[wimpLink artistId="4630659"]Bill Berry[/wimpLink] was the longtime drummer for [wimpLink artistId="31964204"]R.E.M.[/wimpLink], arguably the most important and influential American rock band of the post-punk era.

Born July 31, 1958, in Duluth, MN, he was raised in Macon, GA, and while attending junior high school met bassist Mike Mills; despite early personality clashes, the two played together in a number of local bands and eventually became best friends, jointly attending the University of Georgia.