FIRST TIME REACTING TO | JERRY LEE LEWIS "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE" REACTION

[@swampbear55]

You should play this song from when he was in his 20s and he would be standing on the piano and playing. He was one crazy entertainer when he was young.

[@angelado3]

I saw one video of him and this song and at the end he set the dang piano on fire !! LOL was great !! JERRY LEE LEWIS - GREAT BALLS OF FIRE (FROM THE MOVIE GREAT BALLS OF FIRE)

[@kerethmakura4502]

He was a serial piano abuser. ;)

[@kd8199]

I actually saw him in a concert in West Palm Beach, FL as a kid (about 1970). He was all over the piano and piano seat.

[@LadyIarConnacht]

They made a movie about him and Dennis Quaid did a great job portraying Jerry Lee. There is a scene from that movie where they recreated the infamous night that Jerry Lee burned down the piano while playing it because he was mad he had to go on before Chuck Berry. You can find it on KZbin or watch the whole movie - it's called Great Balls of Fire.

[@Howdyall]

@@kerethmakura4502 They didn't call him "The Killer" for no reason. 😄

[@daleb1279]

Jerry Lee is one of the original rock and rollers. Elvis, Johnny Cash, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, Wanda Jackson and Jerry Lee were among those who all toured together travelling in car caravans for shows. Imagine that amount of talent just driving down the road together on some night in the 1950s in Tennessee.

[@arthurchadwell9267]

And sadly, so many of them dying in car and plane crashes...

[@scubaspookryu]

I know you thought that was a fired up performance, but that is the most reserved performance of that song I have ever seen him perform. Slower tempo and he didn't even kick the piano bench out of his way so he could really get down. A truly "spirited" performer!

[@arthurchadwell9267]

The Killer!

[@davemacmurchie6982]

Exactly - he must have been on valium for this performance. The video is obscured so it's hard to tell, but it definitely looks like a very mature Killer - if such a thing is possible.

[@erickbmcwhorter4054]

He was first cousins with Jimmy swaggart

[@bre2581]

This is old school rock. He is absolutely amazing. He would play with his feet and just act out. Greatest piano player that ever lived IMO

[@dillonsronce2583]

The killer created rock.

[@dillonsronce2583]

And yes by far the greatest piano player ever

[@treydixon5966]

Welcome to Rockabilly!! Jerry Lee turned a piano into a fire ball... LITERALLY 😂💥

[@johnpearce3714]

@ treydixon 5966 , Jerry Lee Lewis was Never Ever --- Rock -- A -- Billy ----- * he was Pure ,Raw , Rock ' n ' Roll & Country ' n' Blues !!

[@garybaskett6724]

I played this song over and over as a small child,(72 yrs. now). My mama 97 and still alive, purchased this 45 Sun Record by sending in chewing gum wrappers. Yes, she still has it!

[@stevedavis5704]

He always had a bad boy image (and attitude) especially at concerts. The story is told that he was at a concert and expected to play last as a show of top billing. They let someone else have the top spot and put him second to last. He was told the other guy was a better performer and that was why he got top spot. Jerry went out played his heart out and had the crowd screaming. He played this song last and as he finished he set the piano on fire. As he walked back stage past all the stunned people, he looked the theater manager and the other performer in the face and said “Top that.” That was one of my moms favorite stories about Jerry and this song.

[@TranslateToEnglish]

It actually did happen. It was at the Paramount Theater in Brooklyn New York. The show also featured Buddy Holly and the Crickets, the Chantels and Chuck Berry. Alan Freed produced the show and decided that Chuck Berry, being the bigger star at the time, would close the show. Jerry Lee, not to be outdone set his piano on fire at the conclusion of his performance, walked offstage and told Chuck as he passed him, “Top That!”

[@roberthudson1959]

@@TranslateToEnglish You have Disneyfied the story. Lewis said, "Top that, n----r." Losing the closing spot to another white performer would have been bad enough. He was incensed to lose the spot to a person of color.

[@amandaburnett2453]

That was true he went on before Chuck Berry and blew the roof off. Cops were called.

[@mdm4504]

The world got back in balance a few years later at the T.A.M.I. show when the promoter had the Rolling Stones head the bill after James Brown because they had a new record out. James Brown did an over-the-top performance, dancing till he dropped, getting back up, collapsing, carried off the stage coming back on and continuing. Impossible to top that. As he walked off stage the told Mick Jagger "Welcome to America"

[@arthurchadwell9267]

I think it was Chuck Berry they bumped him for. Of course, Chuck was magic too!

[@Eyes-of-Horus]

I saw Jerry Lee perform in Norfolk, VA in 1961 when I was in the Navy. He was the top performer in the show that included The Coasters and Ruth Brown. Great show.

[@arthurchadwell9267]

Yep, played with his feet! All these old time cats were good - they had to be! No auto-tune back in the day...

[@jeffdetmer4681]

Hey Britt. It's story time lol. Once upon a time there were 3 young boys. They were cousins. All 3 learned piano. One was named Jerry Lee Lewis who went on to become one of the biggest stars of a genre that morphed from rockabilly to rock n roll. The 2nd was named Mickey Gilley. He became one of the biggest stars in Country Music. He also owned a bar/club in Texas that was so big they had rodeos in it. The 3rd was named Jimmy Swaggart. He went on to become a televangelist who used music to preach to his congregation. Jerry has been a wild child his whole life. He would tear up a piano. He played with his feet. He played on his knees with his back to the piano. He supposedly even set a piano on fire on stage one night, and continued playing it. Find some older vids of his live performances. It makes this look very tame.

[@Rebelrocker69]

You forgot the fourth cousin who he married when she was 13. But that doesn't take away from his legendary skill and talent. ETA corrected the cousin's age from 14 to 13. My bad.

[@mkelly1347]

And if you listen to all 3 cousins playing the piano, it's ALL the same. I believe an aunt taught them all on the same piano. So it's got that old school church right hand to all their music.

[@johnpearce3714]

​@@mkelly1347, see his left hand as well as his right hand !!

[@johnpearce3714]

​@@mkelly1347, However , Jerry Lee Lewis was the Fastest & the Best out of the cousin's --- he was the most talented of the three !!

[@dagmar.6954]

Jerry Lee Lewis was one of the more flamboyant & wilder rock & roll singers of the time in the 50's-60's. He was nicknamed "The Killer". His piano playing & showmanship were legendary. He had a lot of hits such as "Breathless", "Wild One", "High School Confidential", "What'd I Say", "Another Place, Another Time" etc. His career faltered for a time when he married his 13-year-old cousin.

[@ContrarianCorner]

So true. Little Richard and Lewis were the first to bring the wild, charismatic antics of southern preachers to the Rock 'n' Roll stage, and others took it from there. Jerry Lee Lewis was the original Bad Boy of rock.

[@johnpearce3714]

@ Dagmars 6954 ,Yes ,However ,he was still working in the club's , Campuses ,doing sell out tours in UK ,Europe ,Australia , he re.built his Career ,the saying in the 1960 's Was Rock ' n ' Roll's the thing & Jerry Lee 's the King !! ---

[@wbiassociates]

"Sock hop music"!!!!! Great reference as usual!! He always turned up the heat as he drove through the song. Welcome to the world of Jerry Lee!! Old school rock at it's most enjoyable - thanks again!!

[@AB-C1]

Love you Britt 😉 Yep, Elvis, Little Richard and ALL t 4:49 he Rock n Roll legends Loved him respected him, learend from him and HE WAS/IS A LEGEND! 👌😎

[@tonym362]

Jerry came just before Elvis. They nicknamed his Killer. However, once he married his younger cousin, people turned against him. It took him years to get it back.

[@michaelstamper3444]

It was a hit for him in the 1950's

[@georgacollier1620]

All the greats paved the road for today's music.

[@webbtrekker534]

I saw Jerry and Willie Nelson (and a few others) in Seattle back in the early 1970's. Great show.

[@SoCal_619]

I got to see Jerry when he was older, just amazing talent.

[@vernonshook8125]

You have just met another of the originators of Rock and Roll, I wish you had done the video of that when he was young he was a lot more active and yes in the 50s this is what you heard at a sock hop. Great choice and reaction young lady.🤠🤠

[@DarkAngel1985Mike]

Grew up listening to this because my grew up in the 50’s and 60’s so she listened to all of the Rock N Roll of the time

[@darrinlindsey]

Jerry loved to hammer on those piano keys. He was definitely one of the best entertainers of his time. I saw him at a County Fair, in 2006. He was 71 years old, and still hammering on the keys like ever, with his hands and his feet. He got national attention when he was 22 years old, and married his 13 year old cousin.

[@sheryldalton8965]

I saw him play in the 60's when i was about 12 years old. He was playing with his feet! I somehow managed to get his autograph. I still have it.

[@lorenzsabbaer7725]

A true icon!

[@827dusty]

Jerry Lee Lewis "The Killer," was one of the pioneers of Rock and Roll starting in the mid 1950s along with Elvis, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, and Little Richard, and many others.

[@richtensail]

try hearing watchn his live preformances whn he was young, he was an enetertainer n had lots talent, hes a music legend.

[@dawatcherz]

this is the first time i heard him perform at old(er) age. multiply the energy he has here with a gazillion and you have him at 21 yo i was kinda hoping he'd set the piano on fire, literally

[@totalityofscripture1001]

If you watch Mickey Gilley “Don’t all the girls get prettier at closing time” you can see how they are literally cousins. Their other cousin is the Preacher Jimmy Swaggart as well. All 3 cousins sing and all 3 play piano.

[@stevedurnell4002]

I love all your react too all the songs your awesome ❤️👍

[@larrybench6398]

Jerry Lee Lewis, is the best piano player of all time in rock, country, and any other type of music this guy was amazing

[@cbobwhite5768]

I saw Jerry Lee, when I was a kid. It was in a backwoods joint, that was cooled by a huge fan, in the back wall, at the back of the stage. He was playing the piano and singing. He jumped up, kicked the bench back and threw his hands back , behind his head. One of his hands hit the fan blades and he got a pretty bad cut. He had been imbibing a little and was feeling no pain. He wrapped a rag around his hand, had another drink and finished his show. The owner took him to town, to get stitched up. Those were the days.

[@johnpearce3714]

@ Brittreact , * Frankfurt 1982 Superb ,Piano Playing on Pure Country 'n' Rock 'n ' Roll , Paris '81 , Rome '88 Shakin ' ----

[@jeffreyj-dubburkle307]

In his younger days, he used to play with his feet too. He would jump and stand on top of the piano. He was a wild performer.

[@michaelfreedman1006]

"Million Dollar Quartet" is a recording of an impromptu jam session involving Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash made on December 4, 1956, at the Sun Record Studios in Memphis,

[@timothysarris9742]

The Killer Jerry Lee! His first cousins are Mickey Lee Gilley , and Jimmy Lee Swaggart. All three have Lee for their middle name!

[@jeremiahrose4681]

Jerry Lee "the killer" is amazing; I'd put his piano work up there with anyone. In fact I like his the best. RIP Jerry Lee

[@larrycox8685]

Jerry Lee is one of the pioneers of rock 'n' roll. He, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Carl Perkins all started on Sun Records in Memphis.

[@arthurchadwell9267]

Elvis once said in an interview that Roy Orbison was his favorite singer. Nobody EVER had a voice like Roy!

[@peteto1]

Good instincts, young lady! He was literally one of the "kings" (and originators) of "Sock Hop" music, and Rock N Roll in general.....:)

[@thetraffanstedts]

Jerry Lee was one of a kind and there will never be another like him. RIP Killer (his nickname)

[@MichaelSeymourmjsm]

"The Killer," He and Elvis were buddies at Sun Records, He was one of the Rock and Roll Greatest of All Time!

[@mr.knowitall6440]

This was nothing compared to when he was young. Jerry Lee is a Rock and Roll pioneer. Elvis, Jerry Lee, and Little Richard were HUGE in the 50's!🤘😎

[@RJ-oy7cq]

You gotta listen to when he was young...he was crazy great then live and recorded.

[@Indy1831]

The original Rock & Roll piano man!

[@sharonvincent4238]

Jerry Lee and Little Richard were both great at playing the piano.

[@642lin]

He really mellowed out in his latter years. Check him out from back in the 50's. Rock and Roll hall of famer and just this year inducted in the country music hall of fame

[@jimough2441]

He was one of the icons of rock-n-roll.

[@ed.z.]

Another fabulous reaction from Britt. Such fun.

[@terryduncan31]

Greatest piano player of all time, in the entire world, period!

[@dougieyou]

"The Killer"..."All Killer...No Filler" that's Jerry Lee baby !!!

[@waynec3563]

Jerry Lee Lewis was known as "The Killer". During a tour of Britain it emerged that his wife was his 13 year old cousin! The tour was cancelled shortly after. That was his 3rd marriage, at the ripe old age of 22.

[@armadillotoe]

His other cousin is Jimmie Swagget the tele-evangelist.

[@chuckles5163]

JERRY LEE,,,,ELVIS,,,,, WERE RECORDING IN THE SAME STUDIO IN MEMPHIS IN THE 50''S

[@deanm375]

There is a early performance of this song he did in the 50's that really shows his talent.

[@charliemac64]

I saw him in Vegas about 4 or 5 years ago. His voice was obviously not what it was back in the day, given his age, but his fingers still knew their way around that keyboard! He opened for the Stray Cats! w0000t what a combo! The Cats were doing a one-off at this gig, the annual Viva Las Vegas festival.

[@ThomasTreece-mp8md]

Probably not hard to believe his nickname was "The Killer." He always killed it on the piano!

[@jerrypost9651]

Your reactions continue to be such a treat, Britt. So authentic and spontaneous. You're you are a joy to watch and hear from. ❤️✌️

[@uppercaper]

Welcome to the world of the Killer. So many recommendations. His last recording sessions were Gosple , in his 80s with Jimmy Swagart. RIP Killer .

[@matthewnelson7531]

Awesome reaction thank you 😊 He originally recorded this song in the 50s

[@sherylhenley1931]

He opened for the Stray Cats. He was so amazing! Just for grins, you should check out The Stray Cats-totally different type of music-80s band but this song is a throwback to the fifties. Check out the original video of the Stray Cat Strut-very cool!

[@cazgerald9471]

Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Elvis were all signed to Sun Records around the same time

[@victoriagrove5344]

Jerry Lee Lewis is one of the fathers of rock and roll

[@Rollin_L]

I saw Jerry Lee in the 80s, nearly as wild still as he was in the 50s and early 60s. At one point- I could never say if it was preplanned or totally organic- a young man jumped up on one end of the stage and started dancing his heart out. Jerry Lee looked totally surprised, but he just kept playing that piano and watching the kid do his thing at the far end of the stage. He was smiling the whole way. The entertainers of that early age of Rock N Roll remain unmatched in so many ways. Have you reacted to any Fats Domino yet?

[@arthurchadwell9267]

Yes! Loved Fats too! "I'm walking to New Orleans", "I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday"... Magic.

[@johnkendall6558]

best piano player ever and it's not even close

[@DerOberfeldwebel]

One of the last original Rock'n'Roll founding fathers. He passed away in October 2022 at the age of 87.

[@Paladin70]

One of the original wild men of rock and roll. Partied hard, married his 13 year old cousin (which pretty much canceled his career for a time and relegated him to playing small venues and honky tonks, but he clawed his way back.) Always gave 150% and left his show dripping with sweat. That vocal inflection you love was a signature of his. Check him out on Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On.

[@johnpearce3714]

@ Brittreacts , It's now 5th October 2023 , YES , this was Rocking Jerry Lee Lewis the Rockingest Rocker of them All !! ---- YES ,there are Plenty of his great shows on the web.& KZbin --- * some really " wild one's !! That's for Sure !! --- * Chuck Berry loved Jerry Lee & vice versa also Fats Domino . ---- Britt , look out for the 1964 show " whole lotta shakn' goin' on , recorded in Manchester ,England , also live in Toronto ,1969 , Family Affair 1980 , Hammersmith Odeon 1983 , Barcelona '85 ,Wembley '87 , Rome '88 also '89 in Australia , see the end G.B.of F. ---- * Even though Jerry Lee & Little Richard were rivals in the Rock 'n ' Roll scene ,they did respect each other !! --- Richard Joined Jerry Lee on stage in London in 1992 at Wembley ---- * Chuck ,BO Diddley & Jerry Lee Jammed together in France in Paris 1992 ----

[@SidneyJohnson-p2n]

He would set his piano on fire during this song

[@co131086]

I just watched someone react to the version of this song on the Steve Allen Show in 1957 so he'd been playing this song for years. Fun Fact: Jerry Lee Lewis is the cousin of famous Evangelist Jimmy Swagart.

[@cliveglover5343]

In his younger days, Jerry was famous for setting his pianos on fire. The best rock n roll pianist ever, sadly missed. Jacob Tolliver played at Jerry's 85th birthday party & plays exactly the same as Jerry. This is also on KZbin.

[@mikejenkins1972]

Jerry Lee played that song for about 60 years. ;) Sadly he passed away last year, aged 85, just a few days after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of fame. "Great balls of fire" was offered to his fellow Carl Perkins, but he refused. For Jerry Lee it became his signature song! :)

[@johnpearce3714]

* Jerry Lee Lewis died at age 87 on October 28th 2022. ----

[@donnielindsey9955]

Love the reactions. If you liked this then you would really like "whole lot of shaking going on" live version from legends of rock and roll. It was recorded in Italy and really gives you a glimpse into his showmanship.

[@Faceman28]

Just love your reactions… better than all other reaction KZbinrs! You listen very well. Best of Luck!

[@debraanchante3661]

Ahhh the early days of rock and roll.. this music made the kids parents think they’d gone crazy

[@angelomaurizio1668]

Known as "The Killer" Jerry Lee Lewis was one of the big artists of Rock n Roll history. Some argue he was the KIng of Rock n Roll. He started out as a country western singer in the mid 50s and toured all over the South with artists like George Jones, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and some guy named Elvis. If you like Jerry Lee Lewis, you really should check out Little Richard, he was like the R&B side of Jerry Lewis in the 50s. Fats Domino (my favorite) is another one of the founding fathers of Rock n Roll that uses the piano religiously as Lewis and Richard.

[@kimberlyfairbanks8330]

He used to set his piano on fire occasionally...literally!

[@lottiemagee8659]

We used to be so tired after dancing to this song. He is so good.

[@mandymac74]

He used to set the piano on fire and play. He was amazing. He is from Louisiana about an hour from where I live. We all refer to him as Killer. He is so talented on that piano.

[@gabe31g]

The early versions of him live is amazing

[@johnstudinski]

This story happened when Chuck Berry was to close a show, even though Jerry Lee was more successful at the time: Lewis took to the stage and sang some of his signature songs, including “A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” before taking it all to the next level. The crowd was howling with excitement, police had to keep them at bay and stop them from climbing on stage. The thrill and adrenaline only fueled Lewis to keep going and he jumped right into “Great Balls of Fire.” Just a verse in, he kicked the stool back from the piano, doused the open piano with some gasoline he had in a Coke bottle, and threw a match into the whole mess before continuing to sing his heart out. Flames licking at the piano’s lid, Lewis finished his song to the insane roar of the audience and walked off stage before issuing one simple statement to Berry: “I want to see you follow that, Chuck.” After this incident, no one wanted to follow Jerry Lee Lewis on any show.

[@tim196868]

Your watching the true King of Rocking Roll. Man was insane on the keys.

[@armyveteran101st]

Jerry Lee Lewis was one of the first big Rock & Roll performers in the 50's, and he was awesome, especially when he was young. He passed a few months ago. Dennis Quaid and Wynona Ryder made a great movie about him in the mid 90's called "Great Balls of Fire". My 76-year old dad has been a Jerry Lee Lewis fan his entire life and so have I.

[@ydqpljn]

You should have seen him play sing in person!!!

[@827dusty]

He's an old man in this video, you should see him when he was a young man in the 50s. He was insane!

[@FritsKist]

Great reaction to one of my favorites.

[@brittreacts]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@MrRizzo1961]

R.I.P. "Killer" Jerry Lee Lewis. He passed last October in his 80s but looked much older. ✌️❤️

[@justafanmiller7486]

Watch him in his youth ... he's fire.

[@michaelpalmer9966]

He's an alien. He's from Neptune. He recorded his music on Neptune and brought it to Earth and released it.

[@Rebel9668]

You should watch him sing this back in his prime. This is tame compared to back then.

[@carlsargent5500]

Jerry Lee Lewis was considered by many as the one man who could have dethroned Elvis as the King of Rock n Roll.

[@The.Celtic.Naturopath]

You HAVE to watch him in his younger days. He was wild!

[@RAYANDERS-w4t]

THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@60secthebaptist9]

You should try to find him performing this when he was younger. well-deserved title, "killer"

[@pres96ton]

I am 78....you should dance to this....I was around when he came on the scene and blew us away....he, Elvis, carl Perkins and Johnny Cases were the leaders

[@pres96ton]

THIS IS ROCK AND ROLL!!!!

[@larryl1427]

The man has literally lit a piano on fire while playing it.

[@richardbrice9286]

JERRY WENT TO VISIT ELVIS ONE TIME AT GRACELAND; THEY SIT AROUND TALKING AND PLAYED THE PIANO SOME. WHEN JERRY LEFT ELVIS TOLD SOME OF HIS GUYS THAT JERRY WAS A GENIUS ON THE PIANO. SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST GIFTED WITH THAT TALENT. JERRYS NICKNAME WAS "THE KILLER".

[@erickbmcwhorter4054]

He absolutely destroys the keyboard

[@mwinstanley7]

Jerry Lee in the fifties live was out of this world

[@michaelstamper3096]

Louisiana legend!!!!

[@kylesummers1565]

Peace, Love!!

[@johnbrookes3261]

Hi Britt Jerry was there at the beginning of rock and roll and boy can he rock that piano Whole lot a shakin going on and Great balls of Fire were his big hits . You need to listen to the original tracks . He was awesome

[@johnpearce3714]

@ Johnbrooks3261 ,Jerry Lee Lewis also had hits with High school Confidential ,Breathless ,What I'd say, Chantilly Lace ,Me & Bobby mc.Gee etc,etc.