UMe is celebrating the life and music of the late Joe Cocker with the full premiere of the documentary and concert film ‘Mad Dogs & Englishmen’ on YouTube. The screening arrives as Cocker is posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, marking a major moment in honoring one of rock’s most distinctive and emotionally charged voices.
Directed by Pierre Adidge, ‘Mad Dogs & Englishmen’ captures Cocker’s legendary North American tour alongside Leon Russell, unfolding as a vivid time capsule of the seventies. The film blends explosive live performances with candid behind-the-scenes moments, showcasing Cocker’s full-bodied delivery, sweat-soaked intensity, and deep emotional surrender to the music. Backstage reflections reveal both humor and hard-earned wisdom, as Cocker laughs, “I used to sing in front of the mirror with a tennis racket…full of shit I am,” before offering, “If you really want results, you have to forget everything you have of your old self, let’s say, and just surrender to what’s going on.” The premiere coincides with renewed interest in Cocker’s catalog, reaffirming his enduring influence as a vocal powerhouse and cultural icon.