|
|
| justinkurian |
Chuck Berry documentary shows dark side of rock legend
By Dean Goodman
Twenty years ago, a camera crew and some of the world's biggest rock stars ventured to St. Louis to help Chuck Berry celebrate his 60th birthday.
They were lucky to survive the experience.
The famously prickly "father of rock 'n' roll" shook down the filmmakers for a big bag of cash every day, almost started a prison riot, belittled his protege Keith Richards, hit on the female producer and then lost his voice for the climactic all-star concerts before a hometown crowd.
The darkly comic saga is detailed in the new DVD of "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll," which was originally released in movie theaters in 1987. Long out of print on home video, the film was directed by Taylor Hackford, who went on to collaborate with another musical icon, Ray Charles, for the movie "Ray."
The two back-to-back concerts at the Fox Theater in October 1986 served as the backbone for the original film. Hackford shot the difficult rehearsals at Berry's rundown estate, interviewed Berry, his family members and associates, and added often-raucous commentary from peers such as Little Richard, Bo Diddley and Jerry Lee Lewis.
"I signed on to this as a celebration of somebody who had had a major impact on our lives," Hackford told Reuters in a recent interview. "So we went there to celebrate him, and we had every expectation to expect a lot of cooperation because he was also a producer. Lo and behold ... we found quite a different situation."
MORE HEADACHES THAN MICK JAGGER
Rolling Stones guitarist Richards, whose adoration for Berry over the years has largely been greeted with disdain and even a sucker punch by his idol, was musical director of the concerts. Long disappointed by Berry's take-the-money-and-run gigs, he assembled an ace house band, insisted that Berry rehearse and invited the likes of Eric Clapton, Etta James and Robert Cray to play the shows.
In the film, an exhausted Richards described the experience as torture, adding, "He gives me more headaches than Mick Jagger. But I still can't dislike him."
One key scene shows Berry and Richards at loggerheads during rehearsals over the chords for "Carol," one of about a dozen Berry songs covered by the Stones during their career.
"That was a very tough moment," Hackford said, "because it was a humiliating moment where Chuck is taking him to school ... it's like, 'Go ahead, Keith. You're the big rock 'n' roll star. Blow up and stomp off.' Keith just stood his ground."
Hackford said Berry, now 79 and still playing one-nighters, had no involvement in the production of the DVD, which will be released on June 27. Although they are on fairly cordial terms, Hackford recalled that Berry dismissively laughed at him when he asked to license some unseen concert footage.
"Everything with Chuck Berry has to do with the dollar sign. But you know what? It's OK."
That's the basic sentiment of many who have dealt with Berry. He may be tyrannical, but if he had not written tunes like "Maybelline," "Johnnie B. Goode" and "Roll Over Beethoven," the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan might not have gone very far. (A call to his long-time booking agent was not returned.)
TOO MUCH MONKEY BUSINESS
Less enamored was producer Stephanie Bennett, who put the whole project together, and recalled in the documentary that she was rewarded with constant unwelcome advances from Berry, whom Hackford described as "a major sexual animal."
Such attention paled against the groping Bennett and Berry's girlfriend endured from horny inmates when Berry took the filmmakers to the prison where he did three years for armed robbery as a youth. The only way they could avert a riot was if Berry played for the captives, which he did. Hackford shot the priceless footage, but Berry took it from him and has refused to give it back. Only some still photos capture the event.
Perhaps worst of all, Berry refused to show up for filming each day until Bennett gave him a bag of cash, which is how he used to be paid for his slapdash concerts. She estimates that Berry cajoled upwards of $800,000 out of the production, a hefty sum given that the budget was $3 million. Hackford was forced to give up his director's fee in order to stem the tide of red ink but ended up with the DVD rights.
Berry's love of money yielded a key scene in the film but almost scuppered the birthday concert. Midway through rehearsals, he surprised the filmmakers by announcing plans to play a show in Columbus, Ohio. They followed him on the trek, showing how he travels alone, armed only with his guitar, a comb and a toothbrush, pockets his fee before playing a note, performs for the contracted duration, and flies straight home afterwards.
Unfortunately, he lost his voice after the gig and was barely able to sing during the birthday concerts a few days later. Most of the audio footage was overdubbed during post-production -- with Berry taking a fee for his time.
While the documentary does not paint Berry in a flattering light, Hackford -- a Peabody Award-winning TV journalist in an earlier life -- sees the DVD as a well-intentioned attempt to preserve for posterity "a really complicated, very complex individual.
"Nobody is ever gonna know what really goes on inside that head. No one's ever gonna do the entire picture of Chuck Berry because it's just too deep and dark." |
|
|
| Riffhard |
Reading between the lines I'd say it's a safe bet that ol' Chuck is major league asshole. Is it just me?
Riffy |
|
|
| Saint Sway |
NICE. |
|
|
| telecaster |
quote:
Riffhard wrote:
Reading between the lines I'd say it's a safe bet that ol' Chuck is major league asshole. Is it just me?
Riffy
I would say that the 1000 plus tapes that the FBI seized of him using womens mouth's as a toilet would really tell the dark side of Chuck
Oh yeah, and the 1000 plus videos he taped of women using the bathroom at his place might add something |
|
|
| Riffhard |
quote:
pdog wrote:
Many of us are assholes! You, Me... Chuck...!
Quite true,but I don't demand sacks of cash for my assholishness.
Riffy |
|
|
| Dan |
quote:
Riffhard wrote:
Reading between the lines I'd say it's a safe bet that ol' Chuck is major league asshole. Is it just me?
Riffy
He hit my friend over the head with his guitar outside the House Of Blues in 1994. I also know someone who promoted 10 gigs. Had to fork over 10k cash for each gig in a samsonite briefcase. He wouldn't give the briefcase back either so the guy had to buy 10 of them. |
|
|
| Saint Sway |
10k for a gig is peanuts. Even in 94. |
|
|
| PeerQueer |
He's a tough old nut.
Keith stood his ground, but he wasn't too keen on tangling with old Chuck. Even at 60 years of age he mighta knocked Keith on his ass.
Great movie - remember it well. |
|
|
| telecaster |
quote:
Saint Sway wrote:
10k for a gig is peanuts. Even in 94.
Not when you play 3 songs and no encore
The 10k story is true
My buddy owns a place and that story is accurate |
|
|
| Saint Sway |
whats the going rate for 18 songs and 1 encore? |
|
|
| telecaster |
quote:
Saint Sway wrote:
whats the going rate for 18 songs and 1 encore?
A date with that Hudson chick and a bottle of Schlitz
In other words, a Black Crowes show
Why do you ask? |
|
|
| Saint Sway |
BLAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
another funny Kate Hudson/Black Crowes joke by Tele!
good stuff!!! |
|
|
| Dan |
This was 1986. And 10k isn't really bad when you don't have a band and travel expenses are paid for by the promotor. If you have a tour bus, four band members and some additional roadies then you are lucky to break even. |
|
|
| SheRat |
I was watching Hail Hail in a drunken stupor just this past Saturday night. LOVE that freakin' movie.
Chuck is a world class dick, but I'd do him--just out of curiosity.
I danced onstage with him once, at the Hootenanny in Irvine, CA, and got my hair caught in his tuning pegs. He didn't seem to mind. He called me specifically onto the stage because I was a bleach blonde in leather pants. He likes him some white tail, Chuck does. |
|
|
| Dan |
quote:
SheRat wrote:
Chuck is a world class dick, but I'd do him--just out of curiosity.
Curiosity? I would recommend finding the video mentioned above to find out if you really want to do him the way he likes to be done. |
|
|
| Maxlugar |
[quote]SheRat wrote:
I danced onstage with him once, at the Hootenanny in Irvine, CA, and got my hair caught in his tuning pegs. He didn't seem to mind.
The hair wasn't an issue that time The Boss came a courtin' for a dance...
 |
|
|
| sirmoonie |
quote:
Maxlugar wrote:
[quote]SheRat wrote:
I danced onstage with him once, at the Hootenanny in Irvine, CA, and got my hair caught in his tuning pegs. He didn't seem to mind.
The hair wasn't an issue that time The Boss came a courtin' for a dance...
Oh, I was in love with that little chippy back in the day. Man, how tastes change. |
|
|
| Maxlugar |
[quote]sirmoonie wrote:
Oh, I was in love with that little chippy back in the day. Man, how tastes change.
She got much better looking with age.
|
|
|
| PeerQueer |
[quote]Maxlugar wrote:
[quote]sirmoonie wrote:
Oh, I was in love with that little chippy back in the day. Man, how tastes change.
She got much better looking with age.
_________
Her tits sure developed over time...
|
|
|
| SheRat |
quote:
Dan wrote:
Curiosity? I would recommend finding the video mentioned above to find out if you really want to do him the way he likes to be done.
You recommend, huh? Presumptuous of you to assume I don't already own the video in question.
In any case, thanks for your concern, Dan, but I can take care of myself. My curiosity is not uninformed. |
|
|
| Dan |
quote:
SheRat wrote:
You recommend, huh? Presumptuous of you to assume I don't already own the video in question.
In any case, thanks for your concern, Dan, but I can take care of myself. My curiosity is not uninformed.
Looking forward to the sequel! |
|
|
| SheRat |
quote:
Maxlugar wrote:
The hair wasn't an issue that time The Boss came a courtin' for a dance...
That's because people like the way I get down. It's infectious. |
|
|
| MrPleasant |
Hey!! One of my ex-bosses (and no, he ain't Bruce Springsteen) likes to record male and female genitalia in the W.C. (without their approval)!! I'm telling you, people, he's nutty as bed-and-breakfast mystery! |
|
|
| SheRat |
quote:
MrPleasant wrote:
Hey!! One of my ex-bosses (and no, he ain't Bruce Springsteen) likes to record male and female genitalia in the W.C. (without their approval)!! I'm telling you, people, he's nutty as bed-and-breakfast mystery!
Howe did you find out? |
|
|
| MrPleasant |
quote:
SheRat wrote:
Howe did you find out?
He was a teacher of mine and other women, from college. He employed "us" but he wasn't a very good boss. Luckily he didn't tape me (but several women were caught with their panties down).
Only one woman sued the guy. And didn't win because laws regarding sexual harassment are very tricky in México. |
|
|
| jb |
I saw a report on CNN( a legitimate news cast) that men were filming young cheerleaders in provacative poses/positions and selling the videos on e-bay. This is very disturbing. |
|
|
| MrPleasant |
quote:
jb wrote:
I saw a report on CNN( a legitimate news cast) that men were filming young cheerleaders in provacative poses/positions and selling the videos on e-bay. This is very disturbing.
Apparently there were some reports regarding Disneyland as well. But I wouldn't really know. |
|
|
| sirmoonie |
quote:
Maxlugar wrote:
[quote]sirmoonie wrote:
Oh, I was in love with that little chippy back in the day. Man, how tastes change.
She got much better looking with age.
No, no, Skeechie. No, no. Anorexic, breast implants, and stupid. Not an attractive woman she turned out to be. |
|
|
| Dan |
quote:
jb wrote:
I saw a report on CNN( a legitimate news cast) that men were filming young cheerleaders in provacative poses/positions and selling the videos on e-bay. This is very disturbing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eW2KrEc_fE |
|
|
| Brainbell Jangler |
quote:
Riffhard wrote:
Reading between the lines I'd say it's a safe bet that ol' Chuck is major league asshole. Is it just me?
Riffy
Indeed. Chuck had a reputation in the early Seventies (and before, I assume) of stiffing his local pickup bands. The word among musicians I knew then was, if you're playing with Chuck Berry, get your money up front. |
