?

the section of the show which will form part of an upcoming musical needs to be trimmed down a bit?

Certainly in Scotland.

I love his music though I wouldn't make any attempt to go and see him. He must've been a nightmare to deal with for promoters etc. but reading about all his shenanigans is hilarious. I think Roger Daltry narrated a 3 hour "Chuck Berry life story" type thing for the BBC a while ago.

again

He was playing the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea as part of this tour and tickets were £50 a pop. Which I thought was a wee bit steep.

Mr Berry is 83.

The Troxy London date was cancelled 'so the promoter could concentrate on a single date' - ie at 65 quid a ticket no one wants to see Chuck's regulation 50 minute set in which the band he hasn't met do most of the work. Plus installing cameras in the ladies toliets takes time.

Either that or not a big college town

BTW the big box set of 'Hail hail Rock N Roll' outlines what a complete shit but a damned fine player Chuck Berry is. The extended scenes of him sitting talking with Little Richard and Bo Diddley are priceless.

At £45 a pop

that the writer was so overcome by the news that they lost the power of grammar and inserted that grocers' aopstrophe into 'promoter's'?

"Despite all you've heard, Chuck Berry can't get arrested in the U.K."

He did My Ding A Ling.

*shudders*

Must be?

in a package tour with Jerry Lee and Little Richard. His band just looked ahsamed. After each solo Chuck would ask them on mic 'Which song is it?' before he went back into the verse. Chuck goaded the audience throughout like he was looking for a slap basically. Though a few years before that I saw him in his own show at Hammersmith and he was phenomenal.

He wasn't at the soundcheck; we didn't even meet him until he walked on stage; he assumed that we'd know the songs based purely on the intros; on the dot of 50 minutes he walked off stage; we didn't see him after he left the stage; I didn't get paid.

He could play Chuck Berry riffs very well though :-)

There's a marvellous section in Bruce Thomas's The Big Wheel about Chuck and his cruelty to the guitar player in his Australian pick-up band. I think the last two words in the paragraph were "pure evil".

Chuck has rediscovered his fondness for drilling holes in the walls of ladies toilets and casting his beady eyes over the occupants; hence the tour has been postponed whilst someone gets to work with the Polyfilla and someone else gets to work with the lawsuit.

Interestingly the promoter for some of the dates was "the good doctor" Alan Wise who usually works with Mark e Smith and the mighty Fall, who is similarly erratic and fond of brief live sets....

Alan Wise is a bit of a legend up these parts but when I worked as a venue manager I was always warned well away from ever putting a gig on by Chuck. He demands everything in cash, requests a limo etc etc. It's not exactly making sure Athlete have enough cold Stella if you get my drift.

Also there's the obvious risk that he may die at any point which can make insurance etc a little difficult. We lost a lot of money on a show by Lonnie Donnegan when he sadly passed on a few days before the show.

The gig was at the Olympia too which is a bit of a nuts place more used to staging cage fighting.

Well having been the production guy on the I'll fated Glasgow show and having the mis-fortune of spending the best part of 7 hours in a Mexican stand off with 'mr' berry at glasgow airport, he felt I was being unreasonable NOT hiring him an£80k merc, in my name, and handing him the keys (oh how I wish Smeato was there that day!), I can confirm the 'mr' berry is indeed a cunt of the highest order.
1. Chuck berry
2. Marilyn Manson
3. Don Maclean
As you can see he sits pretty highly in my rock n roll league of cunts, and for very good reason. The 'c' word isn't usually a word I use, however, given the cunt in question, I'm afraid no other word would encapsulate my true feeling.

I made pollstar magazine with that 'day' by the way. Oooo get me!

actually gave him access to burly blokes from the pithead rather than 13 year olds? Allegedly.

I'd run out of text! I'll get on a proper keyboard (really tricky on am iPhone) soon and spill some beans. Just don't be eating anything when I write about mssr Brian Warner aka Manson!

I had already be much dialogue with agents and previous promoters across the globe, with regards to THE most important clause in Chuck's rider - the car. Clearly it states the promoter should hire an S-class mercedes in their name and duly hand 'Mr' Berry the keys on arrival so he can drive himself. At this point he'd be 78, yes?

Rightfully, in my mind, I was a tad concerned to the full implications, legal and probably more importantly, plain common sense-wise, to just handing the keys to an £80k motor to some old codger I'd never met before - who is also used to driving on the 'wrong' side of the road. Even his agent understood, but wouldn't get involved.

So D-day is fast approaching and after having heard 'just get him the car, its really not worth the hastle' for the umpteenth time - I enlist the services of an S-class owner and driver. A fair compromise? one would think? Boy have I never been so wrong.

So 21st September and through the arrivals gate appears 'Mr' Berry with his small entourage, can't remember all who, but his daughter was there I remember that much. Anyhoo, I digress. He approaches, we get the niceties out of the way and quick as Banking CEO accepts his well deserved six figure bonus He pops the question, "so do you have the keys?", I quickly inform him politely that what he is requesting is illegal in this country and that I have arranged a compromise of a limo and driver for him waiting in the parking lot. The response from Chuck? "well it seems we have a problem."

So, this goes back and forth like a stuck ol' 78; "so do you have a car for me", "no ive explained the position on that", "so, wheres my car", "clearly Mr Berry, you are deaf as well as stupid" (ok i never said that but you do have those moments in life of "if only i'd said that...")for six and a half hours (at £40 an hour for the car!), interupted now and again with surreal soft spoken pleasant conversation and "would you like another coffee" to the point where he just up'd sticks and disappeared with no warning. I gave him half an hour and then His daughter and Myself started to panic and search the airport for him. An eagled eyed member of the public clearly knew we'd lost our child and pointed us in the direction of the local Hertz desk where he was hiring his own S class. He had to have guaranteed that car on a card as Im pretty sure no hire company would hire a car of that calibre to someone, well, of THAT calibre.

I ask him to follow the hired S class and we'll guide him into Glasgow to his suite. The motorway this partcular day was chaos and the West bound M8 was completely closed most of the day as a fuel tanker had flipped over. This resulted in the East bound, where we were heading, was down to one lane. Tempers of drivers are high and out pops Chuck Magoo in his £80k stock car. The hired driver and Myself could barely watch the additional chaos He caused trying to get to the motorway. What was the name of that Welsh woman in the Lada?

We finally get into Glasgow City and first port Jenson Button wanted to visit was His hotel. We picked a renowned hotel in Bath Street which we knew had a massive suite. Surely there wouldn't be a problem?

Uneasy silence in the lift to the top floor (after the previous seven hours ended badly) which IS the suite. Door opens, head shoved in "is this it?" he enquires with nose firmly turned skyward. I swear this suite is 2 x the size of my, more than adequate 3 bed semi. He shuffles in has a squint about then leaves with disgust and asks to see the venue.

We arrive at the venue, he wanders back stage etc for a bit then goes out to see the piano he's asked for and the amps he's asked for (of which there are only one pair in the UK and I had to get them couriered from London), again, fall short on this and the show is a non starter. He sits down at the (as yet un-tuned) piano and starts to play. The hair stood up on my arms and neck - you know the way you get when you hear a piece of music - being raped by cats in an alley. It was like the headmasters office on that stage, with so many crew guys looking at their shoes in an uneasy fashion,not knowing where else to look. Still, ironically, he WAS happy with the piano. Go figure.

His Daughter asked what time they should return for show. I'd already been chastised in the airport by the Grande Homme for daring to "talk the business" with his Daughter earlier "only I talk the business" - i was informed. I look in his general direction for answering guidance and the "nod" is given. Like with all children I gave him a time an hour ahead of when I needed him back at the venue. I had my production assistant jump in the car with them and show them the way back to the hotel. This way he'd know how to get there easlily.

Shortly after his band of hired hands arrive from Liverpool. All round nice blokes and clearly gluttons for punishment - especially for what they were getting paid. They have a quick line check, support arrive and they soundcheck and we're ready for doors.

1900 doors open. 1930 Big Vern and his fine Shootahs get the crowd suitably warmed up and ready for Chuck.

2000, when I'd asked the Berry party to return came and went. I gave it 20 mins to allow for navigational mishaps and then called his daughter. "We're just leaving now" I was told. Hotel is two blocks away so I figure 15 mins tops.

2030 was his due stage time, support had been off for 15 minutes at this point, crowd refuelled (remember this is glasgow!).

2045 still no sign. I call again. This time no answer. I chuck (sorry) my production asst in a cab and send him to the hotel to get them. No answer from any of the rooms and none of the staff have seen any of the Berry party leave.

2100 by now the crowd are starting to get antsy. Lots of shouting etc.

2130 passes and its really cutting fine. His band were in the dressing room, "this isnt the first time" I'm informed. Magic. Just what I need to hear. So I make an announcement over the PA to say Mr Berry will be taking the stage shortly and apologise for the delay.

2145 and by now Im tearing my hair out - and ive a lot to tear - I cant get an answer at the hotel, daughter has stopped answering her cell and Im left with the unenviable thought of having to pull the show. People were already leaving in their droves - some of these folks had travelled from as far as Inverness and England to see the show.

2210 (ish) and with only about 300 of the 2000 crowd left I have to announce the show is off "due to unforseen circumstances outwith our control"

2230 the crew are cleaning up and packing away and as if nothing had happened in (duck) walks mssr Berry "oh well, i guess ive missed the show", about turns and walks back out the building. Never to be seen again.

I can only guess as to his reasons but I think they are firmly rooted 50-60 years ago and we now have a man so affected by the divisions that were in the US at the time that he now takes great umbridge at being A. told what to do B. not getting what he wants, but mainly A.

The car I believe is a statement on his not requiring anyone to do anything for him, he is indepenent. That way he just comes in does his 50 mins and leaves (sometimes during the song if the 50 mins are up). He does purely "the business" and no more.

To me he is just one rude, bitter, formerely (arguably) talented miserable old man who is at the point in his life now where he's happy to do the dirty as he knows fine well there will be no action against him for it as it would all have to go through the US courts.

We paid £30k for him in advance plus his flights (everyone has to) and probably suffered another £20-£30k losses through venue hire, crew, PA, adverising etc and had to swallow the loss.

The company I worked for realistically had no chance of getting any of that back, even with insurance, as the costs to pursue him would be more than the amount lost. This is why I believe it is so common place for him now to do this. I also think that that is the reason for the cancellation of the tour above. If, after our show and so many others, a promoter is foolish enough to pay this guy up front they stand to lose a fortune, especially if they are booking the whole tour. I would imagine the promoter has asked to only pay the normal deposit of 50% and he's thrown the dummy out the pram (im sure he's got plenty of both left over in a garage somewhere...).

Shortly afterwards I was made redundant by the company as the loss was so great. I still work freelance in "the business" and Im only 3 weeks away from a show with my arch nemisis Mr Manson....

Tune in next week for more tales from the frontline with Don Maclean (i really should write a book - or have someone with better grammar skills do it for me ;). No not that one, the American Pie - and boy is he not just! - although if it makes folks happy I'll post it at 5 to 5 on a friday.

it wouldn't be because Chuck wants more time to rehearse the band, would it?

I bow to no one in my view that Chuck is a Rock n' Roll God but he is what I believe is referred to as a "complex" character.

What a great story. Yes, you should write a book! How ironic that a man who gave the car so much of its romance within the rock 'n' roll vernacular should be so relentlessly humourless about his cars in real life. Such a shame to hear about anyone in his position who treats the audience with so much contempt.

aged 18 in 1974. I lasted one gig. I can't tell the story unti he is dead.
Money, brown paper bag, cheese sandwich, blonde woman.

Come back after he has left this earth.

as my story isn't a gag. It actually happened and I learned more about life in those couple of days than I would have ever expected...!

Where else would you read this 'off the cuff'.

Well in my opinion, the promoter’s statement must be taken at face value. It would have been very easy to slam Chuck Berry if he was up to something.

David, is this not a free forum to interact in our responses to your postings? From the flow of the responses, it does look like a few people are doing just that. Certainly, slanderous comments by someone can’t be left without some retort? I’ve been reading the online version of The Word for sometime and this is the first time I can remember noticing a post is removed. If you are in fact using “TheMarshal” as a means to be provocative then it makes sense. It’s your column and you control the direction of how things are done. If not, let the fish and chips fly and see what the outcome is.

I saw a response to a few posts by The Marshal that was very telling about a show in Glasgow a few years back. The person that posted his / her comments took to task some of the comments made. Was it deleted due to the use of objectionable language OR because it exposed quite a few glaring contradictions.

Here’s the response to the poster TheMarshal with the expletive removed. Funny how TheMarshal’s foul and coloured comments remain.

Looks like an agreement between Chuck Berry and the promoter of the show was breached. You state the contract specified one of the agreed upon terms was Mr. Berry's be given the keys to an S-Class Mercedes Benz and HE drive the motorcar. This was a known fact in the agreed terms yet someone failed to honor the contract to the letter. In this case YOU TheMarshal. You state the promoter told you to 'just get him the car, its really not worth the hastle' yet YOU changed things resulting in Seven or eight hours of wasted time at an airport just because someone thought Chuck Berry's contract did not mean what was agreed to. That someone was you.

The very famous Hail, Hail Rock N Roll should have told anyone wanting to deal with Chuck everything they needed. His agent from that booking company in the states said, "he will do what ever is specified in the contract". He even went so far as to state when a promoter does not stick to the contract, problems would arise.

As far as missing the show is concerned, it sounds once again like a lack of common sense by YOU. YOU already stated the concern about a 78-year-old man driving an 80k motorcar. This makes sense to me. Many 78-year-old blokes are to be avoided like the H1N1 flu driving on the motorway however, the promoter agreed to the terms in the contract only to have change the terms breached by YOU without prior knowledge of the promoter or Chuck Berry. Seems rather arrogant to me. Common sense would tell the average limey to just walk away from the issue and let the promoter and artist settle things. Could it be a case of GREED that compelled you to continue on? Would not common sense prevailed and another assumption be made that maybe there should have been someone from the promotional staff waiting at the hotel to guide Chuck Berry and party to the venue? You state ample time was allotted for the 15 minute trip yet with the previously stated traffic conditions from the airport and his observed driving ability, no one from the promoters staff (YOU) considered traffic or other factors (like a 78-year-old man getting lost). Blaring stupidity!

Chuck Berry is the expletive in this story? Sounds like with all the information gathered by you and the promoter from other parties (promoters from all over the globe as you describe it) YOU would have had the intelligence the Queen mum's educational system gave YOU to make sure EVERY THING was in place or not take the task or show on. What a revelation to state what was agreed to in the contract was illegal in the UK. Who's the ignorant expletive, Chuck Berry or the promoter that told him one thing knowing it was illegal to make a car hire in that manner in the first place? I’ll refer back to Hail, Hail Rock N Roll and mention “problems arise when the contract is not followed”.

Substitute Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Elton John or Sir Eric Clapton for Chuck Berry in your detailed and revealing story and there would be no doubt who the expletive was. None of our British brethren would be at fault of course and rightfully so. It's just the case of YOU arbitrarily changing the promoters agreement with Chuck Berry and causing an absolute MESS!

The real losers are the fans and Chuck Berry. The expletive that didn't bother to read, understand or follow a contract and had the intelligence of a Monty Python character (by not making absolutely sure the star knew the way to the venue as an example) caused thousands of people to miss a show they wanted to see. Chuck Berry once again is made out to be the villain when in fact, you “TheMarshal” tattled on your unscrupulous behavior and have been found guilty of not doing what they agreed to.

Nothing you say about Don McLean will have any validity if you approach another tale about an expletive with the evidence like what's been presented here. Mclean obviously is used to dealing with professionals and it looks like anything but a professional was running the show. Unfortunately, you got caught in the middle of the fray and made the wrong choices.

Cheers!

.

he lost his head

when you need it.

Didn't see that one coming........

Well pardon me. 'John'. For the record I was employed by the company in the roll of production manager, as I had been for many years. So money isn't an issue for me. I get paid no matter what. Similarly I expect within that roll to not be treated with the contempt that chuck showed me all day.

Secondly our objecting to a contract clause on the basis of legality is perfectly within reason. Would it have mattered had it been Elton john etc? Nope not a jot my friend. That said they, I'm sure, would not have been so bloody minded in the first instance and accepted the law of the land they had already been paid, tax free, to perform in.

Thirdly, yes it states the car in the rider. We also objected to the clause with his management. That's part of the process in booking a show. There was a perfectly good, safe and above all legal option to hand.

Thirdly and a halfly, this is one of many, many shows he's done this on. I worked one of them. I think Word should run a 'spot the common demoninator' competition for this one. The winners get a copy of the brand new Wynntown Marshals album, Westerner ( shamless, I know) and I'll hand deliver it in the s class merc chuck didn't deem good enough for him.

Fourthly, read my post again? We dd have a representative go to the hotel with him, and ultimately to get him - he refused to be contacted. Is that reasonable behaviour for an issue around a car, a car?

Is not performing reasonable behaviour over a car

Also for the record I lost my job, that affected my family very badly, I'm I bitter? Fucking sure I am, wouldn't you be?. So that along with the wasted time and money promoting the show, the lost revenue to the venue, wasted time of all the other crew involved, wasted time of his band travelling/ rehearsing and 2000 people who paid chuck berry, to see chuck berry play, for chuck berry not to perform over a car. Again I'll. say it, A CAR. Whether in a rider or not. I think really, it's him that is to blame. Oh lastly there was some mention of the fact we'd pushed on with the show for money, as the show wasn't anywhere near sold out we were losing money anyway. Also on a show like that a promoter wiloukd be lucky to make a couple of grand. So hopefully that blows that particular myth clean out the water.

The original poster rocknroll queen? Feel free to email me direct so I can open your wool covered eyes to the true shit pit that people call 'the music industry', just before you go all 'holy fan' on someone elses ass for tellig it how it REALLY is.

Neither did I. I was planning on putting my bash in for Chuckels standing us up in Glasgow too. Funny how one's perspective changes when facts are brought to light. Not the best place to bring up such an off topic subject but at least I have a much better understanding of what caused the show not to go on. They just did not bother to make sure the man knew where to go. My mum can get lost at the market and she's only 75 if we don't go with her.

Sorry john, read my post. I personally took him to his hotel, then to the venue. My assistant took him back. Look at a map of Glasgow. Hotel is at the east end of bathstreet. Venue is at the same end of bathstreet. There are no rockets required for assembly to get there. You cannot get lost. If, in the million to one chance he did, you of all disciples should know the Lord graced the man (a good idea?) with a tongue in his head.

The mans an arse who can't stand not getting his own way and THAT is why he didn't play - or RESPOND to communication. Get over it. It's been said I'm an arse too, freely admit it, however, He fucked 2000 paying punters up the wrong un and the promoter and the venue and HIS band. Not me. As billy connelly once said 'hingin' is too guid for him, it's a hard fit up the arse he needs'. Wise words indeed.

Now I'm even more eager to get in about don Maclean! 'Gladiators readdddddddy!'

lets hear about the Starry Starry Night hitmaker.*

(yes I know its 'Vincent' but that's not as funny.)

"Follow this thread" option without actually having to put in a comment?

I have nothing to say about this but am very keen to hear the Don McLean story.

The thread is now a few days old and the way I search for it is not really suitable for work. If someone saw me typing it in they may not be impressed.

in the same week? What's going on around here?

After playing in a number of bands over the past twenty years, it sounds like they were not selling enough tickets to pay Chuck Berry his money. Postponing the tour is a way for the promoter to save face and sell more tickets.

From experience, every band I've played in have been ripped off by promoters in some way. Not all of them but enough to know if there's someway one of them can screw you they will. We are not a Chuck Berry big act, just a bunch of the boys playing in clubs and pubs.

There have been too many times were a promoter did not give us all our money, did not have a dressing room for us or did not have enough power on stage after assuring us everything was perfect. There's no such thing as a promoter that will not try and tip toe around a contract if they think they can get away with it.

I'm probably in a fairly unique position here, where I'm on both sides of the evil divide. I've played and been in the industry cogs somewhere for 20+ years also. In my own experience the bigger the promoter the more likely they are to screw you. The win, winners are agents. They never ever lose out. They get their cut whatever (usually 15-20% of artists net fee including any percentage ie on a sell out).

Have I ever 'screwed' an artist. Sure, it's all part of the game and trust me it works both ways. Generally though only if they've been difficult. More often than not though I've actually protected their interest and made them more money by cutting costs on the overall show, which they take typically 85% of. Or 97% in the case of one now defunct mancunian brother fronted outfit. Yip you read correctly. The promoters from those particular shows get 3% after costs. Generally that's split between a few promoters!

In an ideal world both artists ( and to be fair the 'artist' rarely has any involvement in finance) and promoters would see things from each others perspective. Ie if a show is selling shit, what could the artist do to lessen the impact on the promoter and on the other side if it sells out, how can the promoter save costs to ensure the artist gains. In reality that ain't ever going to happen. Indeed it's only going to get worse with agents now clambering to get their hands on ticket booking fees and promoter kick backs from ticket outlets. Now there's another win winner. The ticket outlet. Licence to print money.

From an artist perspective I've done plenty tours where I've never had a rider, had to fight for my fee and indeed just returned from a two week tour of japan with my other band where we were promised the earth, hotels, transport, food, rider and more importantly a guarantee. Guess what we never saw. Yip, any of it. We even on two occasions ended up buying the support bands their dinner. Did we cancel the shows in a fit of the huff? Nope, like the true rock warriors we soldiered on for the fan. (yes that was deliberate). On an upside the promoter is slowly paying us - monthly.

At the end of the day it's business. Everyone is out for number one. That's never going to change. No matter how you dress it up.

And I quote "Have I ever 'screwed' an artist. Sure, it's all part of the game and trust me it works both ways. Generally though only if they've been difficult." my knickers just bunched up.

What criteria constitutes "been difficult"? Taking too long using the toilet, asking to get their money when agreed to or wanting to have your contract executed to the letter?

Reading your most recent response I must agree and say you caused your boss great losses by not just doing your job. The line about having someone at the hotel waiting for Chuck Berry at the time he was to be on stage is not quite the accommodating way of fetching an artist. Why not have someone waiting at the hotel prior to the time you expected him to leave? Scrambling to get your talent when he's supposed to start playing isn't exactly what I would call professional.

You made yourself redundant by as the other chap said "causing an absolute MESS!"