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pre Tour Interview with
Australasian Post
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Why did Neil pick Australia to start his long awaited world tour?
"Because it is the most exciting place I could think of. It has the right chemistry for me and I couldn't think of anywhere I wanted to visit more"
When it was first released his double album of Hot August Night it was estimated that one family in four has a copy of the record in Australia
Within days of the tour being announced tickets for all venues were at a premium it wasn't long before the tour was a sell out
When interview prior to the tour he seemed serious about his interest in this country.
"I want to see as much of Australia as I can and am devoting about 40 per cent of my time to just looking around"
"The Great Barrier Reef is something I can't miss. I hope to get out there and do some Fishing" he hopes to escape from the crowds often enough to enjoy himself without being pestered
"I've a plan for that. I'm going to disguise myself as Elton John so I can move about freely to meet people who don't know I'm Neil Diamond"
"People give me my greatest inspirations and I hope to meet enough of them in Australia so that when I return to America I will have found something to write a few songs about"
"A few years back I thought I only had a couple of years left until I retired, but I think I've grown out of that now and would like to go on writing for as long as possible - say another 30 years"
After having scored the music for "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" Diamond plans to write a full scale musical.
After having entered New York University on a fencing scholarship he would also like to produce a ballet piece for two sabre fighters
©Australiasian Post 22/1/76
