WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS
SPECIAL SCREENING OF
JOE COCKER: MAD DOG WITH SOUL
CONTACT: press@woodstockfilmfestival.com or 845-679-4265
Woodstock, NY (June 2017) - On Saturday, July 8 at 9pm, the Woodstock Film Festival will present a special screening of the new Joe Cocker documentary JOE COCKER: MAD DOG WITH SOUL at Upstate Films in Woodstock. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director John Edginton, as well as Michael Lang, the co-creator of the 1969 Woodstock Music & Arts Festival, and Joe Cocker's manager, plus other surprise guests.
John Edginton’s feature-length documentary portrays the turbulent life and unique talent of the late Joe Cocker who died from cancer at the age of 70 in Dec 2014.
With a voice that could rage, bellow, rasp, screech, or – if circumstances demanded – be unexpectedly yearning and vulnerable, Joe Cocker was capable of taking any song and making it his own. His pain-wracked voice pulled at the emotions of his audiences.
Joe Cocker began his career in the early 60s singing in the pubs of Sheffield. He was catapulted to world stardom in 1969 at Woodstock with his legendary performance of the Beatles song,"A Little Help from My Friends". This was followed by his 1970 “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” tour of America - now seen as a milestone in rock history. But as his stardom increased, the pressures mounted. In the 1970s, Joe Cocker’s inner demons nearly killed him.
Yet, in spite of his long-time inability to refuse drinks or drugs, Joe’s career was hallmarked by an astonishing ability to stage comeback after comeback. With chart hits in the 80s, never-ending tours in the 90s and a triumphant performance at the Queen’s Jubilee concert in 2002, Joe Cocker was responsible for one of the greatest comeback stories in rock history.
“John Edginton’s film… does create a marvelous tribute to a singer who, like James Brown, left it all onstage every night– hundreds of stages, thousands and thousands of nights." Movie Nation
“An uplifting story that focuses on redemption and reinvention. Three years gone, the film reminds us that Joe should be up where he belongs in the pantheon of great vocalists and performers." Record Collector magazine
John Edginton’s film style combines Joe Cocker's words from old radio interviews and electrifying performances with rare, unseen pictures from his family to create a comprehensive portrait of the singer's life on and off the stage.
John Edginton is a documentary film producer, director and writer. Aside from JOE COCKER: MAD DOG WITH SOUL, he has worked on other musician's documentaries including Robyn Hitchcock: I Often Dream of Trains. A Concert Film, Pink Floyd: The Story of Wish You Were Here and Genesis: Together and Apart.
Michael Lang, one of Joe Cocker's former managers, will be in attendance at the screening. Michael Lang co-founded and promoted the original Woodstock music festival and had never managed an artist before managing Joe Cocker. He appears in the documentary offering another perspective on Joe Cocker's life and career. Michael Lang is the 2011 recipient of the Spirit of Woodstock award given by the Woodstock Film Festival.
Both John Edginton and Michael Lang will take part in a Q & A session after the screening.
June 3 - Spirit of Woodstock
July 8 - JOE COCKER: MAD DOG WITH SOUL
October 11-15 - Woodstock Film Festival
Hailed as "A true American Maverick Among Fests" and named among the top 50 film festivals world wide, the Woodstock Film Festival premieres exceptional films, hosts the most talented emerging and established professionals in the movie industry; presents A-list concerts, panels and parties, and creates stimulating, innovative programming year-round.
The Woodstock Film Festival is a non-profit, 501c3 with a mission to present an annual program and year-round schedule of film, music and art-related activities that promote artists, culture, inspired learning and diversity.
The Woodstock Film Festival returns October 13-16, 2016 with an extraordinary line-up of fiercely independent films, panels, concerts and special events in Woodstock, Rhinebeck, Kingston, Rosendale and Saugerties.