9/26/2010 Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Chuck Berry, US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ


 11 years ago today...

September 26, 2010 - Phoenix, AZ 

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers played a rock concert at US Airways Center.
The band was touring behind its new album "Mojo" and played a few songs from it, but this was a greatest hits show. The Heartbreakers remain one of the tightest rock bands in a live performance that I've ever seen.
ZZ Top was scheduled to open the show, but cancelled due to an illness within the band, and was replaced by rock & roll legend Chuck Berry. I was excited to see this rock pioneer but he was utterly terrible. Chuck could no longer play a guitar and blamed roadies for his terrible sound and kept complaining that his guitar was out of tune. The only thing out of tune was Chuck himself. Chuck was embarrassing, and I was embarrassed for Chuck.
Berry is known for requiring the local promoter to find an area band to back Chuck and play his three-chord rock. The band had no clue what Chuck was playing and were lame ducks on this night. Watching the complete inability and failure to perform from a pillar of rock & roll was the most memorable, and saddest, part of the evening.

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