Richard Hawley

I've just read in Metro that Chuck Berry is playing two London gigs as follows -

19th and 20th July

Hackney Empire
291 Mare Street
E8

8pm

Tickets £35 to £45

Tel: 020 8985 2424

www.hackneyempire.co.uk

Always been wary about a Chuck gig but with Bo passing, and I've seen Jerry Lee I might just have to risk it.....steep old price that would get me



Anyone seen him in last couple of years?

Oh beware according to long time berry fans he's not bothered since the 70,s. In facyt there was a funny article in "now dig this" Chuck Berry is shite-written by a fan who's followed him for years.

A friend on mine played with him about 2/3 years ago in Wolverhampton - I took my Dad along; he collected Chuck's records during the mid-late '50's after hearing them on the American Forces Network (AFN) radio broadcast from Germany.

I was very surprised - Chuck Was in tune, played well....It was a really good gig. He did lesser well known songs like 'Around & Around' too. My Dad was so chuffed to see his musical hero - and I was chuffed I'd took him along. I'll always remember his reaction to the gig.


My friend Eryl who was the drummer is a genius Jazz drummer and gave the music a really original rootsy + dynamic feel, which Chuck responded so well to - rather than a rock drummer trying to turn the gig into a Black Sabbath-fest. It's hard to find drummers who understand where a type of music is coming from - there's usually no swing and it's nearly always played too loud.

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I saw him about 10 years ago ( to tick him off the list) ) at Sheffield CIty Hall and, despite all my misgivings , he was ace _ EXCEPT for his last song (no encores) when he got all the little kids out of the audience on stage and got them to hug and kiss him while he was playing _ cute but slightly sinister and sleazy

Saw him in Dublin last week- i loved it!

He's starting to show his age (81) in that he forgets some lyrics and hits a few bum notes but it was a genuine pleasure to see a living legend perform.

And most importantly he seemed to be enjoying himself too

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My partner and her family (all above board) saw him at Bestival and thought he was swinging.