The Divine Comedy’s celebrated frontman talks about his diverse career to Ben West
Neil Hannon’s too clever by half: he’s written operas, cricket-themed comedy albums, a composition for organ, a musical, the theme tune to both Father Ted and The IT Crowd, and also found time to co-write a song for French film Amélie.
But of course he’s most famous for his work with The Divine Comedy, inflecting humour into his infectious songs such as Something For The Weekend, Becoming More Like Alfie and the legendary National Express.
I ask him whether he knows the Blackheath and Greenwich area at all, and whether he has any strong memories.
“Hmmm, I’m trying to cast my mind back to when I lived in your fine cosmopolis,” he says. “I’ve been to see the observatory, the Cutty Sark and things like that, of course. And I recall the odd night out in the area. But I’m afraid I have no fantastic anecdotes. All I’ll say is that Blackheath is one of the few places I’ve been where you can completely imagine that you’re living in the 18th century – which to me is very cool.”
You grew up in Northern Ireland. How did The Troubles affect you?
“It’s just too complicated. Think I’ll leave that one for my autobiography – which I will almost certainly never write.”
Your father was a Church of Ireland minister. Would that have affected the way you see the world?
“It’s complicated. It has of course affected me. Superficially, I’d say my song structures and chord choices have the whiff of Anglicanism about them. Less superficially, I suppose my morals and character have been somewhat shaped by it, even though I’m an atheist. Luckily the Church of Ireland is by far the most benign strain of Irish Protestantism.”
What have been your highest points, Neil?
“Oh I don’t know. The top ten records and Top Of The Pops appearances have certainly pleased the pop kid in me. While filling notable venues like the Palladium in London and the Olympia in Paris makes the cultural trainspotter in me very happy. But if I’m honest, just still being around and people being interested in what I do some thirty years after I started is by far my greatest achievement.”
What’s been your lowest point?
“Every time I’m stuck in a stairwell at a regional European airport at 6am waiting to board a Ryanair flight. The stuff of nightmares!”
You’re known for having written the theme tunes for Father Ted and The IT Crowd. With your obvious gift for comedy and words, have you ever been tempted to write a sitcom, or indeed a novel or film or play?
“In my experience, writing moderately humorous songs is a far cry from actual comedy writing. I’m especially conscious of this at the moment because of sitting in a room with [Father Ted writers] Graham [Linehan] and Arthur [Mathews] while we create the Father Ted musical. I have, though, suggested the odd line which has – so far – made it in! Very chuffed. I couldn’t possibly write a whole one though.”
What are you most proud of?
“My daughter.”
Do you prefer playing or listening to music?
“Neither. I prefer creating it.”
You’ve worked with people like Michael Nyman and Tom Jones. What have been some of the most memorable people you’ve worked with, and who would you particularly like to work with in the future?
“I think my collaboration with Thomas Walsh on our Duckworth Lewis Method albums has been by far the most productive musical relationship. I’ve also had the honour of writing with or for Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin, Air, Duke Special, Leos Carax, Guy Chambers, Eg White and others I have momentarily forgotten. And I’ve probably annoyed and frustrated most of them as I’m not, if I’m honest, a natural co-writer. I’ve always been much more comfortable just sitting by the piano on my own staring at the wall for hours.”
Is there anything people would be surprised to know about you – for example you’re an obsessive knitter or keeper of bees or something?
“I wish I did anything as productive as that. I think the only thing about me that seems to genuinely surprise people is that I absolutely detest cheese. I can eat some mild cheese when cooked, such as pizza, but the thought of eating a lump of cheddar makes me dry heave. Oough, it’s happening again, ooouughh!”
Do you currently have any non-Divine Comedy projects in the pipeline?
“The only side project currently in the offing is the aforementioned Ted musical. Other than that it’s just the new Divine Comedy album which keeps me awake at night. I decided to make a double album you see. ‘How hard can it be’, thought Teddy? ‘Very. Very hard.’”
Do you like touring?
“Yes and no. It gets harder as you get older to drag yourself out of comfortable day to day domesticity. Not to mention the inevitable missing of ones family and dogs. But then there’s nothing to compare with jumping on a bus with your mates to go drinking, eating and rock and rolling your way round western Europe. Just have to remember the Marmite.”
Lastly, what advice would you give to someone starting out in music?
“Start your career in 1989 I would say. That’s helpful…”
