Keith Richards reveals the late Chuck Berry once 'walloped' him in the eye after he played his guitar without permission

Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards has revealed that the late Chuck Berry once punched him in the face for playing his guitar.

The musician, 73, revealed to Rolling Stone magazine that the singer 'gave him a wallop' to the eye after he caught him playing the instrument without his permission.

The funny anecdote sees Keith reminisce on the musician he pens as his main influence - just shy of a month after his death, aged 90. 

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Funny anecdote: Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards (above) has revealed that the late Chuck Berry once punched him for playing his guitar

Funny anecdote: Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards (above) has revealed that the late Chuck Berry once punched him for playing his guitar

Keith explained to the magazine that the incident had occurred backstage in their youth, when he first eyed up one of his iconic guitars in his dressing room.

He recalled: 'We saw him play in New York somewhere, and afterward I was backstage in his dressing room, where his guitar was lying in its case.

'I wanted to look, out of professional interest, and as I'm just plucking the strings, Chuck walked in and gave me this wallop to the frickin' left eye.'

Tribute: The funny anecdote sees Keith reminisce on Chuck, the musician he pens as his main influence (above) - just shy of a month after his death, aged 90

Tribute: The funny anecdote sees Keith reminisce on Chuck, the musician he pens as his main influence (above) - just shy of a month after his death, aged 90

However laughing the moment off, the rocker went on to admit that he should not have been messing around in the first place, after considering the situation from his own point of view. 

He added: 'But I realised I was in the wrong. If I walked into my dressing room and saw somebody fiddling with my ax, it would be perfectly all right to sock 'em, you know? I just got caught.'  

Keith also revealed that Chuck had influenced everyone in the industry as one of the rock and roll legends - in light of his recent passing. 

The 90-year-old entertainer died at his home near St. Louis, Missouri at 12:40pm on 18 March. 

Caught in the act: He recalled of the moment he laid eyes on Chuck's guitar: 'I wanted to look, out of professional interest, and as I'm just plucking the strings, Chuck walked in and gave me this wallop to the frickin' left eye'

Caught in the act: He recalled of the moment he laid eyes on Chuck's guitar: 'I wanted to look, out of professional interest, and as I'm just plucking the strings, Chuck walked in and gave me this wallop to the frickin' left eye'

A 911 call revealed he suffered a heart attack, but authorities said death will be listed as natural causes, and no autopsy will be performed.

In his honour, the music icon's final album, entitled Chuck, will be posthumously released later this year.

The record marks the first new material fans have heard from him since 1979. 

'Working to prepare the release of this record in recent months and in fact over the last several years brought him a great sense of joy and satisfaction,' the Berry family said in a statement posted to Facebook last month.

'While our hearts are very heavy at this time, we know that he had no greater wish than to see this album released to the world, and we know of no better way to celebrate and remember his 90 years of life than through his music.' 

RIP: The 90-year-old entertainer died at his home near St. Louis, Missouri at 12:40pm on 18 March, with a 911 call revealing he suffered a heart attack

RIP: The 90-year-old entertainer died at his home near St. Louis, Missouri at 12:40pm on 18 March, with a 911 call revealing he suffered a heart attack

 

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