Bo’s rap

Spencer Patterson

Friday, June 25, 2004 | 4:26 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

June 26 - 27, 2004

Who: Bo Diddley.

When: 7 p.m. Saturday.

Where: House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.

Tickets: $30-$40.

Information: 632-7600.

So who really invented rock 'n' roll?

Las Vegas' many Elvis fanatics may disagree, but 75-year-old Bo Diddley insists he and Chuck Berry were the genre's true founding fathers.

"It was me and Chuck, the first two," Diddley said. "But if the media starts telling people that Elvis did this, well, they read it so that's how it goes. And they don't believe nothing else, because they read it in a book.

"But I'm here to tell you the truth, because I ain't gone yet."

In a phone interview from his Gainesville, Fla., home on Monday night, Diddley spoke his mind about a variety of issues, from his distrust of record labels to his dislike of profane hip-hop lyrics to the potential breakup of his fourth marriage.

The legendary vocalist/guitarist and songwriter is best known for the songs he recorded for Chicago's Chess Records -- including "I'm a Man," "Who Do You Love?" and "Hey! Bo Diddley" -- most of which are collected on 1990's outstanding two-disc "Chess Box."

Diddley plays the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on Thursday night. Doors open at 7 for the 21-and-over show.

Las Vegas Sun: You and Ray Charles were old friends. How will you remember him?

Bo Diddley: I'd known Ray for at least 47 years, and he was a genius, man. He had a style that was something else. I'm looking for somebody to jump on it now, but it's gonna be tough.

But we all gotta go, baby. That's one guarantee. Your butt's gonna leave out of here; you just don't know when.

Sun: How is your health these days?

BD: I feel good. I've got my little aches and pains, but I'm all right.

Sun: Did you ever think you'd be coming up on 50 years as a performer?

BD: No. I gave myself six months in 1955, and I'm here all these years due to my fans. I love them for it. They let me know that I had something. And on top of that I must be doing something right because I'm still here.

Sun: Rolling Stone magazine recently listed you at No. 20 in its "Immortals" issue. What did you make of that ranking?

BD: I was damn near first, but that's just the way America is, man. Let's face it. They're still a little bit out of touch with reality.

They got a lot of cats that they've given credit to that weren't even in the parking lot at the time the whole mess started. And I'm not happy about it. But you're not gonna change it. It will change in due time.

But I got my name in there anyway, so thanks to the people that did it.

Sun: What do you think your legacy will be?

BD: I came in with that "booma da booma da boom da boom boom" (beat) and changed everything. And they run around talking about how Elvis did it. Elvis didn't do a damn thing.

He came along 2 1/2 years after me, and he did great, and I'm happy that he did what he did. But he didn't start it. That's another thing America's gotta get off of. Give me credit for what I did.

Sun: Elvis is pretty revered here in Las Vegas.

BD: I worked Vegas too, but I couldn't make the money in Vegas that he was drawing. And now they're treating him bigger than God, and I don't like that. But I'm not bitter about it.

Sun: Rolling Stone also recently tapped you as the 37th greatest guitarist of all-time. How did that sit with you?

BD: I don't call myself a great guitar player. I call myself a great showman. I do a lot of things and make a lot of funny noises and things with my guitar that cats try to do, and they can't do it. Because I'm self-taught. I taught myself to do all these crazy things.

Sun: At a concert in Florida last year, you reportedly told the crowd that rap music wouldn't last because it "has no meaning." What did you mean by that?

BD: I don't like the dirty rap, the dirty lyrics. That's the only thing I'm talking about.

This generation, they have a right to express themselves. But I just feel like it's bad news for young kids coming up. You've gotta look after the little guys and I just don't think that they should be listening to a lot of stuff that to me is adult lyrics. When you get grown you can say what the heck you want to say; this is America. But gee whiz, be in control of yourself.

I'm not against rap music at all. I just don't like the dirty lyrics -- cats talking about what they do to women and what women can do to them. Little kids ain't got no business hearing that stuff. I'm old fashioned in that way.

Sun: I understand you're working on some new songs, but that you're not a big fan of record labels. How do you plan to release your music?

BD: They're thieves, a lot of them. If they did what the contracts say, it would be all right. But they don't do it and you've gotta go get a lawyer to get your money, and then the lawyer takes a lot of your money.

I'm working on some new (music) and I own it. I'm gonna do it on the Internet and people will be able to get it through my Web site when I launch it.

Sun: When do you expect you'll release the new material?

BD: I don't know exactly. I'm having some personal problems right now. I'm going through some wife problems (laughs).

I married (my fourth wife) in Las Vegas, and I need to bring her back to Las Vegas and get rid of her. I'm gonna go back there and tell them, "Y'all messed me up."