Chuck Berry passed away today....

The documentary and filmed concert Keith did for Chuck, "Hail, Hail, Rock ’n’ Roll", is well worth watching. Chucks original pianist Johnnie Johnson was still living at the time, and is in the band Keith put together for the concert, which also included NRBQ bassist Joey Spampinato (who turned down Keith’s invitation to join The Stones when Bill Wyman retired, electing to stay with NRBQ!) and studio great Steve Jordan on drums.

Another guitarist who was as mesmerized by Chucks guitar playing as was Keith Richards is Welshman Dave Edmunds, solo artist, member of Rockpile (along with Nick Lowe, Billy Bremmer, and Terry Williams---one of the all-time great Rock ’n’ Roll bands), and master producer (The Stray Cats, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Everly Brothers, Carl Perkins, many others). Dave was one of the guitarists considered as a replacement for Brian Jones in The Stones, though the job went to Mick Taylor, formerly in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (following Eric Clapton and Peter Green). Dave Edmunds' playing is the ultimate realization of the style Chuck Berry created---the best purely Rock 'n' Roll guitar playing I've ever heard!