Rockin’ and running

Press, 9 January 1986, Page 10

Rockin’ and running

by

PORTER SHIMER

Fifteen years ago, the idea of a rock star going for a morning jog would have been sheer heresy. Rock ‘n’ roll stood for rebellion against all things wholesome — and what could be more wholesome than tak-' ing care of one’s body? Janis Joplin in an aero-» bics class? About as likely as Jim Morrison in a triathlon. !

But times have changed.’ Rock ‘n’ roll is not rebelling as much. It’s celebrating its. phenomenal success.

Now a multi-billion dollar business, it requires perseverance, savvy, and endurance. | Drugs and alcohol may sneak in from time to time, as they do even in profes-, sional athletics. Compared' with the days of Jimi Hen- 1 drix and the Vanilla Fudge though, rock ‘n’ roll has cleaned up its act. Mick Jagger, Joe Cocker, Johnny Cash, Pete Townsend, Willie Nelson, Wayion Jennings, and countless others, have chosen to fly straight because they’ve realised it’s the only lasting path to success. ; Inspiration is more apt to come at the end of a run than a bottle or a joint, Willie Nelson has said.

Take gravel-voiced Bruce Springsteen. The “Boss,” now off the sauce, has been bullying some pretty hefty weights around the past few years. His physique, stage performance and personal life all show it. I exchanged notes recently with former “Philadelphia Inquirer” reporter Michael McGrath, who had interviewed Springsteen’s personal trainer for “Superfit” magazine. Apparently the fiery Springsteen approaches his

fitness now as feverishly as his music.

Three days a week of lifting weights, interspersed with three days of running four to six miles, is Bruce’s ideal schedule, the singer’s “coach,” Phil Dunphy, told McGrath. He explained Bruce’s reasons for keeping in such fine shape: “In the old days, Bruce was working at only about 50 per cent of his potential — and he needed 45 per cent just to make it through a show. That left him with only five per cent. But now he’s at 80 per cent of his potential, so he doesn’t have to give up his entire life to do his work. That extra 30 per cent gives him the energy to go out afterward.

“It’s broadened him, made him more self-confi-dent. When you’re in shape you can have a life outside your job. But Bruce didn’t. After his performances, they used to have to carry him offstage.”

all-out performing have been enough in itself to keep Springsteen in shape? Phil Dunphy explains why not. “Work isn’t exercise,” he says. “Bruce is under intense pressure when he’s performing, pressure that in itself is draining. “What he discovered was that working out was a way of using energy that wasn’t being drained by pressure. He really benefited from doing something physical that wasn’t under the lights in front of thousands of screaming fans.”. The coach sees no difference between the results for Bruce Springsteen and those for the working people the now rock-hard rocker chronicles in his songs. “Work seems less draining for people when they begin exercising,” Phil Dunphy says, “because they have more to bring to their work. And they have a lot more energy for life outside their work.” Bruce Springsteen’s marriage would seem to attest to that. Phil Dunphy adds that if you’re tempted to use your

job as an excuse for not exercising, don’t look to the Boss as an example: “Bruce works out at least twice a week, even when he’s on the road,” he said. “He’s now even got most of the band exercising.” So much for the days of the spaced-out rocker. Copyright, Universal Press Syndicate