After our last tour together in 2013 and what turned out to be the last tour of his career, I told Joe I would archive the update emails I had sent from the road and post them.
He said, "That's a good idea, Nick."

About halfway into what turned out to be thirteen years in his band as keyboardist and then music director, I started writing regularly—first to family and a small group of friends to digest the experiences that constant travel can sometimes wash into a blur. Over the years the list expanded to almost a thousand people. The first twenty posts here are the original update emails in chronological order.

I post these to honor Joe and all who worked with him. There are more stories to write. I will continue to gather them and post from time to time and to invite others to contribute.

Come visit frequently, hang out if you want and get to know my experience of this great artist and true gentleman, Joe Cocker.

In Respect, Gratitude and Love,
Nick

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Fire It Up Tour 4

Greetings from the Road as the Joe Cocker "Fire It Up" European Tour rolls on. Yes, the tour continues, although now in another mode. After more than a month break from the full production leg, this is a festival tour. Traveling with backline only and sometimes using rental gear even for that, the crew arrives early, day of show and sets the stage that depending on the festival, may have several different bands on it in the course of the day and evening. Band and Joe arrive in the evening. No soundcheck. Just go up on stage and hit. And, sometimes do it all over again the next day in a different city, maybe even a different country. Of the thirty one shows on this leg, about half of them we travel and play on the same day.



L to R: Oneida James-Rebeccu, bass. Me on keys. Norbert Fimpel here on accordion, and sax and percussion usually. Jack Bruno, drums. Joe. Herman Jackson, B3 and keys. Nikki Tillman and Laura Jane Jones, background vocals. Gene Black, guitar.


We've been out since July 17th where we all convened in Montreux, Switzerland to begin a two and a half month long festival run. It was a beautiful way to start the tour. Montreux is one of the most prestigous and longest running festivals in Europe and the who's who of the program means you never know who's going to show up to say hi. That evening I recall Ray Parker Jr., Shania Twain and Chris Lord-Alge coming back stage to hang. We did miss Claude Nobs, the founder of the festival who passed away earlier this year. A tribute to him that the festival ran like clockwork and will continue. RIP, Claude.


Lake Geneva out my hotel window in Montreux. The swallows were swarming in the morning air. 

A lovely, but intense way to begin a new tour. Montreux Jazz! The audience came to Rock and the night did not disappoint...


Tony Joe White opened the how at Montreux. What a pleasure to see and hear him again! He toured with us in the States years ago. He wrote many great songs, including "Polk Salad Annie" and "Rainy Night In Georgia".


Gone are the buses. Down to one truck for the gear. Our mode of transport on a run like this is a private jet— the only way to keep this kind of schedule...


The airport tarmac, Nice, France...


Donny takes advantage of some of Stephan's other engineering skills...


This would be a flight with the night off...

Most of our our Illustrious International Crew here: Jason Banta, guitars. Bruce Jones, FOH. Franck Loeillot, chef. Stephan Huser, monitors. Donny Clay, drums. Yvan Sauve, monitors. Hunter Frith, Lights. Me and Herman Jackson fill out the salut! 


Band on the run... Norbert, Oneida, Jack, not sure who that is in the back seat, me behind Gene's hand, Gene and Nikki. Laura is that you behind Gene?...



These moments onstage are what makes sense out of all the logistics, crazy sleep cycles and strange food.


The settings of many of these European festivals are stunning.

As mentioned in previous updates, we recorded a live DVD last April in Cologne. It is set to be released in Europe and online October 4th. You can check out the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QVAM-XamwtU

And besides the work part of it, the traveling and the gigs, which take up most of the time, there's the places themselves. Try to squeeze in a hike or a walk in the old city, a new city to begin to explore, in some cases a once familiar place that over the years, has changed with new marks on its landscapes. 

It is a campaign, an expedition not dissimilar to setting sail for faraway places, requiring various disciplines to manage both one's craft and recreations, as well as the lathe of monotony that comes with living out of a suitcase.

This too, shall pass. Soon enough (perhaps not soon enough for some), we all will be home waking up in our own beds again. I for one will be ringing with some fatigue, some feeling rusty in my chops, and mostly Gratitude to Joe and the fans for making this adventure a success. For the fans, and of course, for all of us, these nights are a Celebration. Let the music take us...

Many more stories to write about, most of which will be sealed and not opened until a disclosed time after my death, far in the future. No!... Kidding! Stay tuned. 



Joe relaxing at home in Colorado.


Feel free to reply with extended or brief letters. It's great hearing from you. Please reply without the original attachments, if possible. Also, please share with any you think would be interested and they can write me to be included on the mailing list. Thanks.

I know we are inundated with information these days. If you'd rather not receive these emails, please reply to that effect and you'll be taken off the list pronto.

Thanks for reading, listening and participating.
Keep rockin'...
Nick

Nick Milo
Music Director, Mad Dog Touring
www.Cocker.com
www.Milomon.com


(Photos by Norbert Fimpel, Ray Neapolitan, Pam Cocker, Oana Turcu and myself)

PS, I recently updated www.Milomon.com. Come by for a visit and a listen. My album with Rocky Maffit, "All The Lost Angels" available there as well as iTunes and CDBaby. Please support independently produced and marketed music. Thank you!
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