European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 16, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                My living room kind of atmosphere thai was difficult to resist la s Noi easy saving a Denver concert without a Good Leeling inside. The so Mph staging background lighting and Quality sound All combined for the perfect setting in which Denver could sing his songs. For additional effect he showed some old films he made thai he had used on earlier concert hours during such songs As Eagle and the Hay it Calypso and Matthew. Occasionally Denver departed from the Solo format. The alls oper string quartet accompanied him on such songs As i m sorry Shanghai breezes heart to heart and others. This touch gave the program a needed break.". Tha audience did t participate in the concert As much As Denver might have wanted outside of clapping and singing along a Tew times the fans were however attentive and appreciative of his presentation. This was especially evident during his Semi successful attempt at a German version of the chorus in Annie s song. He stopped cold at the beginning alter forget Long the translation but the crowd pushed him on with. Applause and he eventually made it through Ullh a show of Relief. The nearly three hour concert appeared to have put somewhat of a Strain on Denver s voice. It remained Clear and resonant throughout perhaps better than it s Ever been until close to the end when it cracked a few times to was not devastating though and it did t seem to adversely affect Denver or his listeners. Denver talks at his concerts us Boulas much As he sings and tuesday night was no exception. He seemed to gain a sense of Unity Ullh the audience when he spoke to hem about taking preventive measures in file. And the ability of Humankind to establish a balance in life and to end hunger and War besides the usual introduction to his songs Denver also recited poetry told stories and gave the lord s prayer in Indian sign language to was this kind of performance that Denver is known and praised Tor. Compared to his magnificent guitar playing Denver still has a Iong Way to go on piano. The tact thai he s not an accomplished Planesi was obvious Whan he played one of his latest songs. A wild heart looking for a Home from the dreamland express album. As with. Many of his other love ballads though he seemed to Pul his every emotion into the piece Denver apologized for not having the video he had planned to show during hts performance of his latest single release Don t close your eyes tonight also from dreamland express. He did however play Back the track recording taking another departure from the Basic Solo format while he took microphone in hand and Sang along. The audience was ready for this one arid received h Well. One of the Best numbers was of Yang for me a Cut from his upcoming album. One world scheduled Lor release in june. It s a song Denver wrote in memory of the seven astronauts who died in the Jan. 28 explosion of the space shuttle Cha Fenger. Denver an avid supporter of Nasa and  program. Was accompanied by a recording of the Houston symphony orchestra. A video on Ifie history of space travel was to also have been shown during this song but had not arrived in time  Star of the tour. Denver has always included several philosophical and politically oriented songs in his repertoire. The song what Are we making weapons for also from his upcoming album is a Strong contender for this category. The title and lyrics spoke for themselves As the audience cheered when Denver introduced it. Generally Denver newest songs were enjoyed throughout the concert but it was old familiar ones like grandma s Feather bed Back Home again Sunshine on my shoulders and the traditional Rocky Mountain High that were obviously the favourites. What was missing were a new More upbeat songs. Denver received a big round of applause for Calypso after which he left the stage. He returned to close the concert the Way he s been doing ii for the past four years reciting his peace poem in addition to singing two of his Mavorite songs it s about of theand perhaps love which brought the audience to its feel for a standing ovation. To fort Denver s european tour continues through june 9. With dates in Germany the United kingdom Holland and Italy Check the on stage pages in stripes Magazine for the Lour Dales. With Denver and because of the people involved. I i hunh it had to do with me being one of the founders of and on the Board of directors of the hunger project. They did t want this to Lurn into a hunger project thing. Q. Tell us a Lilette about the concert program a. This again is a Solo concert i started four years ago Here in Europe. It was the first time in Many years Ihal d performed with Fust my guitar. I be had a wonderful experience with that All Over the world. I get to share Ullh the audience the songs the Way i Glrst. Heard then. People sing with me everywhere in the. World. And i can hear the people sing. Plus there s the Opportunity 16 Tell stories a Little bit More. I use a string quartet now for some Tove songs in the second half and i be brought some of my him with me again to show behind some of the songs. 0. There1 a lot of positive Energy at your concert. You create an intimate atmosphere a h you be Jikit invited All your Tan into your living room. How do you prepare you Rolf Lor the Ihori a. That s simply what i want to make it be. I feel like All of these people that want to come to hear my songs Are my friends. These people know me. Thai s exactly who i am. So i Welcome an evening with friends and ii does t matter ii it s a couple thousand or Twenty thousand. Q. How do you explain your Strong following around the world even after so Many years and so Many changes a. What i think it has to do with is that i m not an artist who ust writes a hit record i be always wanted to do More than entertain people. I want to touch people Ullh these things thai i feel and with these things that i say i think that from the very beginning thai has been there. People have noticed that i have not Only put my Money where my Mouth is but my Lime and my Energy. And they recognize the areas where it has Cost me a great Deal. I think e Large part of my breaking up with Annie was due to the fact that i was spending so much time doing so Many things and being away irom her she was at Home in her world which she liked very structured. She did t like to travel Alj the time. And she does t understand some of the stuff thai i am doing so we grew further and further apart 0. What is it that it slopping your music from gelling played on the radio a i think there Are a couple of things one there was a time Whan 1 was the biggest Selling record artist in the world. So it was like you could t turn on the radio without hearing a John Denver song. People still think of me As the Guy with the Long Blond hair and the Granny glasses. They used to Call me he Mickey mouse of pop. I think that image is what a lot of people still hold to maybe because 1 continue to be an Optimist and i continue to write songs that can be done with an y 16. 1086 acoustic guitar. Secondarily the management that i had i think realty misguided me to a Large degree in my relationship Ullh radio people and in How Hay used my position for things that they wanted. I think my record company takes me for granted All of my albums go Gold but in the meantime. Allol my stuff gels put Oil to the Side unless i m there hammering them the radio and promotion people and keeping them moving Ullh me. A you have performed just about everywhere in the world. How would it be to perform irom outer space a. I d like to do that As a matter of tact. I have always been a very Strong supporter of n As a. One. Of the things that we had walked about was that wanted logo up and take my guitar and write a song up there and to possibly be Able to sing it for people rom space. I also talked of the people who produced the live Aid concert and our discussions with Nasa had gotten to the Point thai there was the possibility of doing a circumnavigation of the Globe while doing a 1 14-hour television show that would be shown All Over the world. I would Host it from space. And As i was passing Over Germany we would have a top artist from Germany As pan of this program sing for people All Over the world and then we d be Over the soviet Union and an artist from the soviet Union would sing and then China. I think it s still very possible. I m not sure thai it s probable and certainly lha tragedy of the challenger explosion has Sal everything Back. But i think civilians will go again and i think i la have the Opportunity to do that. Q. What s coming up for you and what Are some thing you Itell want to do a. There Are three things that Are High on my list for me personally. I m doing a Broadway musical on the life of will Rogers. We go to rehearsals next december and i be committed to a year. I m playing he Lead and i la be performing six Days a week  about Louring a. No More Tours Lor awhile. This is going to be the fast major tour for a Tong time i Shir. This tour started in Australia i m Here in Europe for six weeks and then i la be All Over the United states through the tall. I d like to do More acting. I did a film in january which is going to be on television around Christmas time. When this year of touring ends and this Broadway play finishes i i hunh things Are going to slow Down for me i m going to spend a lot More time Home Ullh my kids. Zachary is going to be a teen Ager next year and i lust Don t want to work so hard. I be been working my Fanny off for a Long time. 1 want to go up in the space shuttle and i want to learn How to Fly a helicopter. Then do some More movies and continue recording As Long As the songs Are coming and i have a voice. , the stars and stripes Page 16