Bill Berry has joined his first band since leaving R.E.M. 25 years ago. 

The Bad Ends sees the drummer teaming up with a group of Athens, Georgia musicians led by singer-guitarist Mike Mantione of the band Five Eight. Their debut album, The Power and the Glory, is due out January 20th.

They’ve also released a single called “All Your Friends Are Dying” that includes a cameo from Berry’s former bandmate, Mike Mills. Watch it now on YouTube. The Bad Ends will play their first public show November 27th in Nuci’s Space, which is the name now of the old church where R.E.M. played its first gig in 1980.

Berry says “It was energizing to once again play with top notch musicians. This record is unique for me in that it was the only one, with which I was involved, that was written, rehearsed, recorded, produced and mastered in Athens!”

October 30th marks 25 years since Berry announced he was leaving R.E.M.