THERE PROBABLY ISN’T ANY MUSIC AFICIONADO THAT DOESN’T KNOW R.E.M. AND HOW BERTIS DOWNS BECAME THE MANAGER, LAWYER. AND PROTECTOR OF R.E.M. BERTIS DOWNS CAME TO ATHENS GA AFTER ATTENDING DAVIDSON COLLEGE IN NC, STUDYING AND DOING SOME DJ SHIFTS AT THEIR INFAMOUS RADIO STATION, WFAE. HE ATTENDED LAW SCHOOL AT UGA.
BERTIS TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH R.E.M. , TAKING AWAY THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THE TREACHEROUS AND SOMETIMES SLEAZY SIDE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. AS AN ENTERTAINMENT LAWYER, DOWNS MADE SURE ALL OF THEIR WISHES AND DECISIONS THAT THEY FELT WERE BEST FOR THE BAND WERE CARRIED OUT. BERTIS WROTE A SERIES OF “POSTCARDS FROM …” WHICHEVER CITY THEY WERE PLAYING AND DOCUMENTING SO MANY MAGICAL MOMENTS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE HISTORY OF THIS ICONIC BAND. ALTHOUGH THE BAND AMICABLY DECIDED TO STOP TOURING AS A BAND IN 2011, DOWNS IS STILL VERY ACTIVE IN MANY OF THE SPECIAL EVENTS, CHARITY, AND AN ADVERSARY FOR EDUCATION AMONG MANY OTHER PROJECTS.
HAVING BERTIS ON THE SHOW ALLOWED ME TO GET TO KNOW JUST WHO BERTIS DOWNS WAS AND STILL IS TODAY.
HEAR YE HEAR YE TO MY CONVERSATION WITH BERTIS DOWNS
AthCastMusic (©): The Music of Athens Georgia, Now and Then
SEASON: 4 EPISODE 38
LENGTH: 36:07
PUBLISHED: May 29, 2025
UPDATED WEEKLY ON THURSDAY
ENGINEER: KAYLA DOVER
RECORDED AT TWEED RECORDING AUDIO PRODUCTION SCHOOL
https://tweedrecording.com (https://tweedrecording.com/)
Produced by The Lightroom-Ath
Photos and Camera: Ellison Suhoza & Evelyn McCanless
Executive Producers: Guillermo Zouain and Wendy Muñiz
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