RIFFING
RICK NIELSEN
I played in his band for a few shows . Our introduction to him came right before we played . He said , “ I don ’ t need you . If you screw up I ’ ll get rid of you . I can do the show myself . But if you ’ re good , you should have a good time .”
he had a smile on his face . It was like one grew up knowing that stuff . I loved blues and I loved the old rock . I liked stuff after the Stones cleaned it up a little bit . It was fun to do . I think Chuck got his songwriting life yanked out of him after being ripped off by everybody . After that , to me he seemed to have a grudge . Did you see the movie he did with Keith Richards ( Hail ! Hail ! Rock ‘ n ’ Roll )? He is an angry , not young , man . Before he got ripped off , he and Little Richard and all those guys were doing it . Chuck Berry is “ The ” rock ‘ n ’ roll guitarist . He is not my favorite guitarist , but as far as rock ‘ n ’ roll guitar you think of him immediately . Plus his name is right next to ours at the Hard Rock Cafe in Chicago . Its Muddy Waters , Bo Diddley , Chuck Berry , and Cheap Trick . So I ’ m sitting right next to him in Chicago . ■
MARCH / APRIL DIGITAL EDITION GUITAR TRICKS INSIDER 9