Writing a history of Comedy is no joke
Hannon looks back as he builds Divine box set
While completing his career- encompassing box set Venus, Cupid, Folly & Time, The Divine Comedy mastermind Neil Hannon, 49, has been taking stock.
And it’s hardly surprising, since after 30 years of music and a dozen, now expanded, albums, there’s much to consider.
Hannon, the Derry-born son of a bishop, lives with his wife, children and many animals in County Kildare. His literate and witty output included pop hits ( National Express), opera and TV themes (Father Ted, Doctor Who) and even a 2014 organ recital dedicated to his Alzheimer’ssuffering dad.
“This does rather feel like a bit of a turning point. I’ve never had such a blatant full stop,” Neil admits.
He began writing the box set’s sleeve notes as the lockdown kicked in.
“I thought I’d write a few paragraphs but it ended up about two-and-a-half thousand words on each record, and apparently that’s half an autobiography.
“So I spent most of the lockdown sitting on my bed, writing my life.”
The advantage of such a large back catalogue is having so much to choose from, and reconsider, each time The Divine Comedy takes to the stage. Which is sadly a privilege denied for the foreseeable future.
“We’ve done a few things online. It’s fine, good for keeping things ticking along and reminding people you exist.
“I just don’t think it’s remotely the same as an actual live show.”
Neil’s top moments have included reading a Yeats poem with Keane at the London O2 Arena, and recording pandemic with Tom Jones. And he’s collected a celebrity follower along the way. “Davina McCall is a rabid fan, she’s lovely. Whenever I see her, she throws her arms around me and goes, ‘ Oh Neil, Neil…’ It’s not what I’m used to,” he laughs.
In the party popping 90s Hannon did his bit – but fell short. “As nice middle- class boys we did our best. So I don’t think we did very well in that department.
“In the 90s I wasn’t experienced in the studio, I definitely got better at creating the sounds I had actually envisaged.
“I was also prone to doing very stupid things on stage and surviving on gimmicks rather than just the quality of the performance.”
Now he appears to be not just at a new chapter – but also an impasse. “I’m not confident about anything any more. The world’s gone mad. The one thing I’ve learned as I’ve got older is how the world is much stranger than I thought it was when I was growing up.” Whatever is next, it’s unlikely to be a pandemic concept album. “I don’t think I’ll ever be writing a song about this,” he confirms. “It’s just too big. In many ways I feel like I want to write a nice, comfort i ng, easy listening album. About nothing at all.”
Venus, Cupid, Folly & Time: Thirty Years of The Divine Comedy is out today
The world has gone mad, it’s a much stranger place than I thought