On Your Way Chuck Berry

[spike morelli]

2MM,
Years ago, my group opened for Chuck in Reno at the Lawlor Events Center. Sound check was in the afternoon and I assumed Chuck would be there for sound check as well. No such thing, as Chuck's band was a "pick up" band, a group of hired musicians contracted to back Chuck for this show. All those guys had to work with was sheet music and they never actually had ever played with Chuck. The leader of this "pick up" group told me he had talked to Chuck on the phone, and asked him what key he'd be playing in. Chuck's reply was , when I start playing, " you'll find it". You've got to be "heads up" when you play with someone like Chuck Berry, you never really know where he's going to go, his live playing was not very disciplined. Chuck showed up 20 minutes before downbeat, went straight to the promoter and got paid in cash, went away to count it to make sure it was all there, before even changing into his show clothes.....which he did , played, then left immeadiately. So I never really got to meet the man, but from what I saw, he was a bit eccentric.