BARNSBURY BOY - russell profitt
The Time I Met Chuck Berry
Back in 1964, I managed to bunk into the Finsbury Park Astoria to see the Chuck Berry show including the Nashville Teens, Swinging Blue Jeans and the Animals. As a cash strapped Barnsbury Boy I was able to do so in the usual way, by shinning up the wall at the back, and then climbing trough a small open window of a back stage corridor.
Once in, and before I could scarper downstairs to get to the seating area, out came Chuck from his changing room, and I literally froze. He saw me and said he had heard some noises and asked me what was going on. I told him I came in through the window and wanted to see his show but could not afford to pay for a ticket - taking a quick cheeky glance into his dressing room. It was small, had some bottles and stuff on the long table below the mirror and this, to me, massive gleaming guitar at the back on a stand, and some people sitting around.
I was terrified about what would happen next. Thoughts pumping through my head about mum, the police, school, the Bonk!!
But Chuck looked at me, shook his head, smiled, then led me along the corridor to the backstage wings. "Stay right there and watch", he said, then headed back to his dressing room. From there, I was able to see the Teens finish their set - everyone did two songs and an encore - followed by the Blue Jeans and the Animals, then Chuck, who was fantastic, of course, duck walk and all, and did more songs and encores that the others.
At the end he got me a programme, before he was swept away by his entourage. I was then able to slip out and join the audience and walk out the front of the Astoria as normal. It still stands as one of my most treasured memories.
And although I know now of his lapses etc., I still try to think of him in a positive way … any way … to me his LP "The Latest and the Greatest" is excellent, still stands the test of time and, arguably, is the best album issued in his name......Pye Records International !!
The rest is history...
Back in 1964, I managed to bunk into the Finsbury Park Astoria to see the Chuck Berry show including the Nashville Teens, Swinging Blue Jeans and the Animals. As a cash strapped Barnsbury Boy I was able to do so in the usual way, by shinning up the wall at the back, and then climbing trough a small open window of a back stage corridor.
Once in, and before I could scarper downstairs to get to the seating area, out came Chuck from his changing room, and I literally froze. He saw me and said he had heard some noises and asked me what was going on. I told him I came in through the window and wanted to see his show but could not afford to pay for a ticket - taking a quick cheeky glance into his dressing room. It was small, had some bottles and stuff on the long table below the mirror and this, to me, massive gleaming guitar at the back on a stand, and some people sitting around.
I was terrified about what would happen next. Thoughts pumping through my head about mum, the police, school, the Bonk!!
But Chuck looked at me, shook his head, smiled, then led me along the corridor to the backstage wings. "Stay right there and watch", he said, then headed back to his dressing room. From there, I was able to see the Teens finish their set - everyone did two songs and an encore - followed by the Blue Jeans and the Animals, then Chuck, who was fantastic, of course, duck walk and all, and did more songs and encores that the others.
At the end he got me a programme, before he was swept away by his entourage. I was then able to slip out and join the audience and walk out the front of the Astoria as normal. It still stands as one of my most treasured memories.
And although I know now of his lapses etc., I still try to think of him in a positive way … any way … to me his LP "The Latest and the Greatest" is excellent, still stands the test of time and, arguably, is the best album issued in his name......Pye Records International !!
The rest is history...
