Neil McCormick (born 31 March 1961) is a British music journalist, author and broadcaster. He has been Chief Music Critic for ''

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

'' 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 group 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-l ...

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 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 produced, directed and co-written by Mel Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus of Nazareth, Maia Morgenstern as Mary, mother of Jesus, and Monica Bellucci as Mary ...

'' (2004). Writing in ''

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

Hot Press ''Hot Press'' is a fortnightly 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 co ...

'' from 1978. He returned to journalism in the early nineties after an unsuccessful music career, becoming a contributing editor at ''

British GQ ''GQ'' (formerly ''Gentlemen's Quarterly'' and ''Apparel Arts'') is an American international monthly men's magazine based in New York City and founded in 1931. The publication focuses on fashion, style, and culture for men, though articles on ...

'' (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. His 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 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 ''Killing Bono'' is a 2011 comedy film directed by Nick Hamm, based on Neil McCormick's 2003 memoir ''Killing Bono: I Was Bono's Doppelgänger''. The film stars Ben Barnes as Neil McCormick, Robert Sheehan as Ivan McCormick and Martin McCann ...

'' starred Ben Barnes as McCormick and Martin McCann as Bono. McCormick was 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. His 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 British music journalists Living people People educated at Mount Temple Comprehensive School