The story of Jerry Lee Lewis goes like this.
Jerry Lee Lewis in his twenties worldwide popular, parents’ worst nightmare perfectly realized: a long, blonde-haired Southerner who played the piano and sang with uncontrolled fury and abandon, had in 1957 engaged in an Alan Freed package tour. One night Chuck berry was supposed to close the show. Jerry lee wanted to upstage him, so he had a bottle of Coca-Cola mixed with gasoline and matches prepared. While he was finishing Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On he poured the liquid in the piano and threw a match in it. The piano spectacularly caught fire, but that wasn’t the end jerry played it until it burned down. Chuck Berry than refused to close the show knowing after such incredible performance he wouldn’t stand no chance.
No wonder he is called the Killer. It must have looked something like depicted in Great Balls of Fire movie following. Just imagine being on that show.
Excerpt from The Rockabilly Legends DVD Documentary 2-DVD Set.