Chuck Berry is a famous singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was one of the pioneers of rock and roll music and had a string of hits between the mid-1950s and the early-1970s. Although renowned for his musical abilities, Berry has tarnished his reputation over the years via frequent brushes with the law and deviant sexual behaviors.
I. Early Life
Berry was born on October 18, 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in a middle-class family which encouraged him to pursue his musical interests at a young age. Berry made his first public performance while a high school student at Sumner high school.
Berry encountered his first brush with the law during his senior year in high school, in 1944, when he was arrested and convicted of armed robbery after carjacking an automobile and going for a joyride with his friends to Kansas City, Missouri. Berry admitted in a 1987 autobiography, Chuck Berry: The Autobiography, that his car broke down on the shoulder of a highway and that he flagged down a passing motorist and stole the motorist's car at gunpoint. The carjacking victim called police at a pay phone and Berry was quickly captured and incarcerated at the Intermediate Reformatory School for Young Men at Algoa, until his 21st birthday in 1947.
II. Musical Success Early In Career
After getting out of prison, Berry married Themetta "Toddy" Suggs in 1948 and pursed various factory jobs and also considered a career in photography. Meanwhile, Berry began performing as a guitarist in his spare time for bands in St. Louis. By 1953, Berry was performing with the Johnnie Johnson Trio, a popular regional band that played at a club called The Cosmopolitan in East St. Louis, Illinois. Berry became known for his guitar riffs and grandstanding.
In 1955, Berry covered "Ida Red" (renamed "Maybellene") with several backup musicians. "Maybellene" was Berry's first hit, selling over a million copies and reaching #1 on Billboard's Rhythm and Blues chart and #5 on the Hot 100. In 1956, Berry had another hit with "Roll Over Beethoven," which reached #29 on the Billboard Top 100 chart. Berry followed with hits such as "Rock and Roll Music" in 1956. "Sweet Little Sixteen" (which hit #2 on the Hot 100) and "Johnny B. Goode" (which hit #8 on the Hot 100) in 1958.
However, in December 1959, Berry ran afoul of the law again after he invited a 14-year-old Apache waitress whom he met in Mexico to work as a hat check girl at his club. The girl was arrested on a prostitution charge after being fired from the job and Berry was arrested under the Mann Act. Berry was convicted, fined $5,000, and sentenced to five years in prison.
III. Musical Success Later in Career
Upon release from prison in 1963, he underwent a career resurgence as other bands such as the Beatles and Beach Boys covered some of his songs. Berry continued to release new albums and tour throughout the 1960s up to the 1970s. In 1972 he had his biggest hit, "My Ding-A-Ling," which he had initially recorded as a novelty track.
Berry's type of touring style, traveling the "oldies" circuit in the 1970s — where he was often paid in cash by local promoters — added ammunition to the Internal Revenue Service's accusations that Berry was a chronic income tax evader. Facing criminal sanction for the third time, Berry pleaded guilty to tax evasion and was sentenced to four months imprisonment and 1,000 hours of community service involving various benefit concerts in 1979.
Berry continued to tour throughout the 1980s, giving 70-100 one-night performances a year. In the late 1980s, Berry owned a restaurant in Wentzville, Missouri, called The Southern Air. Berry currently performs about one Wednesday each month at Blueberry Hill, a restaurant and bar located in the St. Louis area. In 2008, Berry toured Europe, with stops in Sweden, Norway, Finland, England, the Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland and Spain.
IV. Berry's Deviant Sexual Fetishes
There is no disputing that Berry has been an exceptionally successful musician. However, it seems as though Berry's music has never been his "true calling" or driving influence. Instead, Berry seems to be motivated by his one true love in life - watching women take dumps.
In 1990 Berry was sued by several women who alleged that Berry installed a video camera in the ladies' bathrooms at two of his St. Louis restaurants. Berry probably installed the camera so that he could masturbate vigorously while watching video of women going to the bathroom at his restaurant. It's possible that Berry had microphones installed so that he could hear the sounds of women farting after eating the food at his restaurants... One wonders whether Berry would have eventually installed surveillance and microphones in the bathrooms at his local Taco Bell so that he could listen to the sounds of women (and possibly also men) spraying diarrhea after eating greasy tacos...
A class action settlement was eventually reached with 59 women on the complaint. It is estimated that the settlement cost Berry around $1.3 million plus legal fees.
There are rumors that the police raided Berry's house after the allegations of the bathroom videos surfaced. Supposedly the police found some nasty home videos at Berry's residence. One of the videos supposedly shows Berry giving a golden shower to a blonde woman. After soaking her in piss, Berry apparently tells her to open her eyes and mouth, and asks whether his urine is "nice and salty." The woman supposedly tells Berry that she loves him and then asks him for a kiss. Berry's response? He said that he wouldn't kiss her because, "it smells like piss." During the same scene, Berry also reportedly unleashes a long and very loud fart and then says, "You can smell my fart." It has been reported that Berry's fart was as loud as a fog horn on a cruise ship!
Berry showed that he can receive as well as give in the next scene, as the same woman is supposedly shown taking a dump on Berry's face.
V. Conclusion
Despite his successful music career, Berry has had several brushes with the law and the entire world now knows that he's a dirty old man with perverted sexual fetishes and apparently gets turned by a woman with a "turtlehead" sticking out. Accordingly, there can be no doubt that Chuck Berry is one washed up celebrity!
*** Update - July 4, 2011 ***
I discovered a link to a sound clip which was allegedly taken from Chuck Berry's sex video. This sound clip includes a sound allegedly of Chuck Berry ripping ass and then saying "Smell my fart." If this clip is legit, then I have to admit that Chuck Berry's fart does sound kind of like a fog horn!
*** Update - May 12, 2013 ***
I recently discovered this video on youtube which includes a two-hour loop of the alleged Chuck Berry fart:
*** Update - September 18, 2013 ***
The website for Vice magazine recently posted scans of several pages of a letter sent to Bob Guccione from an alleged federal DEA informant who came across Chuck Berry's infamous "toilet tapes." According to the DEA informant, Berry enjoyed farting in a faces of his unsuspecting lovers while in the 69 position. A scan of the first page of the letter is shown below (click on the image for a larger view). The other pages may be seen on the Vice magazine's website.
Berry seems to be a real class act! I wonder if he every shared his collection of bathroom tapes with SBTB's Mr. Belding?
ReplyDeleteROCCO
He should be called Chuck Dingleberry
ReplyDeleteI feel the need to point out that Beetles refers to family of bugs. Beatles is a music group. You sure do like to spill all the dirt.....vs. speaking to all the talent the man does have.
ReplyDeleteThe author of this particular posting about Chuck Berry obviously has issues with what the phrase means. It's one thing to state a person has been to jail and accused of committing crimes. It's certainly another to say someone is washed up because of criminal convictions or accusations.
ReplyDeleteChuck Berry is still selling out LARGE venues, recently played in front of 500,000 people in Italy and just this past new years eve played two sold out shows at BB Kings Blues Club in New York City.
This old fart sells out most if not all the concerts he performs at and the fans can't get enough of him.
You can say he's a jerk, a jail bird or what ever. The one thing not applicable to him is he's washed up.
Not a great entry. Berry is actually considered a rock and roll legend, so listing him as a washed up celebrity is not exactly accurate.
ReplyDeleteI agree, he's a disgusting pervert, but not washed up. If you're looking for washed up celebrities look at some of the reality shows on VH1, there's no shortage.
ReplyDeleteCan't you do any better than this. This guy is a rock n roll legend. He may not be the classiest guy on earth,or the smartest, but he is definitely not washed up. You must be a pretty pathetic person yourself to be having a site like this. Later Ahole!
ReplyDelete^^^ Thanks for the support, Mr. anonymous tough-guy!!! I don't dispute that Berry's musical legacy will live on, but his personal reputation is shot.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember that R. Kelly parody music video "Piss on You" that Dave Chappelle showed on Chappelle's show back in 2003 or 2004? At the end of the video, Chuck Berry is listed as the director of the video!
ReplyDeleteWhat's your point? You didn't post R. Kelly, a one-hit-wonder, you posted Chuck Berry, a rock legend.
ReplyDeleteThis was another dissapointing entry. :(
ReplyDeleteI previously made several suggestions to you (e.g. Glen Scarpelli or Jan-Michael Vincent) - yet you ignored them. They would have been much better than Chuck Berry (wtf is that about???).
New suggestion: The guy that played Skippy on Family Ties.
^^^I don't know who either of those people are. Enough people visit this blog now that it doesn't matter whom I profile - some people will like it and some won't.
ReplyDeleteFYI, Skippy was played by Marc Price. I wrote a profile for him a long time ago: http://washedupcelebrities.blogspot.com/2007/09/marc-price.html
Great site, terrible entry. Out of the hundreds and hundreds of washed-up celebrities, you chose to write about Chuck Berry -- a musical legend? Dude, come on!
ReplyDeleteThis website has now officially jumped the shark with the posting of Berry.
ReplyDeleteYou've done a profile on Jeffrey Jones but not Pee Wee Herman, Kurt?
ReplyDeleteGreat article. It seems like some are too blinded by his former successes to admit that Chuck Berry is indeed a washed-up old man.
ReplyDeleteYes, he was a rock god in the 50's, but now he's mostly known for the pleasure he gets out of pissing and crapping on women. What a sicko.
This is a rather ridiculous entry. I never thought of a celebrity being washed-up or out due to their personal escapades.
ReplyDeleteBy definition washed up is not an applicable term for Chuck Berry. He's does not fit the term. Still doing concerts and selling them out does not qualify as washed up.
Jimmy Swaggert still has a ministry after being proven a complete hypocrite. Jerry Lee Lewis still performs after drugs and his other run-ins could not stop him. Keith Richards and the Rolling Stones are still a major concert draw after repeated controversy.
When no one pays these people any attention THAT'S when the term "Washed Up" will be applicable.
Here's the definition.
ReplyDeletehttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/washed-up
Though I really don't think Chuck Berry is washed up, this post at least made me laugh!! I always knew he had several run ins with the law, but I never knew he was such a dirty old man..lol
ReplyDeleteTrue King of Rock & Roll.
ReplyDeleteI would love to drop a massive turd right in Chuck's mouth. Maybe one of his many loyal fans who came here to defend him could "hook me up" I could probably piss in your mouth to return the favour.
ReplyDeleteThese articles are all terrible. Whoever's writing this blog has no writing talent whatsoever. Veering wildly from a drily earnest drone to puerile jokes about Taco Bell and diarrhea completely takes me out of the reading experience. I'm not a prude and I love schadenfreude (that's why I'm reading a blog called Washed-Up Celebrities), but this is just bad.
ReplyDeleteWow didn't get on the geraldo show with your site huh? did you get on any show? Today we have XXXXX from washed up celebrities. You cant hold chuck berrys pinky, mordern rock and pop is a result of his contributions. One thing he has that you don't is real talent. I may not be crazy about some of your celebrity post. But they pursued thier dreams and they tried , they did make it to celebraty status. WHat are you some sweaty fat boy in a dark room eating pizza 24/7 , looking at poooorn in between running this "site". Pitiful
ReplyDelete^^^ Why are you so angry? Are you Chuck Berry? This blog is just a hobby and I write these profiles for fun. Maybe you should take up a hobby to reduce your stress level.
ReplyDeleteMy friend, you're pathetic. And a bad reporter, since you get the facts wrong. (But I'm sure that doesn't bother you). Chuck Berry's one of the all time greats, not just of rock and roll-- one of the all time greats, and still not "washed up" at 83. Anyway, if you have any sexual weirdnesses, I hope they are spewed forth on the internet, (innacurately), for all to see. (Even though no one would care.) Peter
ReplyDeleteI think Chuck Berry is a borderline entry. He has written some amazing Rock music that I happen to be a fan of and he inspired a lot of big bands such as The Beatles, Stones, AC/DC, etc. At the same time when it is the year 2010 and most of your best material was written in the 1950's you are sort of washed up. Reduced to touring the "nostalgia" circuit. I live in Texas and there are young people who like 50's music and bands that cover Chuck Berry. They usually refer to their music as "Rockabilly". So there are still many young people who like 1950's music and Chuck Berry is an influence. Does he ever write any new material?? Could help if he got with a big producer and put out a kick ass old school Rock N Roll album with all new material. Oh yeah I read Brian Johnson the lead singer met Berry and asked for an autograph because he is a big fan and Chuck was a dick to him and said he did not give autographs. Brian said that crushed him and left a bad taste in his mouth that one of his heroes was such a rude dickhead to him! As far as liking pissing on people if both are consenting adults I have no problem with it. The videotaping women in his restauraunt now that is a horse of a different color.
ReplyDeleteI would let Chuck Berry give me some of his berry juice!
ReplyDeleteChuck Berry was one heck of a songwriter though. Man he wrote some classics.
ReplyDeleteI think Chuck managed his money well unlike other 50's stars.
I hate to say it since I'm a huge fan but Jerry Lee Lewis should probably be on your list. He is still doing shows even though he has lost his ability to sing. It is painful to watch him any more. The Jerry Lee of the 70's and 80's is long gone.
Man, Chuck has probably seen and done more things than any sad bloggers has.
ReplyDeleteCHUCK BERRY = SCUM OUT-OF-TUNE CONVICT
ReplyDeleteOn our way to Branson from the East Coast a few weeks ago, we saw a giant sign advertising his upcoming concert - think we were maybe around Chicago or St. Louis, somewhere in there. Anyway, people on the bus were going crazy saying they wish they could see him. I think he's still very popular.
ReplyDeleteFunny site, and it's fun to read about the exploits that led some celebrities into obscurity. But Chuck Berry doesn't belong here.
ReplyDeleteI see that there are a lot of people on here who would drink Chuck's pee.
ReplyDeleteChuck Berry didn't "cover" Ida Red (renamed Maybellene). He wrote the fucking song. As well as dozens of other classics. He's the poet laureate of Rock'n Roll. He shouldn't be on this celebretard list.
ReplyDelete^^^ Adam, according to some sources Maybellenne was a cover of Ida Red. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maybellene
ReplyDeleteI have heard that Chuck Berry's pee tastes like Kool-Aid and Kentucky Fried Chicken. If that is the case, I would love for him to pee on me while I sing "Oh Maybellene" in my birthday suit!
ReplyDeleteThere's no doubt that Chuck Berry is among the greatest and most influential songwriters/performers of all time....however...if these poo poo fetish accusations happen to be true ....that would also make him one of the biggest assholes of all time!
ReplyDeleteThere's no doubt that Chuck Berry is among the greatest songwriters/performers of all time...however...if these poo poo fetish accusations happen to be true...that would make him one of the all time biggest assholes too!!! By the way...I am huge Chuck Berry fan!!!
ReplyDeleteChuck Berry is one sick crusty old MOFO!
ReplyDeleteChuck Berry has some weird sexual desires. But washed up? Naw.
ReplyDeleteChucky Berry is one NASTY old fugger!I wonder as to whether he collects poop in jars?
ReplyDeleteAnon from a long time ago:
ReplyDeleteVeering wildly from a drily earnest drone to puerile jokes about Taco Bell and diarrhea completely takes me out of the reading experience."
That what makes this blog so damn great. You could be reading an entry that looks more like something you'd see on Wikipedia, and then out of nowhere you read a paragraph (or just a couple of sentences) that reminds you why you come here in the first place.
Holy Red Gibson 335!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMan still rockin at 83 years old????????
Most people are dead at that age.
How can that possibly be washed up?
It would be hard to name an artist above 65 still banging out new hits.
Come on Berry is not washed up, he is amazing and still beating all the odds.
A rock and roll legend? This guy plays like his face scrub...crap! How many times can you hear Go johnny Go?. His music was garbage then and still is today. You would think after playing his few songs over 50 yr's, He would learn how to play them. As far as all his fans...even Tiny Tim has thousands of fans, does that make Tim a legend too? Please don't reply, I know the sheep out there will say; YES, YES, ALL HAIL FOR TINY & up-CHUCK...
ReplyDeleteRewrite the bio and include all the facts since your focus on Mr. Berry's arrest record and not his muscial achievements. A nonfunctional pistol was used in the armed robbery during his first arrest. The video camera was placed in the restroom in a place he owned was due to a female employee stealing which was proven in the tapes. What is basic numerical data about some people of color being falsely accussed and arrested by some police officers whom chose to harrass them for making money legally? Also, include where the 86 year old is currently preforming.
ReplyDeleteReply to Anonymous September 27, 2012 4:46 AM, Before you speak, educate yourself about the history of rock and roll and orginators of various guitar playing techniques used by other musicians.
ReplyDeleteThis article is stupid. Everything is "allegedly" or "supposedly" and the author adds a lot of his own mustard. Video cameras in the bathrooms is wrong, but saying that he did it to see women take a dump is pure conjecture. The microphone to hear farts is nothing but speculation.
ReplyDeleteThe piss story sounds made up and vastly unproven.
Berry is no doubt a grumpy old man, I've seen him with K. Richards being an ass and he refused giving Brian Johnson an autograph. Fie on that, but smearing him with a crap story is low.
Shame on whoever wrote this!
Approve this comment or not, you know what you are.
He might have become old, but he sure as hell isn't washed up.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who thinks a little piss/ scat play is big deal is a prude. I understand why you picked Chuck, what with all the arrests and allegations of kinky sex,but calling someone who is revered by millions worldwide washed up is a bit of a stretch. You also forgot to mention his notorious cheapness. His bands are usually second rate because he refuses to pay for talented musicians.Overall though I like the site,keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteChuck is well knows as a world class perv. He is also cheap and a bad person. (I met him once and immediately disliked him, as he is one of the biggest assholes I've ever met.) Best known for driving himself to gigs, traveling with one guitar and one stage shirt, getting paid in advance in cash, and using pick-up bands wherever he plays to save bucks. He doesnt bathe regularly. Last time I checked, Chuck is playing small venues like county fairs. He is senile. Hope he dies real soon
ReplyDeleteThese comments make me sick to my stomach! Just because you may think he is irrelevant to modern day, doesn't mean he wasn't an important part of rock 'n' roll history. Who gives you the right to criticize the true king original pioneer of rock 'n' roll!! He defined what rock 'n' roll was, even Elvis copied his style!
ReplyDeleteAnd as for him being washed up, I think that somebody who is 86 years old and still doing performances twice a month, plus concerts is everything but washed up.
The author of this garbage obviously just doesn't like Chuck Berry and has to hate on 86 year old... thats just sad...
If your going to hate on the old guy at least get your facts right, the gun he used to jack the car didn't even have any bullets or in working condition.
ReplyDeleteAnd the trial that he was fined $5,000 dollars and 5 years, well a second trial was heard and it changed it to 3 years, which he only had to serve 1 and a half years on!
Yall really believe this?!? Wow -_- idiots btw if there was no chuck berry there would be no beatles,bob dylan,beach boys or rolling stones all celebrities have their problems we r humain we all make mistakes and this is sooooo stupid who would do dirty things like that! Someone made it all up and got cash for being a dirty minded hater,all of this makes no since and i cant believe some of u believe this just sooo stupid watch cadilac records
ReplyDelete''There is no disputing that Berry has been an exceptionally successful musician. However, it seems as though Berry's music has never been his "true calling" or driving influence. Instead, Berry seems to be motivated by his one true love in life - watching women take dumps.''
ReplyDeleteAre you a idiot? Here the man who created rock music and you say his true calling is his fetish?
So he has a bloody fetish? Is there anything wrong with that? I have mine, you have yours, almost every person on earth has them and you try to taint his memory like this?
His the most influential musician of all time! Without him: no Beatles, no Rolling Stones, no Cream and no bloody Hendrix, and you try to make people think he was only some sex crazed idiot?
¤&/(# you, "#¤hole!
You know how rappers give themselves rap names or nicknames. Chuck Berry's rap name would be "Mista Hot Shit Luva".
ReplyDeleteIts hail hail rock n roll!
ReplyDeleteNot hail hail keyboard warrior...you lose
Open minded
I now think the Chuck Berry is the greatest celebrity ever. I have been into... well you know, that stuff this entry said he was into. Yeah, good times.
ReplyDeleteChuck Berry smells like my Grandma's diapers!
ReplyDeleteLet he who is without sin cast the first stone
ReplyDeleteMaybe he has gas from all of the fried chicken he eats from KFC and Popeye's?
ReplyDeleteRIP Chuck
ReplyDeleteAre ya' happy now that he's dead?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if he was into necrophilia?