Chuck Berry 1926-2017

[90sWereBetter]

Rock and roll legend Chuck Berry dies

Rock and roll legend Chuck Berry has died aged 90, police in US state of Missouri report.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39318602

Bugger. 90 is a pretty good innings though. RIP Chuck.

 

[Cowley]

What an absolute star. Thanks for the music Chuck.

 

[Busaholic]

I'm feeling really sad. Saw him first on a bill at the Lewisham Odeon with Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley and, bottom of the bill, a certain new band called the Rolling Stones, whose first single 'Come On' had entered the top30 that week. It was a Chuck Berry song as well, his influence on British Beat was, I believe, greater than anyone's. Saw him a further two times in the 60s, once with the Everly Brothers. 'Memphis Tennessee' has got to be up there in the pantheon. He was planning a comeback, too. I hope they bury Maybelline with him.

 

[AlterEgo]

Absolutely loved Chuck Berry.

If he hadn't been a scandalous black man with multiple convictions, he could easily have been far more prominent than Elvis Presley. Berry laid the foundations of rock and roll, which ultimately gave birth to the Beatles, who were able to move popular music from something to dance with, to a form of art. His contribution to 20th Century popular culture in the West is almost incalculable.

I could go on, but that's too much monkey business for me to be involved in. *chicken struts*

 

[Busaholic]

Absolutely loved Chuck Berry.

If he hadn't been a scandalous black man with multiple convictions, he could easily have been far more prominent than Elvis Presley. Berry laid the foundations of rock and roll, which ultimately gave birth to the Beatles, who were able to move popular music from something to dance with, to a form of art. His contribution to 20th Century popular culture in the West is almost incalculable.

I could go on, but that's too much monkey business for me to be involved in. *chicken struts*

So there he was on the same bill as Jerry Lee Lewis, a white man who'd married his 13 year old cousin and faced no criminal sanctions, but, as you say, Chuck Berry was black and living in the Deep South so he had to pay for his transgressions, which were basically of the same order. 'Roll Over Beethoven' was a staple of the Beatles in Hamburg/Cavern days and, in the pub opposite me tonight the resident Saturday group were pumping it out as per usual, and that was definitely before his death was announced.

 

[Cowley]

I'm feeling really sad. Saw him first on a bill at the Lewisham Odeon with Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley and, bottom of the bill, a certain new band called the Rolling Stones, whose first single 'Come On' had entered the top30 that week. It was a Chuck Berry song as well, his influence on British Beat was, I believe, greater than anyone's. Saw him a further two times in the 60s, once with the Everly Brothers. 'Memphis Tennessee' has got to be up there in the pantheon. He was planning a comeback, too. I hope they bury Maybelline with him.

Blimey Busaholic, that's some evenings entertainment! What an amazing lineup.

 

[Busaholic]

Blimey Busaholic, that's some evenings entertainment! What an amazing lineup.

That sort of line-up was not uncommon then, although that particular bill was especially amazing. The price of a ticket would have been under a pound too, or I, a schoolboy with not a great deal of pocket money, could not have attended. I saw Chuck again there with Bo Diddley (they were Chess record label stablemates) and the Everly Brothers. Never seen the Stones again though (and not likely to!)

 

[southern442]

He had finished recording an album of new original songs last year, so we've yet to hear the last of him.