I was talking to a friend yesterday over dinner. He runs a Midwestern State Fair and coordinates the talent, and they had hired Chuck Berry to play. They'd gotten the Fabulous Thunderbirds to open, and contracted Mr. Berry roughly 35000USD for a single 60-minute set. His rider stipulated that he be provided with a drummer, bass player and keyboard/guitar person. They went to the airport to pick him up, and he wasn't there as planned. Apparently him and his girlfriend had rented a car and driven directly to the state fairgrounds on their own. The backing musicians hired for the evening were seasoned locals, familiar with Berry's oeuvre—as one might well be in such a position. They had hoped for a brief soundcheck with Mr. Berry, however. Chuck parked his rent-a-car behind the stage area—which had no backdrop, nothing, just the drum kit, keyboards and odd amps. Berry stipulated that a backline amp be provided, something from the 1950's which was quite hard to locate and expensive to rent. The Fabulous Thunderbirds played a dynamite sweaty set and whipped the crowd up well. Berry showed up 20 minutes before his curtain time and when asked by the backing session men what songs they would be playing his riposte was, "Chuck Berry songs." He brought his guitar, girlfriend, a folding chair, and a single pick. As he was going onstage, he told the technical staff to shut off the video projection screens—that he wouldn't perform with them. This is a very large outdoor venue, and ...
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น