Pioneering guitarist, singer and songwriter Chuck Berry has died at the age of 90, it's been confirmed. The rock 'n' roll icon, who had been due to release a new album this year, was found unresponsive at lunchtime on Saturday, police in Missouri have said.
Berry scored a string of hits in the '50s, including Maybellene, Roll Over Beethoven, Rock and Roll Music and Johnny B Goode.
Crossing racial lines with his fusion of country and blues, his groundbreaking songwriting inspired a multitude of up-and-coming musicians on both sides of the Atlantic.
He was also rock 'n' roll’s first guitar hero frontman, bringing a new level of showmanship to his performances.
“You would get suspended for even having a guitar”: Brian May says it was “illegal” to have a guitar at his school – but he and his friends played during lunch hour anyway
“Gibson was able to put the universe on it… the planet Mercury is here, and that is a little nod to a friend of mine”: Inspired by the stars and co-designed by the Queen guitarist, Gibson unveils exquisite Brian May SJ-200 12-String
