Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Chuck Berry sadly passed away yesterday when paramedics found him unresponsive and could not revive him. He influenced every rock musician from here to Timbuktu, and now they have all come out on social media to express their deep sadness at his passing.
The Stones and The Beatles were heavily influenced by Berry
The Rolling Stones’ sound, style, and stage persona was heavily inspired by that of Chuck Berry, who paved the way for them. Without him, there would be no Stones. The band’s Keith Richards tweeted, “One of my big lights has gone out,” while Mick Jagger said that Berry “lit up our teenage years,” and inspired them to follow their “dreams of being musicians and performers.” He also said that he wanted “to thank him for all the inspirational Music he gave to us.” The band’s official Twitter account sent out a post saying that they are “deeply saddened” by Berry’s loss.
Ringo Starr, the drummer from The Beatles, sent his “peace and love” to Berry, who he calls “Mr. rock 'n' roll music,” followed by a series of emojis. Bruce Springsteen had some of the loveliest sentiments to say. He praised Berry as “rock’s greatest practitioner, guitarist, and the greatest pure rock ‘n’ roll writer who ever lived,” saying that his passing is “a tremendous loss of a giant for the ages.”
The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson tweeted that he is “so sad to hear about Chuck Berry passing,” calling Berry “a big inspiration” who “will be missed by everyone who loves Rock ‘n Roll. Love & Mercy.” That last part is the name of opening track from Wilson’s debut album as a solo artist. Rod Stewart (who recently found himself in trouble for imitating ISIS) sent out a heartfelt tweet saying, “It started with Chuck Berry.
He inspired us all.” He said that the first album he ever bought was a Chuck Berry album and it changed him forever.
Kravitz, Slash, and more speak out
Jack-of-all-trades rocker Lenny Kravitz tweeted: “Hail Hail Chuck Berry!!! None of us would have been here without you. Rock on brother!” Guns ‘N’ Roses guitarist Slash says he was “heart broken” when he received the news, saying that Berry was “undisputedly the king.” Gene Simmons from KISS sends his “profound respect and admiration to one of the founding fathers of rock and roll.”
Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue said that without Berry, “Rock n Roll wouldn’t be what it came to be.” Keith Urban took to Twitter to thank Berry “for the poetry, the passion and the potency.” Randy Jackson from “American Idol” praised him as “the greatest rock and roll pioneer of all time.” Comedian and podcaster Marc Maron simply said, “The King is dead.”
