Chuck Berry Collapses Onstage During Chicago Concert

Rock pioneer Chuck Berry startled fans Saturday night (Jan. 1) when he unexpectedly collapsed during his set at the Congress Theater in Chicago.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer fell head-first into his keyboards about an hour into the event. Berry was motionless for several minutes before three people helped move him off stage shortly before 10:30PM. Fans, reportedly close to 3,700 of them, began to exit the venue, unsure if the entertainer would make his way back onstage. About 20 minutes after his collapse, the 84-year-old 'Johnny B. Goode' creator returned, though most of the audience had cleared out.

Berry began to tune up his guitar and make a second attempt at completing his performance but was unsuccessful once again, apologizing to the remainder of those in the crowd and revealing he had no strength. He then demonstrated a weak variation of his legendary duck walk as he left the stage.

"Chuck Berry passed out," said Shakespeare District police Capt. Marc Buslik. "He was just faint initially. He was real confused. He wouldn't come off the stage." A Chicago Fire Department ambulance was called to the theater and emergency crew members gave Berry a check-up at the scene. Fire Department Spokesman Joe Roccasalva disclosed that Berry "felt better" and signed a refusal for further medical treatment.

Earlier in the evening's performance, Berry parted with his signature guitar and took over the keyboards to play 'Let it Rock.' It was during 'Everyday I Have the Blues' when he stopped halfway through the song. The Missouri native only succeeded in fully performing his 1972 hit, 'My Ding-A-Ling.'

As of Sunday (Jan. 2), Chuck Berry's longtime agent Dick Alen confirmed that the rock legend was recovering in his home. "Chuck was suffering from exhaustion at his concert last night but is home resting comfortably," Alen revealed.

Watch Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode'