M. (Rapid Eye Movement), which was arguably the most important and influential American rock band of the post-punk era. The group formed in Athens, GA in 1980. He joined Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills for their concert debut on 4/05/1980. They put out their first single the following year, and soon began moving up in the charts.
Born in Minnesota, Bill Berry was raised in Macon, Georgia. He began playing the drums at age nine. While attending junior high school, he met bassist Mike Mills who eventually became his best friend. Berry and Mills played together in a number of local bands and attended the University of Georgia where they formed R.E.M. The group toured tirelessly before issuing their debut single "Radio Free Europe" in mid-1981. The record's success on college radio attracted the attention of IRS Records and they released the "Chronic Town" album a year later.
During a show in Switzerland in 1995, Berry suffered a brain hemorrhage. Although he resumed touring, he kept a low profile. On 10/30/1997 Berry announced that he was quitting R.E.M., saying he was ready to move on to a different phase of his life, while continuing his support of R.E.M. as their biggest fan.
In April 2000 Berry resurfaced in his first release since leaving R.E.M. playing drums on a new charity CD benefiting research into Tourette's Syndrome.
Relationships
- business associate/partner relationship with Buck, Peter (born 6 December 1956)
- business associate/partner relationship with Mills, Mike (born 17 December 1958)
- business associate/partner relationship with Stipe, Michael (born 4 January 1960)
Events
- Work : New Career 5 April 1980 (Concert debut)
- Social : Joined group 1980 (R.E.M.)
- Health : Medical diagnosis 1995 (Brain hemorhhage)
- Social : Left group 30 October 1997 (Left R.E.M.)
- Social : Great Publicity April 2000 (Charity benefit performance)
Source Notes
B.C. in hand from Sally Davis
Categories
- Lifestyle : Work : Work in team/ Tandem (Rock group)
- Vocation : Entertain/Music : Instrumentalist (Drums)
- Vocation : Entertain/Music : Group/ Duo (R.E.M.)
- Lifestyle : Financial : Philanthropist (Charity benefit performances)
