Page 34 - Black Velvet Issue 87

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last.” I want to change. I want to be better on that
In October, Hardcore Superstar returned for example, if you’re talking about person-
to the UK on a co-headlining tour with ith a song called ‘Glue’ on the new ally. And of course I want to be a better
Michael Monroe. The advert for the tour Walbum, we ask Jocke if he would singer, an even better singer. Not that I’m the
stated, ‘Bad boys of rock united’. But are say that as bandmembers the four Hardcore best in the world, but you can always get bet-
they really bad boys of rock? “Yeah, in a way Superstar guys are stuck together like glue? ter.”
actually, on stage,” agrees Jocke. “But not He says that in his mind that is what the He tells Black Velvet that he always prac-
outside of stage. It was funny because when song is about. He tells us that they always tices his singing. “I don’t know what you call
we were loading in today, I helped the guys hang out together, even on days off. “Yester- it… it’s a glass pipe and I blow in it… it’s not
in our crew to load in. Steve Conte from day we went to an Indian restaurant and had a hash pipe. I blow it in the water and it mas-
Michael Monroe was like “What are you a bite of good food. Then went to a pub then sages my vocal chords. I do that twice a day
doing?” “I’m helping my friends”. It looks went to the Ice Bowl in London. It’s funny and then I have a vocal warm-up for 60 min-
silly to just stand and watch that you ask utes every night. Take care of yourself. That
people work.” this because I makes me a better singer, to do those things.
Ah, what a nice guy can’t remember when told the other Especially when you get older. When I was
Jocke is, getting to work guys, I can’t 20 I could get straight onstage and sing at
helping the crew. Speaking “II saw another band sit- r e m e m b e r the top of my lungs. I can do that now as well
of their crew, some of them when I saw but not six days in a row.”
get up to some strange an- ting together having a few another band We talk about how some singers’ voices
tics on the road. The band pints of beer and having a sitting to- deteriorate through time. He says that when
posted a video that included gether having singers smoke “that’s not good for your
party poppers from Pound- good time. They’re like dogs a few pints of vocal chords.” Jocke smoked when he was
land. and cats. If that was the case beer and hav- a teenager but not since then.
“That was Tony, our ing a good “When I was 16 years old I was together
drum tech. He popped it in that we couldn’t talk to each time. They’re with a girl, we smoked just regular ciga-
his mouth,” says Jocke. other I would leave the band like dogs and rettes. She smoked then I smoked. For two
Tony put a party popper in cats. If that years. But after that, when I was 18, I quit.”
his mouth and then a mem- immediately.” - Jocke Berg was the case
ber pulled the string so all that we could- One thing YOU won’t want to be quitting
the streamers burst into his n’t talk to each is Hardcore Superstar. If you’re addicted to
mouth. Crazy guy! other I would these guys like we are, you’ll be eagerly
The tour saw the band then leave the UK leave the band immediately.” awaiting your next fix of shows and a new
and head over to mainland Europe. With a The latest album also includes a song album. The plan for the band is to head to
break at Xmas, the band then had a boxing called ‘Growing Up’ in which Jocke sings ‘I USA for a few shows in 2016 and a slot on
day show scheduled at Rattvig Bowling & believe we all can change’. How does Jocke the Monsters Of Rock Cruise. They’ll con-
Krog, a bowling alley in Sweden. think people can change? tinue to write new songs until later in the
“They have a bowling hall and they have “I think if you listen to yourself, if you year when they’ll head back into the studio
a venue,” says Jocke. talk to yourself, there are things you can do for the follow-up to ‘HCSS’. Visit www.hard-
So who’s the best bowler in Hardcore Su- better,” he answers. “I know it’s stupid but I coresuperstar.com for more info.
perstar, we wonder. Jocke replies, “Martin al- would be better to help my wife through the
ways wins. He’s the good one. He gets the night with the kids. I can’t wake up. She tries Words By Shari Black Velvet
strikes all the time. Almost every time I come so many times and I really want to help her Band Photos By Ian Golcher.
third place in the band and Vic always comes but I can’t fucking wake up! That’s the thing Jocke Berg Live Photo By Shari Black Velvet
HARDCORE SUPERSTAR