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Post by BluesyThug on Mar 19, 2017 13:39:51 GMT 10
Today, we have lost not just a mere legend, but arguably one of the most important music figures of the 20th Century.
Chuck Berry was somebody who wasn't without controversy. But he was the man who perhaps more than anyone else shaped the burgeoning genre that is Rock & Roll, and may very well have been the single most influential musician and guitarist of the last 70 years.
To me and many others, Chuck was, is and always will be the King of Rock & Roll. He did more for the genre (musically, culturally, lyrically and its definition) than any other person - not to take anything away from the other giants of the genre, such as Little Richard, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. Although he was 90 years old, he remained active to the end, working on what would turn out to be his final album - and his first album since 1979.
So much has been said already about Chuck by so many, particularly from later rock icons that came in his wake, and who arguably owe Chuck with their careers. This is why there has been a great outpouring of grief not just from fans and music aficionados, but from all the famous professionals that were influenced by him. We have well and truly lost a musical titan.
In the top tier of rock and roll legends, we are now left with just Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino. Appreciate them while they're still around.
But for now, we shall mourn Chuck Berry.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2017 14:08:35 GMT 10
I can't act like i'm all that sad, because Berry is not someone i'm a hardcore obsessive fan of. I've heard a couple of his original albums which were mediocre and I have The Great Twenty-Eight on my iTunes which I greatly enjoy but don't listen to often. He's not one of my idols basically. However my respect for him is undying. Everything you said rings true. I don't think Chuck is the king of rock and roll simply because society has already accepted Elvis as such, even if unfairly so it's the way it'll always be. Plus Elvis did have equal credit to Chuck for something spectacular, breaking down racial barriers amongst music fans, something Chuck can be thankful for with his diverse fan base (same goes for every rock and roller from this era). But if there's any artist who has the sound of rock and roll down to a tea, it's Chuck Berry. He defined the style perfectly. What's most interesting to me about Chuck is his connection to so many styles. He has a lot in common with the electric blues artists that inspired the guitar style of most rock and roll from this era, especially on his slower numbers like Havana Moon. He also predicted the way that modern rock which I do distinguish strongly from rock and roll (as it evolved from an almost genre-less period of experimentation in 64-66 and born as a true genre in 67) emphasised certain guitar phrases with such raw power. He's the missing link in the history of all of this, if you were to compare him to archeology, yet there's something about his sound that is still distinctly 1950s. A true icon that changed everything. One of the greats.
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Post by DarkSideFreak on Mar 22, 2017 7:57:27 GMT 10
RIP Chuck. The guy pretty much invented music for teenagers (in his lyrics) and combined blues, r&b and country influences to create something that was so utterly elemental for loads of later "rock" bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Status Quo, The Beach Boys and on and on... few rock bands haven't covered him at one point (btw SWR1 played a horrible cover of Johnny B Goode by Judas Priest). But playing like him isn't all that easy, believe me!
How ironic that the three surviving rnr icons are all pianists!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2017 15:42:39 GMT 10
RIP Chuck. The guy pretty much invented music for teenagers (in his lyrics) and combined blues, r&b and country influences to create something that was so utterly elemental for loads of later "rock" bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Status Quo, The Beach Boys and on and on... few rock bands haven't covered him at one point (btw SWR1 played a horrible cover of Johnny B Goode by Judas Priest). But playing like him isn't all that easy, believe me! How ironic that the three surviving rnr icons are all pianists! Yeah I love Priest but that cover is just atrocious. Not one of their strongest moments.
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Post by BluesyThug on Mar 22, 2017 23:18:25 GMT 10
I don't think Chuck is the king of rock and roll simply because society has already accepted Elvis as such, even if unfairly so it's the way it'll always be. www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2017/03/22/sorry-elvis-chuck-berry-king-rock-roll/E0U2XDyRSRaJS4aPKY58qN/story.htmlThis article is very much worth checking out, and neatly sums up my thoughts on the issue. On another note, Chuck's first posthumous single's just come out, which is from his upcoming album: I have to admit, listening to this made me feel quite sad. Despite the fact that the guy was 90 years old and that he hadn't recorded anything new since 1979 (and that the guitar riff at least is an open imitation of Johnny B. Goode/Roll Over Beethoven), this would have been a surprisingly solid comeback. Makes me all the more sad that the man is gone now
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2017 23:45:42 GMT 10
I don't think Chuck is the king of rock and roll simply because society has already accepted Elvis as such, even if unfairly so it's the way it'll always be. www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2017/03/22/sorry-elvis-chuck-berry-king-rock-roll/E0U2XDyRSRaJS4aPKY58qN/story.htmlThis article is very much worth checking out, and neatly sums up my thoughts on the issue. On another note, Chuck's first posthumous single's just come out, which is from his upcoming album: I have to admit, listening to this made me feel quite sad. Despite the fact that the guy was 90 years old and that he hadn't recorded anything new since 1979 (and that the guitar riff at least is an open imitation of Johnny B. Goode/Roll Over Beethoven), this would have been a surprisingly solid comeback. Makes me all the more sad that the man is gone now It's okay, but pretty impressive for his age
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Post by BluesyThug on Mar 30, 2017 15:08:10 GMT 10
There you have it - his last ever concert. Historic as it is, this question must be asked: Would you have paid to go see this?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2017 18:55:28 GMT 10
There you have it - his last ever concert. Historic as it is, this question must be asked: Would you have paid to go see this? Id rather watch tommy cooper did on stage. Hell I'd rather watch a play called a dude fucking a horse which sounds cool but ends up just being a dude fucking a horse.
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Post by BluesyThug on Mar 30, 2017 19:07:01 GMT 10
There you have it - his last ever concert. Historic as it is, this question must be asked: Would you have paid to go see this? Id rather watch tommy cooper did on stage. Hell I'd rather watch a play called a dude fucking a horse which sounds cool but ends up just being a dude fucking a horse. Hmm.... also knowing you you'd greatly enjoy the horse one
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2017 19:22:14 GMT 10
Id rather watch tommy cooper did on stage. Hell I'd rather watch a play called a dude fucking a horse which sounds cool but ends up just being a dude fucking a horse. also knowing you you'd greatly enjoy the horse one How did I know you'd say that? Lol. It's a reference to The 40 Year Old Virgin
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Post by BluesyThug on Mar 31, 2017 16:38:02 GMT 10
also knowing you you'd greatly enjoy the horse one How did I know you'd say that?
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