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Listen: Elvis Costello, Keith Richards, Paul Simon, Salman Rushdie pay tribute to Chuck Berry and Leonard Cohen at JFK Library
Published Feb 26 2012, 05:37 PM by Carly Carioli 0
 

Salman Rushdie called the backstage scene "the best photograph I've ever been in," and Elvis Costello still couldn't quite believe it. At the end, it was Costello with Keith Richards clanging guitars together on stage at the John F. Kennedy Library, playing a suitably sloppy and euphoric version of Chuck Berry's "Promised Land" as a shit-ton of famous talent -- almost as much in the audience as made it onstage -- gathered to see Berry and Leonard Cohen receive the first annual PEN New England Awards for Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence. The award may have been long in coming, but nobody was about to miss what might be Berry's final appearance in Boston. Unexpectedly, Chuck -- wearing his trademark sailor's cap -- leaped out of his seat and went for Elvis Costello's guitar, belting out a couple of verses of "Johnny B. Good." That wasn't on the program -- and neither was the Elvis/Keef encore.

Earlier, Rushdie introduced Cohen by quoting the lyrics to "Bird on a Wire" and opining, "If I could write like that, I would"; he also thought Auden would have liked "Hallelujah." And after Shawn Colvin nervously strummed a sweet version of his "Come Healing," Cohen -- who was not confirmed to appear at the event until this morning -- spent most of his time on-stage praising Berry.

The jury that chose the recipients, Cohen pointed out, was comprised of people who could easily have been given the award: Bono, Costello, Smokey Robinson, Rushdie, and Roseanne Cash among them. "But I understand, now, the criteria they based it on," he said. "They chose it on the basis of seniority."

With that he turned to Berry, sitting in the front row, and said, "If Beethoven hadn't rolled over, there wouldn't have been room for any of us. All of us are footnotes to the work of Chuck Berry."

Among the well-wishers in the crowd were Peter Wolf, Asa Brebner, and the (former Boston Phoenix and Real Paper) critic Peter Guralnick. (Mercifully, Buckcherry stayed home.) Bono was stuck in South America, reportedly writing songs ("and probably curing a few lepers," joked award chairman Bill Flanagan). Roseanne Cash was celebrating what would have been her father's 80th birthday, but sent a letter saying that if Cohen had only written the one line -- "There's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in" -- he'd have been worthy of the honor. And Bob Dylan sent a letter with warm regards for both honorees. "To Chuck, the Shakespeare of rock and roll, congratulations on your award, that's what too much monkey business will get ya . . . and give my regards to Leonard Cohen, the Kafka of the blues, and Lord Byron Keith if he shows up."

Paul Simon, introducing Berry, broke out in a belly laugh after Berry sidled up to him at the podium. "He just told me he's got a bad ear and he can't hear a word I'm saying," Simon told the audience. "That's probably for the best." After Simon recited some of his favorite Berry lines, Costello strapped on a guitar and said what everyone was thinking: "One of the more intimidating things you'll ever do is play a Chuck Berry song in front of Chuck Berry . . . without a band." He introduced his version of "No Particular Place To Go" by remembering that he'd first heard it as a 10-year-old and that he "didn't know what a safety belt was at the time time. But I suspected it was something . . . rude."

The event was way sold out, and was live-streamed by the JFK Library. The full video should eventually show up here - http://www.jfklibrary.org/Events-and-Awards/Forums.aspx , and be downloadable from iTunes here - http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jfk-library-forum-videos/id498342840 .

In the meantime, here are the speeches:

http://blog.thephoenix.com/BLOGS/phlog/archive/2012/02/26/listen-elvis-costello-...

2 shows in three days. Go Keith go!

Would this mean he's buried the hatchet with Chuck over the Johnny Johnson matter?

Keith Did the right thing in the Johnny Johnson Matter.

Kilroy wrote on Feb 26^th, 2012 at 6:58pm:

Agreed.

Leonard Cohen and Chuck Berry celebrated at the JFK Library

02/26/2012 8:14 PM
http://www.boston.com/Boston/names/2012/02/leonard-cohen-and-chuck-berry-celebra...


Chuck Berry shares a moment with Keith Richards after Berry recieved the 2012 PEN New England Awards for Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence at the JFK Library Sunday. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff)

Stepping to the microphone at the JFK Library Sunday, Caroline Kennedy had a toothy grin on her face. And why wouldn’t she? There, sitting in the first few rows, were Leonard Cohen, Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Shawn Colvin, Al Kooper, Peter Wolf, and writers Salman Rushdie, Bill Flanagan, Tom Perrotta, and Peter Guralnick.

Cohen and Berry had been summoned by PEN New England to accept the group’s inaugural Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence Award, and some of the celebrated songwriters’ famous friends had come to salute them. (A few others, including Rosanne Cash and Bob Dylan, emailed their regrets as only they can. But more on that later)

Introducing Cohen, who was looking handsome as ever at 77 and wearing his familiar fedora, Rushdie said the Canadian singer’s “extraordinary songbook” was an important influence on him growing up.

“I was an undergraduate at Cambridge, the other Cambridge, the old one,” joked Rushdie. “When we were kids, Leonard taught us something about how it might be to be a grown-up.”

The author of “The Satanic Verses” credited PEN New England for recognizing lyrics as literature – he called the award “way way overdue” – and hailed Cohen for his hymn-like songs that weave wit, “jaundiced comedy,” and disillusion.

“There are not many hymns that would rhyme ‘hallelujah’ with ‘what’s it to ya,’” said Rushdie.

Colvin then picked up an acoustic guitar and, with Cohen leaning forward to listen, played his song “Come Healing.”

Speaking slowly and in the same low register as many of his songs, Cohen said he was grateful for the award, but called Berry the best.

“If Beethoven hadn’t rolled over, there would have been no room for any of us,” he said. “All of us are footnotes to the words of Chuck Berry.”

Flanagan read a few emails he’d received from VIP fans in absentia. “’There’s a crack in everything/That’s how the light gets in,’” wrote Cash, quoting Cohen’s “Anthem.” “Just that one line is enough to get Leonard Cohen into any hall of fame.” (Sunday would have been Johnny Cash’s 80th birthday, and his daughter was busy at his birthplace in Arkansas.) In his missive, Dylan hailed Berry as “the Shakespeare of rock ’n’ roll,” adding “say hello to Mr. Leonard, the Kafka of the blues, and Lord Byron Keith if he shows up.”

The Rolling Stones guitarist did indeed show up and, after Simon read a few of Berry’s best-known verses, Richards even grabbed a guitar and joined Costello for a version of Berry’s song “Promised Land.” (Costello had earlier played “No Particular Place to Go,” prefacing it by saying “one of the more intense things you’ll ever do is play a Chuck Berry song in front of Chuck Berry – without a band.”)

At 85 and complaining of a bad ear that prevented him from hearing most of the adoring remarks, Berry is still plenty game, demonstrating that with a few rough chords of “Johnny B. Goode” as the crowd sang along

“That’s the way rock ’n’ roll is. It’s all funky,” he said. “Is that too bad a word to say?”

This CAN, be fast forwarded...left click on the time & then drag to the right

Keith's playing is actually pretty spot on in this performance.

This should allay fears that Keith can't play anymore =)

Gazza wrote on Feb 27^th, 2012 at 3:41pm:


Yes , Keith need training....

Keef, Chuck, Leonard and Paul Simon; that's some serious songwriting power in one photo.  Elvis Costello could have been included without bringing the group average down too much.