I saw the original, Chuck Berry, in person at the Roxy on Sunset Strip in the '70s. It was excellent, but no, there was no "orchestra." Lennon, Lynne and all of us owe Chuck a great debt of gratitude. As George Thorogood always says, "Johnny B. Goode is THE rock n roll 'national anthem!' "
Agree. I saw Chuck Berry in concert as well (opening act King Krimson plus two others — $4) but ELO owns Roll Over Beethoven — and tell Tchaikovsky the news.