Leave your hats on for Joe
Joe Cocker – what a bloody awesome talent and what an incredible legacy he left behind when he died almost ten years ago – and, what an impact his music made and is making on local singer Chev Wilson, someone who both looks and feels (sounds like) Cocker.
Leading up to the Ballina performance of The Joe Cocker Express, an unforgettable night of music and nostalgia, paying tribute to the iconic artist, last week Seven spoke to the man embodying the memory of Joe, in a show that promises to transport you back in time with spot-on renditions of Cocker’s greatest hits.
The Joe Cocker Express would touch the hearts of a multinational audience, but where are you based?
I just moved down here to Ballina a couple of months ago – before that I was up on the border.
When did you first discover Joe Cocker?
Well, I’ve known who Joe Cocker was for a long time – I grew up playing music with my dad who was a muso. As my voice started to develop, he noticed that I sounded like Joe. He taught me a couple of Cocker songs and I used to perform them with his band.
But, I was not familiar with his life story or all of his catalogue. Since joining the band I have become pretty familiar – I have read his autobiography and gotten to know a bit more about his journey.
You look a bit like Joe – have you let your looks become like him or are you naturally a scruffy sort of guy (haha)?
I have had various different looks over the years. By the time I joined the band my hair had gone wild. I have sort of let the beard go wild a little bit too (haha).
Do you get the air mandolin going when you are singing as well?
At the start of the show I tell people that I’m not an impersonator – nor do I think that someone like Joe should be impersonated. He’s a one-of-a-kind guy. It just happens that I have the right tools for the job. I’m a high-energy person. I do rock out the air guitar a bit on stage but by no means do I try to impersonate him, I just turn a few things up a few levels. I just get into it, and try to perform with my whole body, like he did.
It must be great to be on stage with the nine-piece band – how long have you guys all been together?
It’s been about two-and-a-half years that we’ve been working on the show. A year of that was probably just behind the scenes, getting the show ready, learning the songs and getting everything really tight and ready to rock.
Do you have a ‘day job’?
I am a full-time musician. I have been for about eight years. I used to be an arborist. In the end, though, it was actually funny – my boss found out I was a singer and he came to a gig one weekend. He watched me play and he sacked me. He said, ‘mate, I can’t have you come into work, doing what we do for minimum wage when you have so much talent’. He was one of the people who really pushed me to leave the trades and go all the way with my singing.
A hard question, but I’m going to ask – do you have a favourite song to perform?
Well, I have a favourite part of the show. Without giving too much away, we go from ‘A Little Help From My Friends’ into playing another great hit – it’s a beautiful transition – you’ll see it on the night!
Hats on, or off, The Joe Cocker Express is your chance to relive the magic, and experience the timeless songs that have touched the hearts of generations.
Ballina RSL, on Saturday, 10 August at 8pm.
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