RIP Chuck Berry - here's my buddy's Chuck Berry story
Mar 18, 2017, 7:16 PM
Berry was notorious for never having a set list for shows and also for being pretty cranky. Many of his songs sound the same and he expects his band to pick up the nuance of each and figure out what he's playing. There is a documentary where Keith Richards toured as part of Berry's band and they constantly fought over the no set list issue. Buddy was a sound man for WCSC in Charleston. Berry was supposed to play the Gaillard around the time Hugo hit in '89. Buddy was a notorious smarta** and the station manager made the mistake of letting him sit in on a conference call with Berry before the show. They were told not to speak. At the end of the call they ask if there's any more questions. Buddy, knowing about the set list issue, asks, "Mr. Berry, do you know what songs you'll be playing?" Dead silence, glares from the station manager. Berry finally says, "Motherf***ing Chuck Berry songs!"