Chuck Berry Collapses on Stage

Chuck Berry slumped over an accompanist's keyboard during Chicago Show, Saturday night.  Later he was helped offstage for at least 20 minutes.

The 84-year-old rock and roll legend and a backing band of three Chicago musicians attempted to resume the show about 15 minutes later for a packed house, but Berry almost immediately was taken off again to be checked by paramedics who had been called to the scene.

After being examined, Chuck Berry returned to stage one last time to thank the fans who had waited in hopes for the show to continue, but he left the stage -- using a bit of his signature "duck walk" -- without playing again. Shortly afterward, he walked out of the theatre's stage door on his own into an awaiting limousine. Berry signed a release saying he was OK, and he was not taken to a hospital.

Chuck Berry Collapses on Stage

 

According to the concert's promoter, Michael Petryshyn, Chuck Berry suddenly felt faint and weak, and somebody had to call 911.

The show had started promisingly. Taking the stage in a red sequined shirt, black slacks and a white sailor hat, Berry began with "Roll Over Beethoven," one of his many 1950s hits, which formed the foundation for guitar-based rock and roll.

Berry then played the following songs - "Sweet Little Sixteen" and "School Days" -- at slower tempos than the original recordings, he filled them with his classic guitar riffs and sang them with weathered authority.  Things then quickly began going off the rails. Berry played snippets of blues songs and an unsteady version of “Memphis Tennessee," before taking an extended pause to try to re-tune his guitar, complaining that it was out of key with the piano.

"Obviously, something was off," said the promoter. "Fifteen minutes into the set it went from fine to something wasn't right.

Berry is known for his classic songs including "Maybelline," "Johnny B. Goode," and "Roll Over Beethoven."

Lou Gehrig's Disease has not been confirmed, although some sites and blogs made the claim.