Joe Cocker under arrest for possessing marijuana in 1972
October 1972. Joe Cocker given four hours to leave the countryAfter a concert in Adelaide on October 13, Cocker got high backstage with a little help from his friends, booze and marijuana.
He was in bed fast asleep when police raided his motel room at 10am the next morning and arrested him and six of his entourage for possession, took them down to the station and locked them up.
Cocker pleaded guilty and was bailed for $1000. But at Festival Hall five days later, Cocker yelled out: "In five years marijuana will be legalised in Australia, and the same cat who is trying to throw us out now will be smoking it himself ."
The next day immigration minister Jim Forbes gave Cocker four hours to leave the country. Marijuana is still not legal, but Cocker has toured Australia another 10 times
ROCKMAN