In the 1970s and ’80s, Bruce Springsteen’s gravelly voice and working-class anthems became the soundtrack of American rock and roll. Known as “The Boss,” Springsteen connected deeply with audiences, blending universal themes with personal narratives. Yet, even for an artist of his stature, the journey hasn’t always been smooth. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw him struggle to maintain acclaim. However, through perseverance, iconic performances, and even earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Springsteen reasserted himself as one of rock’s true legends.
Despite his own iconic status, Springsteen has never hesitated to acknowledge the artists who shaped him. Among these, one name towers above the rest: Chuck Berry, the trailblazing guitarist Springsteen considered the greatest rock and roll practitioner of all time.
Reflecting on Berry’s passing in a heartfelt tribute to Rolling Stone, Springsteen declared:
“Chuck Berry was rock’s greatest practitioner, guitarist, and the greatest pure rock ‘n’ roll writer who ever lived. This is a tremendous loss of a giant for the ages.”
Berry’s influence on rock and roll is undisputed. As the genre’s “Grandaddy,” his duck-walking stage presence and groundbreaking riffs inspired countless musicians. John Lennon famously remarked, “If you had to give rock and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry.” But for Springsteen, Berry wasn’t just an influence—he was a hero.
Springsteen’s admiration culminated in a dream come true when he had the chance to perform alongside Berry during the early days of the E Street Band. Describing the encounter, Springsteen said:
“About five minutes before the show was timed to start, the back door opens, and he comes up with a guitar case, and that was it. He just pulled up in his own car, didn’t have anybody with him or a band. We said, ‘What songs are we going to do?’ He goes, ‘We’re going to do some Chuck Berry songs.’”
However, not every collaboration went as planned. In 1995, Springsteen and the E Street Band were paired with Berry for a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance, resulting in chaos. E Street Band guitarist Nils Lofgren recalled the event:
“Somehow, a minute or two [in], he shifts the song in gears and a key without talking to us. We are making these horrible sounds collectively, in front of a sold-out stadium…
At the height of it, when no one has any idea how to fix this, Chuck looks at us all, starts duckwalking off the stage, away from us. He leaves the stage, leaves us all out there playing in six different keys, gets in the car, and drives away.”
Despite the mishap, Springsteen’s admiration for Berry never faltered. For Springsteen, Berry wasn’t just a formative influence; he was the very embodiment of rock and roll. While Berry’s significance may have faded for some in the 21st century, his revolutionary impact remains undeniable.
To Springsteen, there’s no guitarist who matches the raw, transformative power of Chuck Berry. Others may possess more technical skill or showmanship, but as far as Springsteen is concerned, there’s only one “greatest,” and it will always be Chuck Berry.
