Stories with Neil Diamond

We asked members of our Fan Club if they had any “Neil Diamond stories.” Here are just a selection of the ones we received recently:

JOSEPH N:

“I saw Neil Diamond in concert seven times from 1992 to 2017. My first ever concert was Neil’s “Love in the Round” tour in early March 1992 at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. I was a couple months shy of my 10th birthday, and had been a Diamond devotee since my now late dad introduced me to his music as a toddler, before I even understood the lyrics, I knew there was something special there. One of the enduring lessons my father taught me was that “true music tells a story.”

I still have the photos of me receiving the tickets from my parents as an early birthday gift. I was dumbstruck and overjoyed. The show was all I thought about for months – dreaming about Neil noticing me singing along in the crowd (I had his lyrics memorized at a very young age) and calling me up on stage to join him. My mother still talks about the look on my face when Neil walked out to the stage. I was finally seeing my hero in person. It was everything I could have asked for and more, and all I could talk about with the adults in my life for days afterward (it wasn’t exactly cool to my peers to be a Diamond fan in 1992).

I did eventually broaden my musical tastes as I got older, but Neil was nearly all listened to up through my early teenage years, and he remains my favorite artist and musical/personal hero.

I realized a lifelong dream 20 years later, seeing Neil from the second row during the 2012 tour – a highlight of my musical life.

My only regret is that I never got a chance to meet Neil in person, shake his hand, and thank him for all the joy and support his music has brought me throughout my 41 years.

I recall a mother and young girl I encountered leaving my final Diamond show in 2017 – the girl was about the same age I was when I saw my first show.  I had just come out of a difficult time personally, and I talked with them about how excited the girl was to see Neil for the first time, and we sang Sweet Caroline with the rest of the joyful, departing crowd, and I was struck with a sense of peace and gratitude for that moment.  I wondered then if I’d ever see Neil in concert again, but was grateful for all the times I had.

Thank you, Mr. Diamond.  For everything.  What a Beautiful Noise…”

LINDA B:

“On July 8,1986, I took my mother to see Neil in concert. It’s a night embedded in my memory that I shared with my mom, and I will never, ever forget! 

Neil was doing his “Headed for the Future Tour” and was coming to Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, IL. I’ve been privileged to see Neil in concert five times already, but my mother has never been to a live performance, and I wanted to take her to see him. I tried for over an hour to get tickets by phone on Ticketmaster but failed. Unfortunately, he was sold out.

Later, while driving into work, I heard an amazing offer on the radio: If you want to see Neil Diamond, we’ve got tickets! Stay the night at the Schaumburg Hyatt and receive two free tickets to Neil Diamond in concert at Poplar Creek! I nearly drove off the highway as I was so excited! I couldn’t wait to get to work and make my reservations! They didn’t have to know I wouldn’t be staying the night, right? I just wanted the tickets!

Concert night’s here, and I couldn’t wait to surprise my mom with the Neil Diamond tickets! I explained I had to make a stop really quick before I took her to our “night out” and she said no worries “Lindy,” her nickname for me.

I picked mom up and drove to the Hyatt and asked my mom if she wanted to come in with me or wait in the car. She still was unaware of what was going on, but she decided to go inside with me. We walked up to the front desk, and I said I had reservations. After signing my paperwork, the clerk gave me my room key and the Neil Diamond tickets. I then gave the clerk back the room key and said I was checking out! He said What? I told him I lived only a few miles away and only wanted the Neil Diamond tickets, so please check me out. My mom burst out laughing and the clerk did too! 

In my car I played Neil’s Headed to the Future cassette all the way to the theater and my mom was awestruck by the opening of Jonathan Livingston Seagull. She was on her feet for most of the concert (more than I was, as I was seven months pregnant)! But my sixty-year-old mother had the best time and loved every second of this concert!!” 

FORREST M:

“I was in high school when Neil did a concert at the old Kansas City Municipal Auditorium. After the show, I hung around the entrance to the stage and the security guard let me go back for the press meet-and-greet (probably because I was holding a small reel to reel tape recorder). I must have looked nervous because Neil told the other reporters to hold off and let me ask my questions. After Neil finished with everyone, he took my copy of Taproot Manuscript, opened it up to the centerfold and signed it: “Neil Diamond… good questions!” That album was later lost to a flood in my basement, but I will always remember Neil’s kindness to a high school kid. I’ve seen him in concert three more times in different venues but that one will be special.”

Do you have a “Neil Diamond story?”  Email Caroline@TheNeilDiamondMusical.com with the subject line “MY NEIL STORY” and we’ll share it here.