Paul McCartney credits Berry for the Beatles’ very existence. Lennon used it as the opportunity to finally meet, and jam out, with his idol.īerry wasn’t just a major inspiration for the young Lennon “From his songwriting and lyrics, to his guitar playing and stage antics, perhaps nobody else short of Elvis Presley was as influential on the young Beatles as Chuck Berry,” writes Beatles scholar Aaron Krerowicz, listing “at least 15” of Berry’s songs the band covered (as either the Quarrymen or the Beatles). Douglas called it “probably the most memorable week I did in all my 20-something years on air,” Guitar World notes. The year was 1972, and Lennon and Yoko Ono had taken over Douglas’ show for the week, booking such guests as Ralph Nader, Jerry Rubin, and then Surgeon General Dr.
The moment was a major highlight of Lennon’s post-Beatles’ career. Goode” (with Lennon’s backing band, Elephant’s Memory, and unwelcome discordant backing vocals from Yoko). The two perform Berry’s “Memphis, Tennessee” and “Johnny B. “If you had tried to give rock and roll another name, you would call it Chuck Berry,” says John Lennon by way of introduction to his hero in the clip above from The Mike Douglas Show.