14May 99
Singer hots up cool autum nights
NEIL Diamond has returned to his "good luck" city for an intimate performance that will span three decades of music. It has been three years since the enduring superstar last visited Brisbane. His first Brisbane concert tonight, which kicks off the Australia-New Zealand leg of his international tour, is expected to attract fans from across the country. The two performances are expected to be played before capacity crowds of 25,000.
"(Brisbane) is a kind of good luck city for us," Diamond said last night. "We started playing here in 1976, it's kind of a nice city to cool out in and that's what we've been doing for the last day or two." Queensland boasts more than 60 Friends of Neil Diamond members and Australia has the largest per capita following of Neil Diamond in the world, according to record label statistics.
"All I need is the audience – without them there is nothing," Diamond said.
Diehard fan Vija Prior, who spent most of yesterday with friends waiting to welcome her idol to Brisbane, said it was easy to grow up with Neil Diamond because he had been such an inspiration in her life. "He touches the hearts of so many people. We are not here to swamp him or rush him, we are just moved by his music," she said.
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14May 99
Solitary Man
no longer lonely at the top
By STEFANIE BALOGH
RETRO coolness might just stretch far enough to include 1970s superstar Neil Diamond. At 57, he sports more wrinkles and less hair than his open-neck spangled-shirt days, but Diamond still knows who and where his fans are.
The US singer-songwriter, with the easy-listening voice and catchy lyrics, has sold more albums per capita in Australia than in any other country. He made thousands of Australian baby-boomers and their children sing along to Sweet Caroline, Cracklin' Rosie, Cherry, Cherry and Solitary Man.
So it is little coincidence Diamond has chosen to cap his seven-month world tour with 16 shows in Australia and four in New Zealand.
Unshaven and wearing a black suede jacket, Diamond stepped off his tour bus in Brisbane yesterday and into the publicity glare associated with superstardom.
Versatility and eclectic tastes have aided Diamond's survival over three decades of writing and recording. Known to some as the singer's songwriter, Diamond began his career writing for others, including the Monkees with the hit I'm a Believer.
While he is happy to talk about his musical influences, he squirms when pressed for the secret of his longevity. "Me, I don't know if I'm cool but I'm still here. There's something to be said for that."
Diamond fans would argue otherwise. To them, after all these years he is perhaps so kitschy he is cool. It's all a bit of nonsense to Diamond, who says his life is now "plenty full". "It's busy. It's wonderful. It's fantastic and I still have an audience who come and enjoy the show. I can't ask for any more. "
Diamond plays his first concert tonight at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Shows follow in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne.
Date: Fri 14/05/1999
Neil Diamond arrives in Brisbane, tired and needing rest.
Rock icon Neil Diamond, has arrived in Brisbane, with the rigours of international touring clearly showing on the 58 year old's face.
The singer has just ended a European tour and is due to play to thousands of fans in Brisbane tonight in his first show "down under".
Local reporters say he may need a complete day of rest to survive... as he appeared tired and lacked the zest and glamour he's showed on previous tours.
Neil Diamond performs in Christchurch next month.