John Denver LIVES

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Oct 3, 2003 by BILL REED

For most people, admitting a deep affection for John Denver is like confessing you ordered your wife on www.HotRussianBrides.com or that you tape the "Anna Nicole Show" - you just don't do it.

The late mop-top crooner is very, very uncool. Somewhere along the line, the arbiters of taste decided his sweet melodies are treacle and his ringing tenor is annoying.

But the arbiters of taste are losing the battle on the grass- roots level, as Denver's faithful followers maintain their devotion to the folk singer and are determined to keep winning new converts.

Witness the trifecta of John Denver events in Colorado this weekend. An intimate gathering of 200 fans will dedicate two full days to celebrating the life and music of John Denver in Salida.

And in his namesake city of Denver, "Almost Heaven: Songs and Stories of John Denver" starts a long run at the Denver Center Theatre Company, and the loving spoof "Almost Denver: The Songs and Failures of Jim Aurora" is concluding a long run.

The Denver Center put together the world premiere of "Almost Heaven" in 2002, playing to a total of 28,000 people, thanks to dozens of sold-out houses. The weekend shows are sold out six weeks in advance for this retooled version of "Almost Heaven," and the scheduled two-month run is now predicted to last nine months.

The show's producers are inviting theater professionals from around the world, hoping that "Almost Heaven" eventually will become a globe-trotting production.

Denver's committed fans aren't willing to wait.

"This time, we have fans coming from as far as Australia to see it," says Denver Center Theatre spokesman Chris Wiger.

Wiger acknowledges the shame that Denver fans carried with them for years.

"It was that way, but I really think that's changed," Wiger says. "The comment I heard most (during the last run) was that people had no idea he had written all these songs, like 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' and 'Fly Away.' "

Christine Smith, the organizer of the fifth annual John Denver Celebration in Salida, is well aware of negative attitudes about her favorite musician.

"It's been that way for a long time," Smith says. "I meet men who secretly listen, but they know it's not 'cool.' It's almost like they're going to confession: 'I've never told anybody this, but I love John Denver.'

"But that's changing now too," Smith says. More fans are coming out of the closet.

John Denver emotions are especially polarized in Colorado. After all, he is John "Denver" and we are living in "Rocky Mountain High" Colorado.

When residents of other states think of Colorado, John Denver comes to mind right after mountains and skiing.

If you're a fan of his music, that's a good thing. If you're not, that's a really irritating thing.

Wiger says when he came to work for the Colorado Avalanche seven years ago, they couldn't play John Denver songs in the arena without eliciting a cascade of boos.

That's changed.

Little things demonstrate the change in attitude. There was that oddly touching Coors commercial with a bar full of people singing "Rocky Mountain High." There's the hipster punk-cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes playing "Take Me Home, Country Roads."

Has the time come for a John Denver reassessment?

Wiger thinks so. "He was too optimistic and people were not in that mood," he says. "I think his death changed it a lot too. When you die, people realize what they're missing."

Smith promises to keep the fire burning until the rest of the world is ready to embrace Denver, and even the cool kids will sing along to "Sunshine on My Shoulders" at the top of their lungs.

"He's not going to be forgotten," Smith vows. "His legacy will live on."

JOHN DENVER TRIBUTES

Fifth annual John Denver Celebration, a weekend of six featured performers, sing-alongs and fellowship

Where: Salida, various locations

When: Saturday and Sunday

Tickets: Ticket deadline has passed; call organizer Christine Smith for more information, 1-719-942-9620; or check out www.johndenverlegacy.com

Latecomers: You can still get a John Denver fix on Saturday (8-11 p.m.) and Sunday (7:30-10 p.m.) nights at Bongo Billy's Salida Cafe, 300 Sackett St. Festival attendees will move there in the evenings to hear originals mixed with Denver covers by Christine Smith, Jeff Pine and Chris Collins. No cover.

"Almost Heaven: Songs and Stories of John Denver"

What: John Denver songs set to new arrangements, with a few words tolink the tunes together into a cohesive story

Presented by: Denver Center Theatre Company

Where: Ricketson Theatre, in the Denver Center's complex at 14th and Curtis Streets

When: Open now for open-ended run, could run until next summer

Tickets: $16-$43; purchase at www.denvercenter.org.

"Almost Denver: The Songs and Failures of Jim Aurora"

What: A spoof of "Almost Heaven"; John Denver's tunes receive new words to tell the story of folk singer Jim Aurora

Presented by: Rattlebrain Theater

Where: 1601 Arapahoe St. in Denver