R.E.M. recorded its first album in 1981, and one person who was there from the beginning was attorney Bertis E. Downs IV, who started out providing legal services for the band and ended up managing its business affairs, a role that he continues today. Late last year, the band announced it was disbanding, but Downs said he remains busy taking care of the band’s business.
Downs recently talked about his role with the band in a conversation with attorney Shawn Bratton, a part-time Gwinnett County magistrate judge, an associate at Mahaffey Pickens Tucker and a lifetime fan who grew up with the band’s music. Their conversation, edited for brevity, follows.
