Joe Cocker: The Authorised Biography

Description

Foreword by Joe Cocker. Now in paperback, this is the first and only fully authorised biography of a legendary rock star. Britain's most innovative white blues singer and finest soul voice. His version of Lennon and McCartney's 'With A Little Help From My Friends' remains one of the great pop records of all time. Unstinting in its research, the book traces Cocker's life from his days as a Sheffield gas-fitter through teenage bands in South Yorkshire to early success in the UK, the pivotal Mad Dogs and Englishmen US tour, the career slump that followed and his continuing renaissance in recent years. The drugs, the alcohol, the brushes with the law and above all, the excess of his days on the road in the heyday of rock 'n' roll touring are uncovered. Cocker has worked with all the great names in global rock over a forty year career and there have been few rock biographies as open, revealing and honest as this one. He is the great survivor and it is heartening that the book's final chapters show how he has got his career, and his personal life, back on track.

JP Bean lives in Sheffield, Joe Cocker's home town and has interviewed Joe Cocker in Britain, Europe and the USA. He has previously published 'The Sheffield Gang Wars' which has been in continuous print for twenty-one years, "Over The Wall - The Master Jailbreakers" and most recently "Bendigo, The Bare Knuckle Champion Of England" which The Sunday Times said was a 'must-read'.