News Archive

Exciting new Chuck Berry box-set incl. previously unreleased material released
Thursday, 19. February 2009 - 12:32


Chuck Berry
You Never Can Tell: The Complete Chess Recordings 1960-1966

Fans may be interested to know about the release of "You Never Can Tell: The Complete Chess Recordings 1960-1966" on Hip-O Select, a new 4-CD, 108-track box set of Chuck Berry's complete Chess recordings from February 1960 thru October 1966. The release includes 18 previously unreleased tracks, including a 45-minute live concert from 1963 and instrumental versions of Berry classics "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" and "My Mustang Ford".

Also included are the pair of groundbreaking instrumental tracks "Chuck's Beat" and "Bo's Beat", recorded by Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley in April 1964 and jointly released on their "Two Great Guitars" album (Checker LPS-2991) in August 1964 and in edited form as a joint single (Checker 1089). The "Two Great Guitars" LP is now widely acknowledged to be one of rock music's earliest super session albums.

The CD edition of this new Chuck Berry compilation album is limited to 5,000 non-numbered limited edition copies. Of particular interest is a 45-minute live in concert segment recorded in Michigan during October 1963 that was intended for release but was shelved and features hot versions of "Guitar Boogie", "Johnny B. Goode" and "Let It Rock", among others. There is also a previously unreleased July 1965 session wherein Chuck performs a pair of Big Joe Turner hits, "Honey Hush" and "Shake Rattle & Roll" and the package also includes previously unreleased instrumental versions of "Brown Eyed Handsome Man", "My Mustang Ford" and "Wee Wee Hours".

All of this great music is amplified by in-depth liner notes by Chuck Berry biographer/discographer Fred Rothwell and features complete session by session recording credits, period graphics and photos and a 1960 to 1966 singles discography. As with Hip-O Select's "Chuck Berry: Complete '50s Chess", this set was compiled by author Rothwell and Universal's reissue producer Andy McKaie.

Order here: http://www.hip-oselect.com/scr.public.product.asp?product_id=76BCC8F7-C101-459B-89C0-1E90373D2CD3

Source: Morten Reff | Dietmar Rudolph | David Blakey

Bruce Springsteen talks about Chuck Berry
Saturday, 14. February 2009 - 13:07


Bruce Springsteen mentions Chuck during his Super Bowl press conference. Here's the link to the clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4bALbSufCM

Source: Wolfgang Guhl

*** News ***
Wednesday, 11. February 2009 - 23:38


Chuck Berry was interviewed in St. Louis, MO yesterday, together with former US president Jimmy Carter.
Watch the video here: http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=4226712&cl=11973042&src=news

***

Brian Johnson of AC/DC remembers asking Chuck Berry for an autograph here.

***

DIBA INTERNATIONAL CONCERTS
PRESENTS

B.B. KING
ONE KIND FAVOR EUROPEAN TOUR


24.06.09 - Manchester, England - Manchester Evening News Arena
25.06.09 - Birmingham, England - NIA
27.06.09 - Cardiff, Wales - Cardiff International Arena
28.06.09 - London, England - Wembley Arena
01.07.09 - Helsinki, Finland - Ice Hall
03.07.09 - Goteborg, Sweden - Tradgarn
05.07.09 - Sonderborg, Denmark - Moelleparken
06.07.09 - Hamburg, Germany - Color Line Arena
11.07.09 - Frankfurt, Germany - Ballsporthalle
12.07.09 - Montreaux, Switzerland - Montreux Jazz Festival
15.07.09 - Prague, Czech Republic - Tesla Arena
16.07.09 - Budapest, Hungary - Sports Arena
17.07.09 - Vienna, Austria - Konzerthaus

Source: Wolfgang Guhl

Bo Diddley honored at Grammys
Wednesday, 11. February 2009 - 16:49


By playing his classic song "Bo Diddley" (l/r) GRAMMY-winning country music performer Keith Urban, GRAMMY-winning blues legend BB King, GRAMMY-winning blues legend Buddy Guy and GRAMMY-winning blues/rock performer John Mayer are paying tribute to Bo Diddley. The tribute can be seen at:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8b6am_bo-diddley-w-john-mayer-keith-urban_shortfilms

Source: David Blakey

Money, money, money
Monday, 02. February 2009 - 18:53


Yesterday we received a note from Diba International Concerts that Chuck Berry
did not return his fee of 40,000 USD for the Innsbruck show that had to be cancelled
due to Mr. Berry feeling unwell while waiting for a delayed flight at Dusseldorf airport.

Add to this the fact that Chuck's European Agent for five years, Cheyenne Productions,
has filed a lawsuit against him, seeking for more than 100,000 USD in damages.

At this point in time it does look a bit risky to book Chuck Berry and as his
current tour schedule shows few if any promoters outside of St. Louis will take
the risk.

It can only be hoped that things get resolved soon as otherwise we are facing a sad
end of Chuck Berry's career.

Source: Cheyenne Productions | Diba International Concerts