BLACK SABBATH Drummer BILL WARD Pays Tribute To CHUCK BERRY

Original BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward has paid tribute to Chuck Berry, the beloved "father of rock n' roll" who died on Saturday (March 18) at the age of 90.

Ward wrote in a Facebook post: "When my grandchildren ask, what was rock 'n' roll? I will open my scrapbook to a time when a guitarist, singer and songwriter played and influenced untold thousands of musicians. Like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, I would hold on to his coattails while he illuminated a reachable path to my wildest dreams. I'll show my grandchildren a picture of this suited up man dancing and playing on one leg and strutting across the stage. I'll play the first 30 seconds or so of 'Johnny B Goode'. That's what rock 'n' roll looks and sounds like, kids. And when they ask who this man is, I'll tell them, smiling, Chuck Berry, kids, Chuck Berry.

"Thanks, and RIP, Mr. Berry.

"Our condolences to his family and fans."

Over the weekend, countless tributes hit the Internet from rock's upper echelon showing their love and heaping praise on Berry, who along with the "Mt. Rushmore" of rock — Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the EVERLY BROTHERS — created the form that all popular music followed from the mid-1950's through today. Bob Dylan famously called Chuck Berry the Shakespeare of rock n' roll."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Berry, who pioneered the rock genre with his unique storytelling and clever use of poetics, will undoubtedly be remembered for his signature two-note, guitar-bending lick, variations of which opened up his classic '50s hits "Johnny B. Goode", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Little Queenie", "Carol" and many more.