Joe Cocker comes to rock

RIGA - More than 10, 000 gathered in front of the main stage in Mezaparks June 2 to witness Joe Cocker's concert. Announced for 10 p.m., strangely enough the rock legend entered the stage right on time. Blue light drowned the scene as Joe Cocker opened with Leonard Cohen's "First we take Manhattan."

"It is nice to be in a former Soviet country that used to be deprived and just rock," Cocker said at a press conference the day before the concert.

Before the reporters, he looked weary, but he answered all questions politely. However, Cocker did not think there would be enough time for him to expand on what he thought about true love, he said.

Cocker has been on and off the road for almost 40 years. He played in the legendary concert "Woodstock." He was playing in Berlin when the wall came down.

"We've been doing it for so long, it's kind of a gypsy life, and you get used to live from a suitcase. When I go off stage I miss it and wonder if I'll be able to go back on," said Cocker.

Touring the world has taken its toll . Keeping the voice going for 40 years on the road is not easy.

Cocker said his voice had taken a beating during the years from smoking 40 cigarettes per day and chugging bottles of whiskey.

"I have a problem taking the higher notes," Cocker admitted.

On his ranch in Colorado, Cocker tries to lead a relaxed life far from the hectic touring. He said he enjoyed wearing jeans and taking walks around enjoying nature.

"I grow tomatoes and we have a greenhouse. I live a country kind of life when I am off the road," Cocker said.

The world star has had hit records in every decade counting from the 60s. Although there is little he is yet to do, Cocker is working on new ideas.

"I plan a duet album next year with girls, so I won't be on the road too much. Tom Jones had some success, but the project is not off the ground yet. I don't know where to start," Cocker said.

A lot has happened in the music industry since Joe Cocker first appeared on stage under the name Vance Arnold in Sheffield, England, where he was born on May 20, 1944. Cocker called himself a war baby and said he knew early in school that he wanted to be a singer.

"I have a hard time with rap. The rhythm and blues spirit seems to be disappearing. Now when people have computers they can download and mix and whatever. We live in a time of fluctuation," said Cocker.

The people were dancing, jumping, screaming and drinking as Cocker performed many of his golden oldies like "Unchain my heart"; "Leave your hat on"; "With a little help from my friends" and "You are so beautiful".

Among the visitors was Prime Minister Andris Berzins who said his favorite song was "You are so beautiful" before he took his seat in the VIP section along with his bodyguards.

Looking remotely impressed was Dainis Virga, drummer in Latvian national hero rock band "Livi." Virga said he was not there to check out the competition, but to see how a colleague performs on stage.

"Joe Cocker does not have any bad songs," Virga said.

The garbage cans inside the concert area quickly flooded with empty beer cups, disposable plates and dishes. Some saw it as a nice experience to show up and drink far from the stage with some live music in the background. Some people got tired early and left when Cocker was still singing. Two of them were Slava Matveyevs and his wife.

"We love Joe Cocker but we are a married couple, and my wife has to go to work tomorrow. To see Joe Cocker for 30 minutes is enough to keep him in mind forever. I have three albums at home, and I got to hear all my favorite songs," Matveyevs said.

Matveyevs is a big music fan with lots of CDs at home. He likes going to concerts in Latvia and thinks it is good that big stars come to Latvia.

"Last summer I visited the Bryan Adams concert and liked it very much," Matveyevs said.

AT the press conference Cocker said he did not have to use any special methods to warm up before a concert.

"If I am feeling good, I just go out there and bounce back from the audience. I go out there to rock," Cocker said.

The Latvian audience would have let Cocker bounce all night. After the concert, he admitted that it was one of his best performances during the "Meet & Greet" event that took place the same night. According to Elita Milgrave, director of the record company "Mikrofona ieraksti," Cocker was very satisfied with Riga's response during the concert.