Have you ever dreamed of sharing the stage with legends like Chuck Berry and David Bowie? Guitarist Carlos Alomar did, but his experience with Chuck Berry revealed a harsh truth about rock 'n' roll egos and the price of speaking up. It's a story about respect, learning on the fly, and understanding the dynamics of a band led by a true icon.
Carlos Alomar, a seasoned guitarist who graced the stage with countless musical giants as part of the historic Apollo's house band, had a front-row seat to the inner workings of legendary musicians. From Chuck Berry to James Brown, Chic, and the innovative David Bowie, Alomar witnessed firsthand their creative processes, rehearsal habits, performance styles, and how they interacted (or didn't!) with their fellow musicians. Sometimes, this resulted in powerful collaborations, and other times... well, let's just say it was a learning experience.
One of Alomar's most vivid memories involves the iconic Chuck Berry. In a 2015 interview, Alomar recounted a gig at Rye Playland, an amusement park with a performance tent. "I got this phone call to do a job at the Rye Playland," Alomar recalled. "I get there, and in walks Chuck Berry with his electric guitar. He walks right up to us and says, ‘When I do like this,’ and he takes his headstock and moves it sideways, ‘you stop.’ ‘And when I do like this,’ and he moves his headstock up and down, ‘you play.’ That was it." Imagine that – no pleasantries, no introductions, just pure, unadulterated Chuck Berry.
But here's where it gets controversial... Alomar, then in his early twenties and, by his own admission, "naive," dared to question the rock 'n' roll pioneer. "I said, ‘Excuse me, Mr. Berry. Are we gonna rehearse?’" The response? A withering look and the pronouncement, "Boy, I ain’t gonna rehearse no rock ‘n’ roll." And with that, Berry turned and walked out. Could you imagine having the guts to question Chuck Berry at the height of his career?
This encounter, while brief, perfectly encapsulates the larger-than-life persona of Chuck Berry, the man behind rock 'n' roll anthems like “Maybellene” and “Johnny B. Goode.” Even Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, a legend in his own right, had his moments of friction with Berry. Berry was known for his directness, his aversion to wasting time, and a certain… let's call it “assertiveness.”
And this is the part most people miss... Despite the seemingly confrontational nature of the encounter, Alomar walked away with valuable lessons. He said that performing with Berry was "amazing, and to this day, I still kind of conduct the same way that Chuck Berry did. To me, the biggest lesson was you don’t rehearse rock ‘n’ roll. You either know it, or you don’t.”
Alomar also learned a crucial rule: "I also learned that you did not talk to Chuck. Chuck talked to you." He remembers Berry as a "mean drunk," but also acknowledges that there was more to the man than that single, negative trait. "You only remember your last experience with someone. It’s like a song. You can do a whole song. But if you mess up the ending, all you remember is the messed-up ending. Chuck Berry is like that song.” It’s a powerful analogy, highlighting how one negative experience can overshadow an entire legacy.
Alomar's experiences weren't limited to Chuck Berry. His brief stint with James Brown proved to be another eye-opening experience. After missing a cue on stage, Alomar discovered his pay was short. When he inquired about the $20 discrepancy, he was told, "Yeah, Mr. Brown said you didn’t hit back." Alomar, drawing on his father's advice to "explain it, defend it," tried to reason with Brown, but ultimately, he was fired.
These experiences, while challenging, shaped Alomar's understanding of the music industry and the personalities that drive it. It begs the question: Is a certain level of ego and demanding behavior necessary to achieve legendary status in rock 'n' roll? Or are these simply examples of musicians who could have benefited from a more collaborative approach? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Do you agree with Alomar's assessment of Chuck Berry, or is there another side to the story that needs to be considered?
