Neil Diamond Fun Facts, Quotes and Tweets
30th November 2016
Fact: Neil Diamond will celebrate his 50th anniversary as a performer with a massive 2017 North American arena tour. The Sweet Caroline singer has lined up 39 concerts, beginning in April (17) in Fresno, California. Diamond released his first hit single Solitary Man in 1966.
5th September 2016
Tweet: "Happy Birthday to my beautiful mom, Rose! 98 is the new 60! I love you." Neil Diamond wishes his mum a happy birthday.
8th November 2014
Tweet: "Wow, Bob Dylan just called me and said, 'If any record connects with me, this one does' about Melody Road. How cool is that? Thanks Bob!" Neil Diamond receives high praise from Bob Dylan about his new album.
17th October 2014
Quote: "I try never to say f**k In public. And I never put other people down." Neil Diamond on his rules for life.
16th October 2014
Quote: "I'm sorry to say that I never met the Monkees. I didn't meet them when they recorded I'm a Believer, but I will always be grateful to them because they kind of saved my career. I had a huge hit with Cherry Cherry and the next record out was kind of a bomb... and in those days, you had to have one hit after another and if you missed one, you could expect that the radio would stop playing you altogether unless you had another obvious hit for them to go on again." Neil Diamond owes his career to the Monkees recording his hit.
27th February 2014
Fact: U2 rocker Bono surprised diners at the posh Nobu restaurant in Los Angeles on Tuesday (26Feb14) when he broke out into an impromptu performance - and had George Clooney, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber join in. The stars belted out a series of Eagles and Neil Diamond hits as other diners looked on in surprise.
22nd April 2013
Tweet: "Happy Anniversary to my beautiful wife. One year and still going strong. I love you baby!" Veteran crooner Neil Diamond celebrates his first year of marriage to new wife Katie MCNeil.
17th April 2013
Tweet: "Thank you NY Yankees for playing 'Sweet Caroline' for the people of Boston. You scored a home run in my heart." Neil Diamond was touched on Tuesday (16Apr13) when officials at the New York Yankees played his hit as a tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bomb blast on Monday (15Apr13). Sweet Caroline has become an anthem for the Yankees' baseball rivals the Boston Red Sox.
26th August 2012
Tweet: "Jack Black is one of the nicest guys in the world but so shy, I wish he could find a way to come out of his shell." Neil Diamond jokes about his over-the-top Saving Silverman co-star, who joined the rocker onstage at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday night (23Aug12) for a rendition of Sweet Caroline.
1st June 2012
Quote: "It was very upsetting. I thought, 'I'm supposed to be the singer. You listen and dance and don't sing.' I didn't understand that it was part of their enthusiasm. But after a while, I welcomed it." Neil Diamond wasn't always fond of fans singing along with him at concerts.
24th May 2012
Tweet: "Surprise guests are planned for the American Idol finale tonight... it's going to be so good, so good, so good!" Neil Diamond is excited about his appearance on the American Idol finale on Wednesday night (23May12).
2nd May 2012
Quote: "It's nice to know that at 71 I can still fall in love so completely. Love is the elixir of eternal youth." Veteran crooner Neil Diamond insists his romance with manager Katie MCNeil, who became his wife last month (Apr12), keeps him young at heart.
25th January 2012
Fact: Neil Diamond thanked fans for their birthday wishes on Tuesday (24Jan12) by posting an upside down video message featuring him and fiancee Katie MCNeil driving a convertible along the Pacific Coast Highway in Los Angeles. The singer turned 71 on Tuesday.
17th October 2011
Tweet: "My dear friend Sue Mengers wanted to host a dinner for me and my fiancee but God took her first... now she's with all the stars in heaven." Neil Diamond pays tribute to top agent Sue Mengers, who died of pneumonia on Saturday (15Oct11).
30th September 2011
Quote: "You don't have to be Jewish to have a happy new year in 5772. Hope it's a great one for all. Shana Tovah, from Neil and Katie." Neil Diamond and his new fiancee wish fans a happy Jewish New Year.
8th September 2011
Fact: Crooner Neil Diamond's new fiancee is his co-manager, Katie MCNeil. The Sweet Caroline singer announced his plans to wed for a third time via Twitter.com on Wednesday (07Sep11).
6th June 2011
Tweet: "Last time we played Berlin was 10 days before the wall came down (22 years ago). Will celebrate at show tomorrow night!" Neil Diamond prepares for a meaningful German concert on Tuesday (07Jun11).
24th May 2011
Tweet: "I googled 'icon', it's a small computer graphic. Yep, that sounds about right. Thanks, Billboard, for the Icon Award and the love!" Neil Diamond is still thrilled with his latest accolade, which he picked up in Las Vegas on Sunday night (22May11).
15th March 2011
Quote: "How many times have I sung Sweet Caroline on karaoke? It's one of the best songs you can sing!" Sir Elton John loves to belt out his rendition of the Neil Diamond classic at karaoke.
15th March 2011
Quote: "He's a great guy. He's got a new album coming out called So Beautiful or So What. It's a tough album title. When he told it to me I didn't like it, but I didn't have the nerve to tell ya - it's too hard to remember! But it's a great album, one of the greatest albums I've ever heard... Paul, it's gonna cost you $100 for that promo!" Crooner Neil Diamond poked fun at his pal Paul Simon's choice of title for his new release as the Sweet Caroline singer was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a ceremony in New York on Monday night (14Mar11).
25th January 2011
Fact: Neil Diamond marked his 70th birthday on Monday (24Jan11) by posting a photo of his lavish birthday cake online. The crooner tweeted the message, "Check out my birthday cake! Thanks everybody for all the birthday wishes. Love, Neil."
25th November 2010
Quote: "I don’t mind at all waiting on line at Starbucks. I like to be in contact with people." Neil Diamond insists he's no diva when it comes to waiting for his coffee.
24th November 2010
Quote: "It's instant gratification. I get responses almost immediately from everywhere in the world. And it's somehow very compatible with the way I think as a songwriter. On Twitter there's a limit to the number of characters you can use, and when you write a song you have to tell your story in a limited format, sometimes 100 or 150 words. It's natural for me." Neil Diamond is a big fan of Twitter.com.
20th November 2010
Quote: "He evidently wasn't sure that he wanted to do that movie, so the producer came to me and he said, 'Why don't you try it? You look like a kind of an introverted, sullen nutcase.'" Neil Diamond reveals Martin Scorsese almost cast him as Travis Bickle in movie classic Taxi Driver when Robert De Niro appeared torn over the role.
19th November 2010
Quote: "I've never met The Monkees. I wish I would some day." Neil Diamond admits he has yet to thank the 1960s pop act for making his song I'm A Believer such a big hit.
9th November 2010
Quote: "He liked the idea and I'm glad I did them. They're wonderful songs." Neil Diamond got Paul McCartney's blessing to cover Beatles songs Yesterday and Blackbird on his new album Dreams.
10th October 2009
Fact: Veteran crooner Barry Manilow will join Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan and Sting in the race for a festive number one - the singer is releasing a Christmas album. In The Swing of Christmas will feature traditional tunes like Silver Bells, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
2nd June 2009
Fact: Neil Diamond will celebrate America's Independence Day on 4 July (09) in style - he'll perform with the Boston Pops Orchestra at Massachusetts' famous annual free red, white and blue party.
14th February 2009
Quote: "My first guitar was $10. I paid for it a dollar a week because I wasnt sure Id like playing the guitar... I dont have that guitar anymore. I wish I did." Neil Diamond misses his first instrument.
10th October 2008
Quote: "We have the longest ongoing poker game in rock + roll. It's been going since 1977." Neil Diamond on how he and his band pass the time between concerts.
15th June 2008
Quote: "(I) don't like it. It's not my kind of thing... I swore I would never do it again, and pretty much I haven't... I don't have any talent for acting, and I don't care." Neil Diamond explains why The Jazz Singer is his one and only starring movie role.
24th January 2006
Fact: <p>SWEET CAROLINE singer Neil Diamond becomes a pensioner today (24JAN06) - he turns 65. </p>
17th January 2006
Quote: <p>"I have them in a warehouse somewhere in LA and I don't know what to do with them. You can't wear them for street clothes." Neil Diamond admits he doesn't know what to do with his old sequined stage clothes. </p>
26th September 2005
Fact: <p>TRAFFIC star Erika Christensen was once part of a choir which sang back-up on Neil Diamond's version of RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER on a Christmas album. </p>
Neil Diamond
