Chuck Berry Collapses On Keyboard At Congress Theater

By Anna Deem in News on Jan 2, 2011 6:45PM

About an hour into his "Winter Dance" show at the Congress Theater on Saturday night, 84-year-old Rock N' Roll Hall of Famer Chuck Berry collapsed on-top of his keyboards before a standing-room only crowd. After Berry didn't move for several minutes, he was helped off stage by three people. He came back on stage 20 minutes later, although most of the audience had left by that point. He tried to play another song before stopping and telling the audience he had no strength and leaving the stage again.

A Fire Department ambulance was called to the theater, and Berry was given a check-up at the scene, according to Fire Department Spokesman Joe Roccasalva via the Chicago Sun-Times. Berry said he "felt better" and decided to sign a refusal for further medical treatment. Berry had played two New Year's Eve shows at B.B. King's Blues Club and Grill in New York City before flying to Chicago on Saturday. Before collapsing, Berry had problems performing in the early part of his set, stopping halfway through certain songs and forgoing his guitar to play keyboards instead.