News Archive - August 2014

The Killer Strikes Back: The Return Of Jerry Lee Lewis
Thursday, 28. August 2014 - 20:47

After taking it easy for a while, Jerry Lee Lewis returns to show business in full force, putting out a new CD and book and going on the road for a two-year World Tour celebrating his 80th birthday. See all details below:

04.10.14 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
24.10.14 - New York, NY - B.B. King's Blues Club
30.10.14 - New York, NY - B.B. King's Blues Club
07.11.14 - Memphis, TN - Cannon Center
31.01.15 - Robinsonville, MS - Sam's Town

The greatest Southern storyteller of our time, New York Times bestselling author Rick Bragg, tracks down the greatest rock and roller of all time, Jerry Lee Lewis—and gets his own story, from the source, for the very first time.

A monumental figure on the American landscape, Jerry Lee Lewis spent his childhood raising hell in Ferriday, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi; galvanized the world with hit records like “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire,” that gave rock and roll its devil’s edge; caused riots and boycotts with his incendiary performances; nearly scuttled his career by marrying his thirteen-year-old second cousin—his third wife of seven; ran a decades-long marathon of drugs, drinking, and women; nearly met his maker, twice; suffered the deaths of two sons and two wives, and the indignity of an IRS raid that left him with nothing but the broken-down piano he started with; performed with everyone from Elvis Presley to Keith Richards to Bruce Springsteen to Kid Rock—and survived it all to be hailed as “one of the most creative and important figures in American popular culture and a paradigm of the Southern experience.”

Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story is the Killer’s life as he lived it, and as he shared it over two years with our greatest bard of Southern life: Rick Bragg. Rich with Lewis’s own words, framed by Bragg’s richly atmospheric narrative, , this is the last great untold rock-and-roll story, come to life on the page.

Tracklisting:
1. Rock & Roll Time
2. Little Queenie
3. Stepchild
4. Sick And Tired
5. Bright Lights Big City
6. Folsom Prison Blues
7. Keep Me In Mind
8. Mississippi Kid
9. Blues Like Midnight
10. Here Comes That Rainbow Again
11. Promised Land

The Gallery section has been updated. Two new pictures, taken in Zagreb (Croatia) back in 2005, show Chuck Berry doing what he does best.

Bear Family releases long-awaited Chuck Berry box-set
Tuesday, 26. August 2014 - 20:28

Bear Family, the world-renowned record label, which is hugely popular among collectors of good music, finally puts out the long-awaited ultimate Chuck Berry box-set. And as you would expect from Bear Family, package and content appear to be top-notch. The 16-CD-Box-Set (also to be released as a ultra limited special de-luxe edition in genuine full-size custom made guitar case) includes every studio record Chuck Berry ever put out (except the 1995 duet with Shabba Ranks) plus lots of previously unreleased recordings, live concerts and two heavyweight books. Dietmar Rudolph, one of the world's foremost Chuck Berry collectors informs us of the contents in detail:

Prices: 299 Euro (standard edition), 499 Euro (ultra limited special de-luxe edition)

Chuck Berry: Winner of Polar Music Prize 2014 (the Nobel Prize's equivalent for musicians)
Monday, 25. August 2014 - 20:40

On Tuesday the 26th of August we celebrate this year’s Laureates Peter Sellars and Chuck Berry at the Stockholm Concert Hall. From the hands of H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf, the Laureates will receive a beautiful new award designed by Efva Attling and Orrefors, as well as the prize money of one million SEK each. Due to illness Chuck Berry is unable to travel to Stockholm. Dave Edmunds, legendary British artist working in the same pure rock’n’roll tradition as the Laureate Chuck Berry, will receive the prize on behalf of Chuck Berry.

Citations for the Laureates will be read by Jerry Williams and Efva Attling. The hosts for the evening are Petra Nordlund McGahan and Tilde de Paula.

The ceremony will be honoured by guests like H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf, H.M. Queen Silvia, H.R.H Crown Princess Victoria, H.R.H Prince Daniel, H.R.H Princess Madeleine, Mr Christopher O’Neill, Ministry of Culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth and many more.

At the Concert Hall, some of Sweden’s best musicians and artists, including the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Hans Ek and a house band consisting of Georg “Jojje” Wadenius, as well as members of the band Tonbruket, will perform.

Chuck Berry will be honoured by Jerry Williams with band performing “You Never Can Tell”, Amanda Jenssen performing “Rock and Roll Music” and a Chuck Berry-medley with Dregen, Nicke Andersson, Nisse Hellberg, Maria Andersson, Kajsa Grytt and Kim Cesarion.

Peter Sellars will be honoured by the baritone Olle Persson performing “Those Birds Flying Above Us” and the soprano Elin Rombo performing “With Darkness Deep”, both in company of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

Other participants include Sabina Ddumba, Melinda De Lange (vocals), Gunnar Idenstam (organ) and Johan Hedin (key harp).

At the banquet, the following artists will perform: Dave Edmunds, Linda Gail Lewis, Nisse Hellberg, Luthando Qave, Majsan Dahling, Roadwork, Loney Dear and Sarah Dawn Finer.

The Polar Music Prize Prize Ceremony will be broadcast live on TV4 from 5pm and can also be viewed on tv4play.se afterwards. There will also be a live broadcast from the banquet at the Grand Hôtel at 11pm on TV4.

For further information please contact:
press@polarmusicprize.org
Sandra Nordin +46 70 697 39 59
Tanja Määttä +46 72 360 97 17

This Gibson ES335 Epiphone guitar was signed by Chuck Berry back in 1998. Signed guitars by Mr Berry are a rarity, but this autograph looks genuine. If you are interested in obtaining this guitar, please send your offer to Peter Reiter at reiter_peter84@hotmail.com. Not for resale, for fans only!!