Fittingly, for a man who revolutionised the use of the instrument, Chuck Berry was buried with his Gibson guitar, at a public service in his hometown of St. Louis over the weekend.

The service began with a letter from President Bill Clinton, read by Missouri Congressman Lacy Clay: “He is one of America’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll pioneers. He captivated audiences around the world. His music spoke to the hopes and dreams we all had in common”, the letter read in part.

A guitar-shaped flower wreath was on display, a gift from The Rolling Stones, while a surprise eulogy was given by Gene Simmons.

“I hadn’t planned on coming saying up here and saying anything,” Simmons said, as he took to the podium. “These shades are going to help me a lot, because in the back of them are real tears.”

Simmons went on to impersonate Berry’s famous stage moves, after commending his importance in the civil rights movement. “Although I never heard Chuck talk about it in his lyrics, or in interviews, or on television, he was breaking down barriers that nobody suspected.

“Chuck, he changed more little white boys’ and white girls’ lives than all the politicians with their big talk and stuff, just by making them move like this.”

Check out the speech,the wreath, and the open casket, below.

https://twitter.com/neamhspleach/status/851089570489933825

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxMtA3oOLy0

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