Ready for another tribute thread to a Rock 'n Roll icon?

Chuck Berry will be 81 years old on this Thursday, 18 October!

John Lennon: "If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'."

Jerry Lee Lewis: "My mama said, you and Elvis are pretty good, but you're no Chuck Berry."


[www.chuckberry.com]

I wonder what the Stones would have sounded like if it had not been for Chuck Berry?

I'm going down to St. Louis to see him this Wed. Tickets are sold out, but I don't think I should have a problem..

I saw Berry for my only time back in April, '03.
That would make him 76 at that time and he still managed a duck-walk!

Why is it that everyone seems to think the Stones will retire soon and some think they should have retired long ago BUT no-one says the same about Chuck Berry.

He is now 81 and still playing, people go and see him and enjoy so what's the difference between him and the Stones? I don't get it!

I know his playing isn't the same as it was and also his length of shows but people don't seem to complain as they do with the Stones, and yes I know the ticket prices are not the same.

pgarof Wrote:

> Why is it that everyone seems to think the Stones
> will retire soon and some think they should have
> retired long ago BUT no-one says the same about
> Chuck Berry.

Perhaps it's because the Stones are on top of their game.
When you're having the most success at something, there's always people trying to bring you down.

Anyone else heard that the original lyrics for "Johnny B. Goode" were "a little colored boy," replaced, of course, by "a little country boy?"

pgarof Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why is it that everyone seems to think the Stones
> will retire soon and some think they should have
> retired long ago

I dont believe that sentiment is as widespread as youre suggesting, to be honest

BUT no-one says the same about
> Chuck Berry.

yes they do

>
> He is now 81 and still playing, people go and see
> him and enjoy so what's the difference between him
> and the Stones? I don't get it!

I think with Chuck its more a case for most of just seeing him because hes a legend and there arent many living ones left. I doubt its motivated by an interest in any music hes created in the last forty years.

>
> I know his playing isn't the same as it was and
> also his length of shows but people don't seem to
> complain as they do with the Stones, and yes I
> know the ticket prices are not the same.

Depends on your level of expectations (which ARE naturally greater when you charge $450 for a ticket). Not sure what reviews youve been reading but the % of negative reviews I've read about Chuck are FAR greater than almost anyone, and certainly far more than the Stones



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-10-15 00:15 by Gazza.

All good points Gazza. I go to see the man. At times (during concert) he plays great, but usually he doesn't. However, his voice is usually awesome. In the end it's nice he's still around. I'll still go when he does it at 100.

will see him the 23th of november.... my second time it will be great i know!!!

Gazza Wrote:
>
> I think with Chuck its more a case for most of
> just seeing him because hes a legend and there
> arent many living ones left. I doubt its motivated
> by an interest in any music hes created in the
> last forty years.
>

That's way I'm going..

Hey fiftyamp, you bringing the birthday cake Wednesday night?

BTW, is that one of the Wed. night Blueberry Hill shows?

Yeah Hail to you Chuck....



Chuck Berry circa 1955....



ROCKMAN

Edith Grove Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey fiftyamp, you bringing the birthday cake
> Wednesday night?
>
> BTW, is that one of the Wed. night Blueberry Hill
> shows?

I think it might be the last Blueberry Hill show of the year. Instead of Birthday cake, I was thinking of maybe throwing a lit match down the front of Chuck's shirt. I hear he's into that sort of thing..

I went to see Chuck at a small club in Northampton about 5 years ago, tickets were £10.00, I just could not believe it. The club held about 1200 people. he played for about 45mins then left. As I said before nobody questions why he still plays and says he should retire like they do the Stones, anyway he played great and I was on a high for ages after.

I first saw Chuck back in 2000 along with Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis (already a wreck then), looking the freshest even if he was the oldest (74). Duckwalk inclusive.

My 2nd time I'll meet him on 13 November, sharing the bill with Lucinda Williams.

I'll be back...

NB. Next Ubuntu to be released on October 18 should of course be called Ubuntu 7.10 Chuck Berry instead of Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon.

I went to a benefit Saturday night to help fund a Johnnie Johnson documentary currently being filmed (most of you know his relation to Chuck...and Keith).

Checkout the website, very cool. Got to meet the folks making this movie and Mr. Johnson's wife, all very nice people (as was Johnnie, met him a few times as well through a mutual friend). Some of the stories this guy had about interviewing Eric Clapton, John Sebastion, Bob Weir, etc. were really interesting!

[www.johnniebegood.net]

kovach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I went to a benefit Saturday night to help fund a Johnnie Johnson documentary currently being filmed
> (most of you know his relation to Chuck...and Keith).

I just visited the website... it says: "This documentary will examine the musical relationship between two rock and roll architects, Johnnie Johnson and Chuck Berry, and examine the debate about whether Johnson should be remembered as merely a superior sideman to Berry, or one half of rock and roll's first great song-writing team." If it actually was a team - then why not share the credits, and the royalties? Not a thing Chuck will like to hear, I guess, since he anyway felt betrayed his whole life thru.

There's a gallery also with about 80 pictures - I have found only two of Chuck and Johnnie, but this time it says: "Chuck Berry and Johnnie Johnson, rock and roll's first great song-writing team." No debate here necessary... Chuck, you owe us some money.

Why is there no Chuck in the credits for the film? And why no Keith Richards? Maybe because Chuck would kill him this time... not only throw a cigarette down his shirt or punch him in the face like in the early years... If I got it right it was Keith after all who told Johnnie to stand up against Chuck and try to get some money from him (Chuck was sued by him in 2000 without success).

"Piano players deserve no songwriting credits." Ian Stewart

pgarof Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I went to see Chuck at a small club in Northampton
> about 5 years ago, tickets were £10.00, I just
> could not believe it.

Find that hard to believe myself, mate (not that I'm doubting your word). I saw him in 1995 and the tickets were £25, and it was about £30-35 or so when he played here a few months ago.

Chuck's still probably having nightmares at the thought that some promoter may have screwed him out of a few quid by only charging a tenner.

Bottom line is that if youre charging a tenner, then no one's expectations are going to be very high, so you wont get too many complaints.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-10-15 18:45 by Gazza.

F.U.C. the Captain Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> kovach Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I went to a benefit Saturday night to help fund
> a Johnnie Johnson documentary currently being
> filmed
> > (most of you know his relation to Chuck...and
> Keith).
>
> I just visited the website... it says: "This
> documentary will examine the musical relationship
> between two rock and roll architects, Johnnie
> Johnson and Chuck Berry, and examine the debate
> about whether Johnson should be remembered as
> merely a superior sideman to Berry, or one half of
> rock and roll's first great song-writing team." If
> it actually was a team - then why not share the
> credits, and the royalties? Not a thing Chuck will
> like to hear, I guess, since he anyway felt
> betrayed his whole life thru.
>
> There's a gallery also with about 80 pictures - I
> have found only two of Chuck and Johnnie, but this
> time it says: "Chuck Berry and Johnnie Johnson,
> rock and roll's first great song-writing team." No
> debate here necessary... Chuck, you owe us some
> money.
>
> Why is there no Chuck in the credits for the film?
> And why no Keith Richards? Maybe because Chuck
> would kill him this time... not only throw a
> cigarette down his shirt or punch him in the face
> like in the early years... If I got it right it
> was Keith after all who told Johnnie to stand up
> against Chuck and try to get some money from him
> (Chuck was sued by him in 2000 without success).
>
> "Piano players deserve no songwriting credits."
> Ian Stewart


The 23 minute trailer they showed at the fundraiser dealt with the songwriting credits a bit. He did sue Chuck later but if I remember correctly they said too much time had passed so it was thrown out. Basically from what I recall the basis of the suit was, Chuck wrote the lyrics and would bring them in, and they'd write the music together. But Chuck convinced him only the person who writes the lyrics can be credited as songwrite, so not knowing any better (clouded by years of alcohol abuse) he didn't question it.

In talking to the producer, he said Keith was of course the hardest one to get a hold of, but he has agreed to do it and they're working out the details now.

I asked him about Chuck too, he just shook his head, said he didn't say it but he got the impression he wants nothing to do with it. Said he demanded some money up front and a review of a final script first. And after hearing how he acted during the making of his own documentary, I find that totally believable.

thanks for that link, kovach, and for the further details as well.

with sssoul Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> thanks for that link, kovach, and for the further
> details as well.

No problem! I feel just lucky to have a local connection to the man and to pass along some of these interesting stories.

Gazza Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pgarof Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I went to see Chuck at a small club in
> Northampton
> > about 5 years ago, tickets were £10.00, I just
> > could not believe it.
>
> Find that hard to believe myself, mate (not that
> I'm doubting your word). I saw him in 1995 and the
> tickets were £25, and it was about £30-35 or so
> when he played here a few months ago.
>
> Chuck's still probably having nightmares at the
> thought that some promoter may have screwed him
> out of a few quid by only charging a tenner.
>
> Bottom line is that if youre charging a tenner,
> then no one's expectations are going to be very
> high, so you wont get too many complaints.

It's true, it was just £10.00, he played at another club from the same chain the next night in Oxford then flew back to America. He proberbly got all the door money from both gigs ( about £25,000 )and maybe some of the bar takings.

The Band he had was a local band, they were really good but from what little I know about Chuck Berry this is what he does, just his guitar and a briefcase traveling to any gig if there's a bit of money.

pgarof Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why is it that everyone seems to think the Stones
> will retire soon and some think they should have
> retired long ago BUT no-one says the same about
> Chuck Berry.

Chuck Berry doesn't do megatours.
The Stones ARE megatours.
BIG difference in my book.

Can you imagine them in their 80s playing stadiums with massive staging, etc... Honestly, I can, and its not a pretty image. HOWEVER, I can EASILY see them playing small venues here and there, and having alot of fun at doing it. Thats what Chuck Berry does.

pgarof Wrote:
from what little I know about Chuck Berry
> this is what he does, just his guitar and a
> briefcase traveling to any gig if there's a bit of
> money.

Chuck is all about the money, that is sure.

If he still travels like he did in the Hail, Hail film, he carries his suitcase with him and checks his guitar as luggage! He considers his guitar to be a tool, and if it gets lost or damaged he just buys another and writes off the loss on his taxes.

I'm sure Chuck is not the only musician like this. I live in a big music town, and I always see people picking up their instruments at the airport baggage reclaim.

Well happy birthday Chuck. I will repeat my brief Chuck Berry live memory. It was many years ago in Oakland. A new years eve show. I remember Chuck opening for Tom Petty. Don't remember a lot. It was a long time ago (and new years eve). But from what I do remember I believe he had a local pickup band,as is his custom. I don't think he was real good. A little out of his element in a big arena. But I was a little more into it than my friends because I knew a little more about R & R history then they did....Berry is kind of why I never got into Elvis. I always considered Chuck to be more Rock & Roll than Elvis....Then once I got into the Stones and realized Berry's influence on them and heard Ya Ya's. That's when I really fell in love with Chuck. I hope he makes back out west one more time. I would love to see him again.

"It's just some friends of mine and they're busting down the door"

flacnvinyl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pgarof Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why is it that everyone seems to think the
> Stones
> > will retire soon and some think they should
> have
> > retired long ago BUT no-one says the same about
> > Chuck Berry.
>
> Chuck Berry doesn't do megatours.
> The Stones ARE megatours.
> BIG difference in my book.
>
> Can you imagine them in their 80s playing stadiums
> with massive staging, etc... Honestly, I can, and
> its not a pretty image. HOWEVER, I can EASILY see
> them playing small venues here and there, and
> having alot of fun at doing it. Thats what Chuck
> Berry does.


I don't see The Stones playing massive stadiums at 80, that's not what I mean, when Chuck was the same age as the Stones are now he was proberbly doing larger gigs (not as big as the Stones but then the Stones are more popular) did Chuck get all the flack from fans then saying he should retire?

What i am saying is lets enjoy Chuck as we do but also enjoy what The Stones do without picking them apart all the time

pgarof Wrote:
>
> I don't see The Stones playing massive stadiums at
> 80, that's not what I mean, when Chuck was the
> same age as the Stones are now he was proberbly
> doing larger gigs

Actually I very much doubt that he was. Its been the same size of venues for as long as I can recall.

(not as big as the Stones but
> then the Stones are more popular) did Chuck get
> all the flack from fans then saying he should
> retire?

Theres a huge difference. Even at 60, the general public wasnt aware of Chuck Berry. Profile-wise, he's been off the public radar for decades. The Stones have always been there. If there's not some mass consensus for him to quit, its simply because (with the greatest respect to Chuck) theres relatively few people around who care.

Even 20 years ago, the attitude seemed to be "see him before he croaks". There isnt really a comparison. There's a public and critical bias in general when it comes to BANDS who are still going into their middle age as opposed to solo acts. Its down to the perception that theres a 'gang' mentality in being in a band. Additionally, the Stones from the beginning have had a more 'sexual' image. That tends to get a bit played out when you're 60.
>
> What i am saying is lets enjoy Chuck as we do but
> also enjoy what The Stones do without picking them
> apart all the time


We're not 'picking them apart all the time'. Its civilised discussion for the most part, good or bad. You can still 'enjoy' them without thinking everything they do is wonderful.

I went to see the man when he played in Stockholm earlier this year. I really wish I hadn´t. Wrong chords, wrong keys, wrong lyrics etc. Give him his well earned retirement, you should not have to work at his age...

>> That tends to get a bit played out when you're 60. <<

smile: that depends on who's 60

also depends on whose doing the watching, I suppose....

but you know what I mean..talking about the general public's perception...