- (18)
Gee, I'm listening to HARM'S WAY as I write this and you have a much better voice than Bono. Great job all around. Mel Gibson has good taste.
KILLING BONO is like a nonfiction version of Martin Amis's novel THE INFORMATION, about a failed novelist who suffers deeply as a good friend scales the bestseller lists. Both books remind me of Gore Vidal's famous quote, "When a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies."
Just read your book, Killing Bono, for a second time (read it a few years back as well). I do plan on reading it periodically for therapy. I’m 45 years old and have been writing and recording music for almost 25 years now, mostly in the privacy of my basement. My music has been met with critical acclaim and undying devotion……as much as my family and friends can provide. I can only imagine how many times this story has been repeated amongst the millions of basement rock stars around the globe.
Being a huge fan of U2 and being a basement rock star made this an easy read. I love sarcasm! I love being told it’s ok to be talented and not be famous.
I will never stop writing and recording, and I have even sucked my kids into it, much to my wife’s chagrin. Songwriting to outsiders is just not logical; it is something they just cannot feel. I’m past the rock star ambitions (and age limit!) and lead a comfortable life with a great wife and kids. My oldest son (18 yrs old) and I have completed a 5 song project, which of course is a Grammy-worthy effort according to our friends and family. I have listened to your songs and hope you will listen to mine. If nothing else happens in my ‘storied’ career, it would be nice to actually have my work reviewed by a true music critic. Hope you find the time to visit craigbannon.com and listen to the ‘112 Beats Per Minute’ project.
Thanks for your time and thanks for writing the book!
I just finished reading "Killing Bono," and Neil, I have to say GREAT BOOK! I couldn't put it down. I really like how open and honest you are. Through it all you kept your dreams and, look, you have an album! As your friend, Bono, might say "dream out loud." You did! And, while ou may have been jealous of U2, I have to say, I am quite jealous of you! Why? Bono calls you! What I would give for a call from Bono. Ah well, I can dream...
Just listened to your music, too, and I love it. Going now to see if I can buy it in the US. I'm very picky about what I'll listen to - mostly the Beatles and U2 with Elvis Costello thrown in, but I'd be proud to include your album in my collection. Would love to hear your older work, too, but it seems the killingbono.com site is down.
Thanks again, Neil, for sharing your story. Really, I loved the book and I'm looking forward to the movie. And, now, I'm going to see if I can buy your album!
Take care!
I just finished reading "Killing Bono," and Neil, I have to say GREAT BOOK! I couldn't put it down. I really like how open and honest you are. Through it all you kept your dreams and, look, you have an album! As your friend, Bono, might say "dream out loud." You did! And, while ou may have been jealous of U2, I have to say, I am quite jealous of you! Why? Bono calls you! What I would give for a call from Bono. Ah well, I can dream...
Just listened to your music, too, and I love it. Going now to see if I can buy it in the US. I'm very picky about what I'll listen to - mostly the Beatles and U2 with Elvis Costello thrown in, but I'd be proud to include your album in my collection. Would love to hear your older work, too, but it seems the killingbono.com site is down.
Thanks again, Neil, for sharing your story. Really, I loved the book and I'm looking forward to the movie. And, now, I'm going to see if I can buy your album!
Take care!
I just finished reading your book and it made me cry. I've been up all night listening to your music and just can't sleep, not yet. I want the story to continue, I guess I'll have to read about it on Twitter.
Is the killing-bono.com website defunct? I would love to hear some Yeah! Yeah! and Shook Up!
Rock (or should I say pop?) on!
Mr. McCormick,
I just finished reading Killing Bono. I first started reading it because I was required to read a memoir for my English class, so I picked this one because I'm a huge fan of U2 and the title was, well, intriguing, to say the least. But upon getting into it, I became enthralled in your story, and even though I knew Yeah! Yeah! and Shook Up! never made it in the musical industry, I found myself rooting for you and hoping that surely, this time there was no doubt that you would land a record deal. In my opinion, the reason you couldn't seem to achieve this seemingly easily reached goal with your talents, was that you were meant, (either by God or by fate,) to wait until you were older, and able to realize what it is to actually play music; what it is to actually understand why music exists. Music isn't here to be used to climb the mountain of fame, or to pave the way to fortune; no, music in all respects, is here to be enjoyed, to be played for pleasure, to appease the soul. As a young musician, I'm incredibly grateful to be able to understand this logic, and to apply it to my musical endeavors. Killing Bono definitely is within the top five best books I have ever read. Thank you.
Looking forward to the movie,
Wes
After reading killing bono I had to come check out your site and listen to your music Neil. I have also been chewed up and spit out by the music industry many times over and really related to your saga. You are an excellent writer.Tales of heartbreak and disappointment made for a good read by your witty, honest and candid storytelling. Music is cathartic, and your songs are coming from a real place with great lyrics and themes. Enjoy your family and GOD BLESS !!
Hi Neil! I read your book when it first came out and I loved it! I both cheered and booed for you.
With the movie coming out soon I just finished re-reading it after 4 years or so and again I could not put it down. I laughed and re-read my favorite passages and again I both cheered and booed for you! The U2/Bono cameos are bonus!
You are a brilliant writer and I really like your music from Mortal Coil, your lyrics are amazing!
Thank you for sharing your musical journey, I'm glad you finally found a place where you can share your talents in writing and singing and that you are happy.
God Bless!
CeeZee
Los Angeles, CA. USA
Just finished your book. It was great! Love the song "People are Trying to Kill me". Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Nice quote from Uncut. Shame this is the actual review:
"You have to admire his nerve, at least. Neil McCormick, a musical hobbyist whose day job is pop columnist for The Daily Telegraph, goes from poacher to gamekeeper with this self-released, derivative debut album.
Mostly composed of MOR saloon-bar rock, Mortal Coil is competent enough, but too obviously indebted to the canon of greats—Dylan and Van Morrison, especially—to break any new ground.
McCormick has a passable voice that would not shame the average middle-rank indie band, but lyrical banalities are his Achilles Heel. From an accomplished and witty writer like McCormick, it's seriously lacking in bite or insight."
What a trip! I just finished reading Killing Bono during which I was listening to No Line On the Horizon (for the first time) over a period of a few days. Certain words and phrases in the songs would leap out at me, either as unique or bewildering, then I'd pick up your book, turn the page, and there is the same word or phrase. This happened all the way through the book with astounding regularity. (I know what you're thinking and no, I don't do drugs LOL!) I think I will go back through it and highlight what I mean, and send it to you. If I can dig up your mailing address. Thanks for sharing your life's adventures ~ it was a FUN ride and I can't wait for the movie. God bless, Neil!!
Hello,
'I found God' is so much a beautiful song the first time i heard it I wanted to be sick in my heart. God give you love, and peace!
In my my town we have a way of saying, I think you must really like it but i cant translate! I'm sorry! But it means good luck for everything mostly.
Toni
Before reading KILLING BONO I met an Irishman who knew a man who, when walking down an Irish road, was hit by a reckless driver and injured badly. The reckless driver was U2's manager, and he was a jerk. Rather than show concern for the man he hit, he complained that he was "going to be late for a wedding." (Fortunately he did not rush off to the wedding.) I know the manager was not a member of U2 (and maybe U2 doesn't have the same manager now; this happened years ago), but when I think of Bono's humanitarian activism, I can't help but think that U2's manager should at least have practiced what Bono preaches. It reminded me of John Lennon's line from his song I DON'T WANNA FACE IT: "You wanna save humanity/But it's people that you just can't stand."
Post some music samples. I might end up buying some of those MORTAL COIL tunes. But I'd like to at least hear snippets of them first.
I've just finish your incredible biography, I couldn't put it down the last 2 days, fantastic! Even though my mother tongue is French, I really enjoyed your style... I must admit I cried whwn I read the moving "I Found God"'s lyrics... Carry on & write another jewel!!! All the best... Bisous!!!
While looking for nothing particular in a second hand bookstore, your book jumped out from one of the shelves of chaos and I knew this book was coming home with me. It felt so perfectly right. I have just finished it and have never read a book so wonderfully honest, hilarious, desperate and full of humanity.
I am now hunting the internet to arrange getting a copy of Mortal Coil-
Thank you!!
Just read Doppleganger: I really enjoyed it - my gallop was stopped at 19 when I had a son - he's 23 now but I too write and record for myself - see www.myspace.com/veraviolent.
Coulda been but kinda glad I ain't.
David.
