PaulWarning Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 just watched Chuck Berry on the iplayer, thoroughly enjoyed it, the bass could be clearly heard driving along the performance and Chuck was in fine form, this is how gigs should sound. The terrified look on the faces of the backing band, as they tried to figure out what Chuck was going to do next was amusing. A few fluffed endings and stops only added to the entertainment from my point of view Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Ha ha! The pianist got most of the nods I think! Yeah, a great show. Very 70's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Watching it now: [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0074rbc/chuck-berry-in-concert"]http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0074rbc/chuck-berry-in-concert[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 It's great, I saw it years ago. He was already something of a 'nostalgia' act even then and to save money would just pick up a scratch band wherever he went and just got on with it. The quality of these bands was of course variable! Great programme though, hugely entertaining. We won't see his like again, unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odysseus Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Nice! Chuck has a rather fine taste in shirts too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 The musicians were very variable, which was a mistake. Chuck thought that everyone had come to see him, which was true, but he soon got a reputation for putting on poor gigs. In a way he wasn't wrong because despite taking the piss he still managed to work for over 60 years. Chuck didn't have a set list or announce the numbers, he just started playing and his songs were played in C, Bb, Ab etc, not in guitar keys so some bands had a big learning experience. I don't watch Chuck Berry live for the above reasons, but I have most of his records. You can't imagine the earthquake they caused in the minds of musicians around the world in the 50's and 60's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted July 12, 2015 Author Share Posted July 12, 2015 I saw him about 20 years in Nottingham, he didn't disappoint, he was exactly as I expected right down to his white crimplene flairs, apparently he's still playing today at 90, not very well it has to be said, but don't try and tell me he's not in love with his music, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID3Xx4uNFXs&list=RDID3Xx4uNFXs#t=58 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted July 12, 2015 Author Share Posted July 12, 2015 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1436698687' post='2819973'] You can't imagine the earthquake they caused in the minds of musicians around the world in the 50's and 60's. [/quote]Back to the Future, priceless moment, when Marty tried to play some Chuck Berry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 That's too embarrassing to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL POSTERS Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 The story I heard from a guy who reckoned he'd been in one of the bands he'd used. Was that Chuck turned up alone in a cab with just a guitar and demanded cash up front before he went on. He hardly spoke to the band, no set list, more or less just " when I stamp my left foot its the end of the song" Trouble was, some of the songs were in different keys to the records, and the intros were all but unrecognisable. At the end he thanked them, didnt give them anything, and left in a cab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Seen Chuck many times over the years, and for me even when not ....err...on top form he is one of those people who still makes my hair stand on end. I saw him on the same UK tour as the BBC concert, at Doncaster Top Rank. He even wore the same shirt! That gig pretty much changed my life, and have been a fan to this day. Bruce Springsteen tells a great story in the 'Hail Hail Rock n Roll' movie. Apparently his band were booked to back Chuck in the 70's. Chuck arrived only just in time for the show, with the band not having met or discussed songs with him. A nervous Springsteen knocks on Chuck's dressing room door to enquire what they might be playing. Chuck's answer is 'Well son, we'll be doing some Chuck berry songs.....' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL POSTERS Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 I been a Chuck Berry fan since I got my first LP - as they were called then - which was the Stones first one, and of of my sisters boyfriends, realising that at 11 is was already into R&B played me some Chuck. Never seen him live, but I think the reason some people dont get it when they see him on TV is probably that the atmosphere is missing. Rock n Roll aint about perfection is it ? Although some of the live CB I've seen is pretty bad, I still cant help but break out into a grin watching him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 IMO the only good performance Chuck Berry put on tape was Hail! Hail! Rock And Roll. And that's probably because he wasn't in control, Keith Richards was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeponehandloose Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 If you see the rock and roll show footage of the Wembly show from the early 70s you can spot a long haired Wilco Johnson in Chucks band.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexbasscat Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 Chuck Berry is one of the founding fathers of Rock and Roll. The world would be a poorer place without him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL POSTERS Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 (edited) [quote name='keeponehandloose' timestamp='1436707919' post='2820068'] If you see the rock and roll show footage of the Wembly show from the early 70s you can spot a long haired Wilco Johnson in Chucks band.. [/quote] And in Heinz's. One of the best lines I've heard from Wilco was when he said Heinz was a talent free zone. I have a great early 60s live CB album 'Chuck Berry on stage 'All the tracks are just studio versions with applause dubbed on. Which gives me the impression that he wasnt that great a live player even back then.. Still without what he wrote, most people agree Rock n Roll would have been very different. Have you ever wondered how it would have gone though ? Would all the modern greats, as kids all have taken up Piano instead, and tried to sound like Jerry Lee, or like my other hero Little Richard ? Or maybe tried to emulate Pat Boone ... errm.. Nah ! Edited July 12, 2015 by BILL POSTERS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 My first gig I was taken to, was Chuck Berry in 1983. Did an hour dead on, and left. Legend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 [quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1436717035' post='2820153'] I have a great early 60s live CB album 'Chuck Berry on stage 'All the tracks are just studio versions with applause dubbed on. [/quote] That would have been the record company selling the same album twice. Used to happen a lot and the artists wouldn't necessarily have been told. Chess put out several Bo Diddely albums which had a couple of demo's and a load of his songs played by someone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 [quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1436699797' post='2819983'] The story I heard from a guy who reckoned he'd been in one of the bands he'd used. Was that Chuck turned up alone in a cab with just a guitar and demanded cash up front before he went on. [/quote] Cash up front (all of it) or he didn't play. No cheques. Same with Jerry Lee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 [quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1436699797' post='2819983'] The story I heard from a guy who reckoned he'd been in one of the bands he'd used. Was that Chuck turned up alone in a cab with just a guitar and demanded cash up front before he went on. He hardly spoke to the band, no set list, more or less just " when I stamp my left foot its the end of the song" Trouble was, some of the songs were in different keys to the records, and the intros were all but unrecognisable. At the end he thanked them, didnt give them anything, and left in a cab [/quote] I think Chuck got ripped off so bad in the 50s, he got really weird about money. However he did earn how to keep what was his. I heard the IRS once came to his St.Louis home asking for back taxes. He went ballistic and said; "I OWE YOU HOW MUCH!" The tax man said $300,000. Chuck went into a safe in his bedroom came out with $300,000. in cash and paid them. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 [quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1436699797' post='2819983'] The story I heard from a guy who reckoned he'd been in one of the bands he'd used. Was that Chuck turned up alone in a cab with just a guitar and demanded cash up front before he went on. He hardly spoke to the band, no set list, more or less just " when I stamp my left foot its the end of the song" Trouble was, some of the songs were in different keys to the records, and the intros were all but unrecognisable. At the end he thanked them, didnt give them anything, and left in a cab [/quote] Yup, he would go straight to the promoter and get his cash. The band is lucky Chuck didn't demand money from them for the privilege of playing with him, I am sure he got the receipt from the cab driver too. He learned to write off every expense. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 [quote name='casapete' timestamp='1436702180' post='2820014'] Bruce Springsteen tells a great story in the 'Hail Hail Rock n Roll' movie. Apparently his band were booked to back Chuck in the 70's. Chuck arrived only just in time for the show, with the band not having met or discussed songs with him. A nervous Springsteen knocks on Chuck's dressing room door to enquire what they might be playing. Chuck's answer is 'Well son, we'll be doing some Chuck berry songs.....' [/quote] Bruce was lucky Chuck told him anything about the show. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1436699401' post='2819980'] That's too embarrassing to watch. [/quote] He's 90. It's completely cool for me. I can pretty much bet where you and me will be and what we will be doing at 90. lol Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1436721969' post='2820215'] Cash up front (all of it) or he didn't play. No cheques. Same with Jerry Lee. [/quote] For those of us that are very active in bar band business it's actually a valid and good business model. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted July 12, 2015 Share Posted July 12, 2015 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1436698687' post='2819973'] Chuck didn't have a set list or announce the numbers, he just started playing and his songs were played in C, Bb, Ab etc, not in guitar keys so some bands had a big learning experience.[/quote] I'm one of those that believe he played those chords because of Johnny Johnston his piano player. Some say Johnny should have gotten credit for a lot of Chuck's songs Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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