CHICAGO (AP) — An agent for Chuck Berry says exhaustion was the reason the rock-and-roll legend felt ill before a Chicago show and had to have medics check him out.

Agent Dick Alen said Sunday via e-mail that the 84-year-old Berry was on a plane going home. Alen didn’t indicate where Berry was heading but Berry lived in Wentzville, Missouri, as recently as 2008.

Fire Department spokesman Joe Roccasalva says Berry felt better and signed a release after being checked out before Saturday’s show. Concertgoer Steve Handwerker says Berry gave an erratic, out-of-tune performance and had to be helped offstage.

Handwerker says Berry thanked the crowd before leaving and did a few steps of his “heel scoot” move.

Berry is known for classic songs including “Maybelline,” ‘’Johnny B. Goode,” and “Roll Over Beethoven.”

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.