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 ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...

'' since 1996, and presented a music interview show for Vintage TV in the UK, Neil McCormick's Needle Time. McCormick is a close associate of rock band U2.

Early life

McCormick was born in England but later moved with his family to Scotland, then Ireland. He attended

Mount Temple Comprehensive School Mount Temple Comprehensive School is a secondary school in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland. The school operates under the patronage of the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, and has, as a primary objective, the provision of state-funded second ...

in Dublin at the same time as all the future members of U2.

Career

McCormick was songwriter and vocalist in a succession of unsigned bands: Frankie Corpse & the Undertakers (1978), the Modulators (1978–79) Yeah!Yeah! (1980–83) and Shook Up! (1985–88). He released one solo studio album, ''Mortal Coil'', under the pseudonym the Ghost Who Walks in 2004. His song, "Harm's Way", features on the album ''Songs Inspired by

The Passion of the Christ ''The Passion of the Christ'' is a 2004 American epic biblical drama film co-produced and directed by Mel Gibson from a screenplay he wrote with Benedict Fitzgerald. It stars Jim Caviezel as Jesus of Nazareth, Maia Morgenstern as the Bl ...

'' (2004). Writing in ''

'', McCormick said, "I should probably quit while I'm ahead." As a journalist, McCormick worked for Irish music magazine ''

Hot Press ''Hot Press'' is a monthly music and politics magazine based in Dublin, Ireland, founded in June 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. History ''Hot Press'' was founded in June 1977 by Niall Stokes, who cont ...

'' from 1978. He returned to journalism in the early nineties after an unsuccessful music career, becoming a contributing editor at '' British GQ'' (1991–96). 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. 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.

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...

called it "the best book I have ever read about trying to make it in the music business." It has been translated into several languages. A 2011 film of '' Killing Bono'' starred Ben Barnes as McCormick and Martin McCann as

Bono Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by the nickname Bono ( ), is an Irish singer-songwriter and activist. He is a founding member, the lead vocalist, and primary lyricist of the rock band U2. Bono is known for his impassioned voca ...

. McCormick was the ghostwriter of ''

U2 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. Background ''U2 by U2'' was inspired by ''The Be ...

'', the band's bestselling 2006 autobiography. McCormick's first novel, ''#Zero'', was published in 2019. To accompany the book, he released an album of tracks from the book's fictional musicians.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCormick, Neil 1961 births Living people British music critics British music journalists People educated at Mount Temple Comprehensive School Rock critics