Neil McCormick

Last updated

Neil McCormick (born 31 March 1961) is a British music journalist, author and broadcaster. He has been the chief music critic for The Daily Telegraph since 1996, [1] and presented a music interview show for Vintage TV in the UK, Neil McCormick's Needle Time. [2] McCormick is a close associate of rock band U2. [3]

Contents

Early life

McCormick was born in England but later moved with his family to Scotland, then Ireland. He attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin at the same time as all the future members of U2. [4]

Career

McCormick was songwriter and vocalist in a succession of unsigned bands: Frankie Corpse & the Undertakers (1978), [5] the Modulators (1978–79) [6] Yeah!Yeah! (1980–83) [7] and Shook Up! (1985–88). [8] He released one solo studio album, Mortal Coil, under the pseudonym the Ghost Who Walks in 2004. [9] His song, "Harm's Way", features on the album Songs Inspired by The Passion of the Christ (2004). Writing in The Daily Telegraph , McCormick said, "I should probably quit while I'm ahead." [10]

As a journalist, McCormick worked for Irish music magazine Hot Press from 1978. [11] He returned to journalism in the early nineties after an unsuccessful music career, becoming a contributing editor at British GQ (1991–96). [12] He has been chief rock critic for The Daily Telegraph since 1996, and a regular guest on BBC TV and radio shows as an expert on the music business.[ citation needed ]

McCormick's memoir of an unsuccessful career in the music business, I Was Bono’s Doppelgänger (retitled Killing Bono in the US) was published in 2004. [13] Elton John called it "the best book I have ever read about trying to make it in the music business." [14] It has been translated into several languages. [15] [16] [17] A 2011 film of Killing Bono starred Ben Barnes as McCormick and Martin McCann as Bono. [18]

McCormick was the ghostwriter of U2 by U2 , the band's bestselling 2006 autobiography. [19]

McCormick's first novel, #Zero, was published in 2019. [20] To accompany the book, he released an album of tracks from the book's fictional musicians. [21] [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U2</span> Irish rock band

U2 are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1976. The group consists of Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.. Initially rooted in post-punk, U2's musical style has evolved throughout their career, yet has maintained an anthemic quality built on Bono's expressive vocals and the Edge's chiming, effects-based guitar sounds. Bono's lyrics, often embellished with spiritual imagery, focus on personal and sociopolitical themes. Popular for their live performances, the group have staged several elaborate tours over their career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bono</span> Irish musician and activist, lead vocalist of U2 (born 1960)

Paul David Hewson, known by the nickname Bono, is an Irish singer-songwriter and activist. He is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band U2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Edge</span> Irish-Welsh rock musician, U2 guitarist

David Howell Evans, better known as the Edge or simply Edge, is a British-Irish musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist of the rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 15 studio albums with them as well as one solo record. His understated style of guitar playing, a signature of U2's music, is distinguished by chiming timbres, use of rhythmic delay, drone notes, harmonics, and an extensive use of effects units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Clayton</span> Irish rock musician, bassist of U2 (born 1960)

Adam Charles Clayton is a British-Irish musician who is the bass guitarist of the rock band U2. He has resided in County Dublin, Ireland since his family moved to Malahide in 1965, when he was five years old. Clayton attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School, where he met schoolmates with whom he co-founded U2 in 1976. A member of the band since its inception, he has recorded 15 studio albums with U2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Mullen Jr.</span> Irish rock musician, drummer of U2

Laurence Joseph Mullen Jr. is an Irish musician, best known as the drummer and co-founder of the rock band U2. A member of the band since its inception, he has recorded 15 studio albums with U2. Mullen's distinctive, almost military drumming style developed from his playing martial beats in childhood marching bands.

<i>October</i> (U2 album) 1981 studio album by U2

October is the second studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was released on 12 October 1981 by Island Records, and was produced by Steve Lillywhite. The album was lyrically inspired by the memberships of Bono, the Edge, and Larry Mullen Jr. in a Christian group called the Shalom Fellowship, and consequently it contains spiritual and religious themes. Their involvement with Shalom Fellowship led them to question the relationship between the Christian faith and the "rock and roll" lifestyle, and threatened to break up the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dik Evans</span> Irish alternative rock guitarist, early U2 member

Richard G. "Dik" Evans is an Irish musician. He is a co-founder and guitarist of the band Virgin Prunes, and a co-founder and early guitarist of the band that later became U2. He is the older brother of U2 guitarist The Edge.

<i>The Unforgettable Fire</i> 1984 studio album by U2

The Unforgettable Fire is the fourth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and released on 1 October 1984 by Island Records. The band wanted to pursue a new musical direction following the harder-hitting rock of their previous album, War (1983). As a result, they employed Eno and Lanois to produce and assist in their experimentation with a more ambient sound. The resulting change in direction was at the time the band's most dramatic. The album's title is a reference to "The Unforgettable Fire", an art exhibit about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In God's Country</span> 1987 single by U2

"In God's Country" is a song by the rock band U2. It is the seventh track from their fifth studio album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's fourth single in November 1987 in North America only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own</span> 2005 single by U2

"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track on their eleventh studio album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004), and was released as the album's second single worldwide except in North America on 7 February 2005. Originally titled "Tough", the song is lyrically about the relationship between the band's lead vocalist Bono and his father Bob Hewson, who died of cancer in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vertigo (U2 song)</span> 2004 single by U2

"Vertigo" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the opening track on their eleventh studio album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004). It was released to radio as the album's lead single on 8 November 2004, and upon release, it received extensive airplay. The song was an international success, bolstered by its usage in a television advertisement featuring the band for Apple's iPod digital music player. The song lent its name to the band's 2005–2006 Vertigo Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All These Things That I've Done</span> 2004 single by the Killers

"All These Things That I've Done" is a song by American rock band the Killers. The song was released as the third single from the band's debut studio album, Hot Fuss (2004), on August 30, 2004. It was written by frontman Brandon Flowers and features gospel choir The Sweet Inspirations. The song is about television host Matt Pinfield, and his work with the US Army, as part of a program that mentored wounded/PTSD-stricken soldiers returning from Iraq.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Hill Mining Town</span> 1987 song by U2

"Red Hill Mining Town" is a song by the rock band U2. It is the sixth track from their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree. A rough version of this song was worked on during the early Joshua Tree album writing sessions in 1985. The focus of the song is on the National Union of Mineworkers' 1984 strike in Great Britain that occurred in response to the National Coal Board's campaign to close unprofitable mines. A music video was produced in February 1987 for the song and was directed by Neil Jordan. The song was planned for release as the album's second single, but it was ultimately shelved in favour of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For".

"Bad" is a song by Irish rock band U2 and the seventh track on their 1984 album, The Unforgettable Fire. Thematically, the song is about heroin addiction, though lead vocalist Bono has given varying accounts of who was the inspiration behind his lyrics. "Bad" is considered a fan favourite and is one of U2's most frequently performed songs in concert. The band's 12-minute performance of the song at the Live Aid charity concert in 1985 was a breakthrough moment for them.

"A Man and a Woman" is the seventh track on U2's eleventh studio album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. An acoustic version of the song showed up on the "All Because of You" single. It has been performed live only once at the Clinton Foundation.

"One Step Closer" is a song by Irish rock band U2, and is the ninth track on their 2004 studio album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

This is a timeline of the history of rock band U2:

<i>Killing Bono</i> 2011 film by Nick Hamm

Killing Bono is a 2011 comedy film directed by Nick Hamm, based on Neil McCormick's memoir Killing Bono: I Was Bono's Doppelgänger (2003).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Graham (author)</span>

Bill Graham was an Irish journalist and author. He attended Blackrock College and Trinity College, Dublin and resided in Howth. In addition to authoring several books, Graham wrote for Hot Press magazine from its founding. He died of a heart attack at forty-four on 11 May 1996 being survived by his mother Eileen.

<i>U2 by U2</i> Book by U2

U2 by U2 is an autobiography written by the members of Irish rock band U2, first published in 2006, edited by Neil McCormick. It portrays the story of U2 in their own words and pictures.

References

  1. ↑ "Neil McCormick biography". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  2. ↑ Neil, McCormick (7 May 2013). "Neil McCormick's Needle Time on Vintage TV". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "Harper Collins author biography". Harper Collins. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  4. ↑ McCormick, Neil; Adam Clayton; Bono; The Edge; Larry Mullen Jr. (2005). U2 by U2. New York: HarperEntertainment. pp.  40-46. ISBN   0-06-077675-7.
  5. ↑ "Frankie Corpse & The Undertakers". Irishrock.org. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  6. ↑ "The Modulators". Irishrock.org. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  7. ↑ "Yeah! Yeah!". Irishrock.org. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  8. ↑ "Shook Up!". Irishrock.org. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Cummins, Steve (29 October 2004). "Mortal Coil, Hot Press review". Hot Press. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  10. ↑ McCormick, Neil (8 April 2004). "Mel Gibson made me a pop star". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  11. ↑ McDermott, Roe (25 March 2011). "Neil McCormick, Bono's Doppelganger". Hot Press. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  12. ↑ McCormick, Neil (2004). "Chapter 21". Killing Bono. Penguin. pp. 273–277. ISBN   9780241953808.
  13. ↑ Killing Bono. Simon & Schuster. 19 October 2004. ISBN   978-0-7434-8248-6 . Retrieved 27 September 2013.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  14. ↑ Bono's Doppelganger, reviews. ASIN   0141013060.
  15. ↑ "Bonon Doppelgangeri, Finnish version". sammakko. Archived from the original on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  16. ↑ "Killing Bono, German". Neues Leben. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  17. ↑ Killing Bono, Italian. Amazon. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  18. ↑ Catsoulis, Jeannette (3 November 2011). "Killing Bono (2010)". New York Times. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  19. ↑ McCormick, Neil (26 September 2006). U2 By U2. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN   9780060776756 . Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  20. ↑ McCormick, Neil (17 February 2024). #Zero. Unbound. ISBN   9781783526635.
  21. ↑ "#Zero", Spotify , retrieved 19 April 2019
  22. ↑ "#Zero [Explicit]". Amazon Music . Retrieved 19 April 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.