Bertis Downs, IV
Encyclopedia
Bertis Edwin Downs IV originally provided legal counsel
(particularly for initial contracts) and then became both counselor and manager for the rock band R.E.M.
, taking over from the band's long-term manager Jefferson Holt
. He is usually credited simply as the band's "Advisor".
, who instigated Downs' connection with the band. Back in 1978, Athens, Georgia
-based Berry felt guilty about still being around rock and roll
, and decided to step into the "real world". When he told his work colleagues of his plans, John Huie, a rep for the booking company Berry worked for at the time, told him to look up Downs, whom he knew from Davidson College
but who was now studying at the University of Georgia
.
Downs attended an R.E.M. show at the 11.11 Koffee Club in Athens on April 19, 1980. By that time, Downs also knew Peter Buck
from Wuxtry Records, where he would buy Neil Young
records. "I thought they were great", he said, looking back nineteen years later on VH1
's Behind the Music
. In fact, he was so impressed by what he saw that he proceeded to tell the band that they would one day be bigger than the Beatles
. Downs and the band immediately forged a friendship. "They started asking me questions about copyright
issues, trademark
issues, the first time they had a recording agreement they needed me to have a look at", Downs explains. "They knew that I was just out of law school and was just getting started as a lawyer, and I certainly didn't claim any particular expertise. I learned by the seat of my pants. I worked with them as a volunteer, just helping out, and gradually over the next couple of years it became more like a real job, and, all these years later, that's kind of still what it is."
At the band's 2007 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Downs—often referred to by the band as the fifth member of R.E.M.—was inadvertently omitted from Michael Stipe
's lengthy thank you remarks, an error which Mike Mills
quickly corrected between songs. Stipe then added that Downs was supposed to be the last thanked.
with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in history in 1978. In 1981, he graduated from the University of Georgia Law School
, and he is currently an Adjunct Professor in the UGA Law School teaching Entertainment Law
and Music Law.
Legal advice
In the common law, legal advice is the giving of a formal opinion regarding the substance or procedure of the law by an officer of the court , ordinarily in exchange for financial or other tangible compensation...
(particularly for initial contracts) and then became both counselor and manager for the rock band R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
, taking over from the band's long-term manager Jefferson Holt
Jefferson Holt
Jefferson Holt is the founder of and former manager of rock band R.E.M., often referred to as the band's "fifth member," from 1981-1996.In 1996, Holt and R.E.M. parted ways. When asked about leaving the band he offered this statement to Chuck Philips, L.A.Times Staff Writer:"I've agreed to keep...
. He is usually credited simply as the band's "Advisor".
Career with R.E.M.
It was R.E.M.'s now-retired drummer, Bill BerryBill Berry
William "Bill" Thomas Berry is a retired American musician, multi-instrumentalist, best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band R.E.M. In addition to his drumming duties, Berry played many other instruments including guitar, bass guitar, and piano, both for songwriting and on R.E.M....
, who instigated Downs' connection with the band. Back in 1978, Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
-based Berry felt guilty about still being around rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
, and decided to step into the "real world". When he told his work colleagues of his plans, John Huie, a rep for the booking company Berry worked for at the time, told him to look up Downs, whom he knew from Davidson College
Davidson College
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
but who was now studying at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
.
Downs attended an R.E.M. show at the 11.11 Koffee Club in Athens on April 19, 1980. By that time, Downs also knew Peter Buck
Peter Buck
Peter Lawrence Buck , is an American rock guitarist who is best known for playing in and co-founding alternative rock band R.E.M....
from Wuxtry Records, where he would buy Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
records. "I thought they were great", he said, looking back nineteen years later on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's Behind the Music
Behind the Music
Behind the Music is a television series on VH1. It originally ran from 1997 to 2006, before it was stopped and only aired new episodes sporadically. The series places its generality on documentation of musical artists or groups who are interviewed and profiled, and discuss how their careers became...
. In fact, he was so impressed by what he saw that he proceeded to tell the band that they would one day be bigger than the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. Downs and the band immediately forged a friendship. "They started asking me questions about copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
issues, trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
issues, the first time they had a recording agreement they needed me to have a look at", Downs explains. "They knew that I was just out of law school and was just getting started as a lawyer, and I certainly didn't claim any particular expertise. I learned by the seat of my pants. I worked with them as a volunteer, just helping out, and gradually over the next couple of years it became more like a real job, and, all these years later, that's kind of still what it is."
At the band's 2007 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Downs—often referred to by the band as the fifth member of R.E.M.—was inadvertently omitted from Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
's lengthy thank you remarks, an error which Mike Mills
Mike Mills
Michael Edward "Mike" Mills is an American multi-instrumentalist and composer who was a founding member of the alternative rock group R.E.M.. Though known primarily as a bass guitarist, backing vocalist, and pianist, his musical repertoire includes also keyboards, guitar, and percussion instruments...
quickly corrected between songs. Stipe then added that Downs was supposed to be the last thanked.
Education and academic career
Downs graduated cum laude from Davidson CollegeDavidson College
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in history in 1978. In 1981, he graduated from the University of Georgia Law School
University of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
, and he is currently an Adjunct Professor in the UGA Law School teaching Entertainment Law
Entertainment law
Entertainment law or media law is a term for a mix of more traditional categories of law with a focus on providing legal services to the entertainment industry. The principal areas of Entertainment Law overlap substantially with the well-known and conventional field of intellectual property law...
and Music Law.