Chuck Berry passed away on Saturday at age 90. It may be easier for him to stake the claim as the "inventor of rock and roll" than any other musician.
Look no further than the artists who have adopted his songs into their own repertoire. And it's not just one tune. Sure there are 1000s of versions of "Johnny B. Goode" out there, but we've uncovered 18 different covers from 18 different artists -- from our favorite jammers to the absolute super-est of superstars, to a few hidden gems.
We've got to start with the great Jerry Garcia, who welcomes Bruce Hornsby to the stage for "You Never Can Tell".
Let's move on to Phish. I debated whether to include the brilliant 12/31/95 encore or this one from Denver 1997. I went with this version of "Johnny B. Goode" because... well stick around after the three minute tune concludes.
JBG is a song so good that it got a sequel. Here's Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers doing "Bye Bye Johnny" at the Fillmore in 1997.
Of course, Jerry played Berry with the Grateful Dead, too. Heres "Around and Around" from 1990 pushing the eight minute mark. Nice.
When Joe Russo's Almost Dead plays Chuck, I guess its JRAD covering the Dead covering him. But I don't care. This is how they opened their show the night new of his death broke: "Promised Land."
Rounding out the jambands, a nice pro-shot vid of Widespread Panic jamming "Let It Rock" from 2016.
Let's move on to the superstars. The Rolling Stones tackled "Sweet Little Sixteen" on their 1978 tour.
While Keth Richards also played "Run Run Rudolph" with his solo band The X-Pensive Winos.
Here's a rare take of Led Zeppelin performing "School Days" at an early 70s soundcheck.
And yes, even The Beatles, loved to tip their cap to Chuck Berry. 'Too Much Monkey Business" from a BBC session.
Years after the break-up Paul McCartney was still recording these tunes. "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" from 1999's Run Devil Run.
Bruce Springsteen does an extended (of course) take on "Little Queenie".
Bob Dylan performing "Nadine", May 29th 1988. I hear he's pretty good.
The third Wilbury on the list, Jeff Lynne and Electric Light Orchestra adds the classical strings that were never there on the original "Roll Over Beethoven".
"Are there obscenity laws in Virginia", asks George Thorogood before tearing into "Reelin' & Rockin".
Two minute rock songs? The Replacements know what's up in that department. Here's their take on "Maybellene"....
...that can only be matched by MC5's furious "Back In The USA".
Pokey LaFarge and Shovels & Rope perform "30 Days" for eTown.
And finally, a sincere young man takes a stab at "My Ding-A-Ling". Regrettably, he's not allowed to finish.
