More Details From Chuck Berry Congress Show Emerge

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 3, 2011 4:48PM

Sun-Times reporter Dave Hoekstra was on the scene for Chuck Berry's collapse at the Congress Theater Saturday night. The picture Hoekstra paints is surreal, with an audience of all ages, the Congress smelling as we always remembered, and an 84-year-old rock 'n roll legend struggling to go on with the show.

Hoekstra spoke with show promoter Michael Petryshyn, who said Berry checked into his hotel shortly after arriving in Chicago, then did a rare sound check with the nad hired to back him up. Anyone who's ever seen the Berry biopic Hail! Hail! Rock N' Roll! knows this is rare for Berry to do so for one-night gigs. Legendary radio DJ Dick Biondi, who emceed the concert, said Berry had a hard time hearing him when they spoke backstage before the concert. Hoekstra said most of Berry's songs were mashups of hits, that he was having a hard time finding the rhythm guitar in the mix, and that the only song he did complete was his novelty hit "My Ding-a-Ling."

Berry's agent said the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is back home in St. Louis resting and looking forward to his monthly residency at Blueberry Hill in that city on Jan. 19.