Thirty years ago, Chuck Berry starred in the seminal music documentary Chuck Berry:
Hail! Hail! Rock ’N’ Roll, which profiled the legend during a star-studded concert
celebrating his sixtieth birthday. Now, on the heels of Berry’s death, comes the
complete story behind one of America’s most enduring and embattled icons.
Compiled as an oral history by the film’s producer, Stephanie Bennett, Johnny B. Bad
combines interviews from the film’s participants, including its music director — Keith
Richards. These unique interviews and accounts paint a vivid and multifaceted picture
of the artist. Berry was at once a witty, articulate genius, now widely considered the
godfather of rock and roll; a shrewd businessman, who had no trouble endlessly
renegotiating contracts and refusing to perform until additional cash was gathered up;
and also a convicted criminal, who in addition to serving time in prison for
transporting a minor across state lines for 'immoral purposes' had also been accused
of sexual assault and sued in civil court for installing cameras in the restroom of the
Southern Air, a restaurant he owned in Wentzville, Missouri.
Praise for Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll:
'Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll is...probably the most revealing look we'll ever
get of its subject, and the most loving evocation of his music.' — The Washington Post
'...a fascinating character study.' — The Los Angeles Times
'...works on two levels: as a portrait of a private, bitter and streetwise man, and as a
major musical talent performing with obvious delight.' — Chicago Tribune
'...marvelously energetic.' — Christian Science Monitor
