MTVRock: 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