Berry’s parting with R.E.M. remained one of rock’s best breakups. In 2007, Berry joined his former bandmates for R.E.M.’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He also reteamed with them on a recording of John Lennon’s “#9 Dream” for the charity compilation “Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur” around that same time (via Diffuser.fm). Berry also returned to R.E.M. for a night in 2009 when the group played Athens, Georgia, the birthplace of the band (via NME). Still close to his R.E.M. pals, he performed with Mike Mills and Peter Buck at Buck’s 2013 wedding in Portland, Oregon, according to Willamette Week. Michael Stipe was also there and performed, too, but unfortunately all four R.E.M. members never took the stage together.

These days, Berry has stepped away from his tractor. He still lives on his farm, enjoying the quiet life, but he leaves the heavy labor to the property’s caretaker, he told Kara Zuaro in a 2020 episode of her podcast “In Weird Cities.” While he has continued to play music on his own over the years, he is “thrilled to be back” playing with others. Berry explained that he has been working with Mike Mantione of the band Five Eight in a new group called the Bad Ends for the past few years. He’s “become a pretty good guitarist” after R.E.M., he said in this rare interview — and even confessed that he “never liked being a drummer.”