I'm an old Boomer, but I got to see so many of the greats in the 70s & 80s, including Van Morrison. Living in Northern CA, I went to a LOT of concerts - especially at places like the Fillmore, Winterland, and Day on the Green (thank you Bill Graham!). I was at that Winterland concert in '76, and it was magical! "Moondance" (the album) is one of my Top 5 favorites of all time. I know every word, every note, and every nuance of every song on that album. It is perfection! I also got to see him in '78 as he was touring to promote "Wavelength". Another unbelievable concert! It was a private concert of only about 100 people - they were filming it for one of those late night rock shows that were so popular back then. OMG! I was not more than 10ft away from him, and he was amazing. Absolute perfection. It is true - he doesn't smile, he doesn't look at the audience, and he doesn't talk to the audience. Fans accept that this is just the way he is, because the music is worth it. I will have those memories forever, and of course, I still have my records 😍
Wow, I was there. Growing up in San Francisco during the sixties and seventies almost made one a fugitive from reality.. seeing Hendricks , Joplin , the Airplane with Slick and Kantor, Jerry and the Dead playing just playing at Speedway Meadows in Golden Gate Park no tickets no charges, just music and vibe… taking the N-Judah from the Sunset getting off at the Fillmore West and seeing some of the greatest Rock and Roll ever but also the Blues and music that lives forever. BB king to Its a Beautiful Day , we saw it all. Didn’t realize how lucky we were until later in life when I discovered it wasn’t the same for those growing up in Ohio, Arizona or any place else in the world… Truly the best years of The City by the Bay… Damn I miss those years so long ago.. world is just too F’d up today, not enough music
@@stephenhead9738 I agree 100%! We were SO fortunate to see them all! I'm from Santa Cruz and I remember seeing the Doobie Bros multiple times at outdoor concerts - for free! But I haven't heard anyone mention It's a Beautiful Day in ages! That really took me back. And don't forget Boz Scaggs, Santana, and all the other Bay Area greats that played all the time. We were very fortunate, indeed.
I saw him in the 2005 and he was wearing a fedora, sunglasses and a suit in tie and sang through a harmonica when the temperature was near 95 degrees. It was an amazing show.
@Van- He's just particularly dIffERent. A hECOFa writer and expressive studio performer. He got alma elements that relatively sO few have realized or have known. (+Hope Van is in R&R Hall of Fame. And if not, "So WhAt" - Miles Davis
yes, his voice gets better and better if that's possible, it's his soul. i think i read that he said he preserves his ability to sing a wide range and especially to still hit high notes by singing from down in his stomach, it was wikipedia, and he was telling about a technique he used to preserve the quality of his voice. whatever he's doing, it's working.
@@bglrj, Great? or priveledged? I know many that can sing way better than him. He's programmed., and from an elite family. That's required for membership.
Astral Weeks is a record Lester Bangs would go on to describe as, “proof that there was something left to express artistically besides nihilism and destruction.”
There’s a magical little area of east Belfast where a magical little stream runs along by a little school and other small nuances creating a beautiful place that I keep in my memory. And the smell of the bakery from down the way wafting over this place. Van Morrison was born right nearby so I guess he absorbed the magic too. I kept mine in memory I think he put the magical influence to great use.
Dieser Mann ist für mich einer der genialsten Musiker unserer Zeit.Bis Ende der 90er Jahre war jede neue Platte eine Überraschung,nein fast schon Offenbarung.Er ist sich und seinen inneren "Kompass" stets treu geblieben,ist in fast allen Genres zu Hause und komponiert seine Songs wie Bach oder Beethoven,vielschichtig, komplex und voller musikalischer Fülle und Reife.Kein Song gleicht irgendwie dem anderen,alle haben ihren eigenen Spannungsbogen.Er hat eine unerreichte Ausdruckskraft in der Musik und in seiner Stimme-Emotion pur.Er ist zwar eine Legende aber nie Berühmt geworden (wie Dylan oder die Stones)ich denke,er hat es auch nie gewollt.
Into the Mystic was my wedding song.....the first song I danced with my lovely bride to, October 14, 2006. Van Morrison's music is amazing, haunting, timeless. What an incredible musical talent! ......the sky is crying and it's time to go home...
@@Bobby-dh7ez It is my favorite Van song of all time! And I have it listed as the one song I want played at my funeral. There are others, of course, but that song says so much to me.
Van is the creator of the sound track of my life! When we travel, Hymns tomthe Silence is soul nourishing music. It just takes you away from worries, struggles and passed failures and bring peace to your heart! He's a musical prophet!
The best Van gig I ever saw was Knebworth. 50 years ago today! He was relaxed, joked with the audience, played great sax. Also on the bill were Allman Bros, Doobie Bros, Mahavishnu, Tim Buckley and Alex Harvey. What a memory.
LMAO, dude's got a good voice but let's not get goofy about it with the laughable "higher state of consciousness" crap, that's just ridiculous. He's an asshole rock singer, not a brilliant spiritual guru.
Seen him twice in N.Ireland, and 3 times ( so far) in Las Vegas. ❤ We love his music, and accept his ‘prickly self’. For us it’s the music, not the the hype ( whether good or bad)
Great documentary. I've seen Van Morrison live once, at Manchester Apollo around 1988 when he was touring with The Chieftains to promote their joint album, Irish Heartbeat. The Chieftains opened the show with a 45m set of their traditional Irish Folk music, then Van Morrison's band did a set - including many of the songs from Poetic Champions Compose, which was his most recent solo album at the time. For the 3rd set, Van Morrison and The Chieftains did most of the songs from Irish Heartbeat. It was a fantastic gig, and notable as being a time when Van seemed comfortable on the stage, especially with The Chieftains on stage. He was joking during the introductions between the songs. For example, when introducing his song Celtic Ray (originally from his Beautiful Vision album, but covered on Irish Heartbeat), Van joked that it was about an Irish Fish 'n' Chips shop.
I was in a band for awhile, and I hated most of it. Rehearsing songs, playing the same things over and over again, and performing..... the part I liked was "jamming", or improvising. That's when music is living and breathing. It's communication from the heart and soul.
Yep, I've been in a few and it gets old quick, especially when your travelling in a bus! I've never been in a "bar band", but I imagine that sucks even more. That was long ago, thank God.
My favourite Van Morrison album came out late in his career the excellent 1997 effort The Healing Game. He & Bob Dylan are notorious for their lack of interacting with their audiences at gigs.
My sister worked for both of them. She said Van Morrison was so obnoxious that she threatened to punch him out, after which he always asked for her. He liked it. Bob Dylan, she said, was the weirdest person she ever met. Some stars didn't want you around them. Bob Dylan acted like he didn't want anybody around him.
Never was big on Van, until that one night, I heard Astral Weeks. No one can sing like him. My Dad became a Van Morrison fan too, he was a C&W music guy, but he knew a great singer when he heard one.
A cat like Van Morrison would never have a chance today. At least in the 60s uniqueness and originality were somewhat encouraged, at least on the surface level…He boldly dared to be himself and express his art uncompromisingly, and thankfully, there was support for that, although he still had to fight for it. Nonconformists like Van are what this world needs but the record industry has no time or money for that now. My favorite quote from him: “Music is spiritual. The music business is not.” That says it all, I think.
Have you seen the interviews where he seems numb to music as anything creative? He calls it just a job, without any need for passion. He doesn't make much sense.
Grew up in SF during the sixties, seventies … the Filmore West later the Fillmore, Speedway Meadow in GG Park, Winterland and almost every great that ever played… but Van was different… pure genius, so often turning his back to the audience his entire time on the stage.. Morrison is a Musical Savant, he lives in a different world than the rest…very similar with Miles Davis. One almost must bridge a dimensional plane to communicate interpersonally .
@@paulgentile1024 IDK about that one.. guess It depends on your perspective. I myself love music and have the utmost respect for those who have the ability to create and make music at a professional level and I’m aware that within that community there’s many different levels. I simply do not half the ability to create or play music, I just love it. Contrary to my lacking this gift, you may well be a pure bundle of talent. Insomuch that you possess a musical gift , you could be far less impressed than a common fan would purchases the art others create, because we ofte we love so much which you can’t do, we may well be overly impressed… as previously mentioned IDK…. Sports wear where I excelled, specifically baseball . To this day I so wish I had the ability just to play an instrument. That perspective thing is tricky
The Dobbie Brothers wow… Tower of Power ring a bell… then how bout Tower Records… of course the cutting edge of Tech: had to have a 8 track deck in your car… I still have my IABD 8 track … Funny you mentioned Santana: my parents had a coffee shop in SF on the corner or 3rd & 16th… Carlos walked in one day looking for a job washin dishes… he walked down 16th from the mission(it’s a journey). My Pop really liked him but he had already chained me to the dish tank…so Dad called he friend who owned the Tic Tock drive in down 3rd st a bit.. Carlos worked theee washing dishes for 8-10 years……. Many years later after 7 day weeks for 60 years my dad pass away… no three page obit or advertisement but 300 -400 showed up for his memorial… and Carlos Santana was in middle of it all..always humble and pure class… never forgot my Dad helping him when he need help the most…funny what you see in life , that you never expected … we were truly blessed to grow up where and when… I don’t believe it will ever happen again.
You have picked the best bits of interviews. I felt gleeful when he said Springsteen stole his old moves from the 70s. BS is so full of himself and all show except for his very early songs. The opposite of Van Morrison who doesn’t have a fake bone in his body. Well done documentary! I only clicked bc it’s a Freewheeling doc. They are the best in well balanced presentation of the subject matter. No axe to grind or viewpoint to push.
@@Tom-xn2gu, Thank you, I usually avoid these types of channels as the idol worship really bothers me. He "blessed" them??? I thought they all sold their souls for fame. I doubt that was a blessing. I do think people need to stop and think, as we are so very programmed.
Remarkably talented, creative musician. Astral Weeks & Moondance are among the best albums ever, especially if you prefer melody but the creativity of the lyrics are also amazing. He is also incredibly arrogant and self-absorbed. Springsteen writes about Morrison's influence. You can't really steal a persons physicality, their moves on stage. We're human. Those things can't be patented. Bruce is just as original as Van Morrison. Springsteen is an unmatched performer and all around musician who loves the crowd.
I thumbed down to NYC from NH to see Van at the Palladium on November 02, 1978, during the Wavelength Tour. He was doing two shows a night with very few nights off. Appears it all came to a head during the 2nd show that night, because halfway thru "Natalia", which was just the 8th number of the set, Van dumps over the mic stand and does an exit-stage-right. Lead Guitarist, Bobby Tench, miraculously assumes lead vocals and the band finishes the song. They then go into the next number, which should have been Rice Miller's "Help Me" (most appropriate for the situation), but sounded a lot like the instrumental, "Green Onions", since Van never returned to the stage to sing it. Once it became clear to all Van would not be returning, "Help Me" came to abrupt end, the band rushed off in darkness, and the security goons jumped up on the edge of the stage ~ arms folded, as if to dare us to rush them. We certainly would've been justified. I was pissed as hell, but eventually exited the theater and schlepped over to Penn Station to grab a midnight train back to Boston. Salt in the wound, my ticketed seat was in the next to last row/orchestra; but I had weaseled my way to 6th row/center. At least I witnessed an incredible "Tupelo Honey" from that perch, but Van the Man had let me down ~ big-time.
Nowadays the ticket would have cost you $500, $1000, who knows. I like alot of his stuff but have read many stories about him - stage fright or not - just being a douche.
THANK YOU ! In solidarity with the fighters for peace, love, freedom, justice and truth, we express our feelings with music on our channel. Greetings from Germany, CLUB OF THE UNCENSORED POETS
Moondance was my introduction to Van Morrison. I bought it back when I was still a wild eyed teenage boy. God that must have been 50 years ago. I guess his lyrics gave me a sense of balance mixed with the hard driving rock and roll of the period. It was one of my favorite albums of all times and remains so today. Van Morrison will always remind me "it's a fabulous night for a Moondance."
I have always loved van. He and his songs fit all of life’s situations you can grab peace or whatever you require van has always said it is just his job well thanks van for all the love and soul you have given me and my departed wife. I still love your songs.
Been a fan for many years. I've seen him in concert a handful of times, and they were what I would call wooden performances. I finally decided to forgo seeing him in concert and stick to albums only. His two album masterpiece "Too Late to Stop Now" is one of my favorite albums of all time.
Some of these anecdotes make me love Van more than I already do. He is definitely from a more mystical realm than most humans and sometimes has no tolerance for the nonsense! That seems to be the big conflict!
He's human, like the rest of us. He's not a murderer or serial killer, just someone with problems, and he's not the only one, eh? It's Too Late To Stop Now is brilliant.
I hear people say 'If you want to be an artist you have to be a business man'. Maybe being an artist doesn't spring out of a desire to be a business man. Maybe being an artist is more like being a Shaman than a businessman.
I met him in 1973 and mentioned Bruce Springsteen and how I thought Van's music influenced him. Van got pissed said he didn't see it. However, years later Van was whining about people ripping off his musical style and mentioned Bruce as one of them. Until he starts attending AA meetings he will always be unhappy.
@@CC-xu2yz The point was that Van blows me off for even suggesting that Bruce sounded like him. Years later he's whining about how Bruce should pay him royalties for stealing his sound. What a hypocrite.
@@harvey1954 Truth be told, early Springsteen was definitely emulating Dylan more than Morrison. Those first two Springsteen albums were Dylanesque to the max! Oddly enough, they're also the only two Springsteen albums I still like and own.
I like most of his music since Them. His ‘93 album “Too Long In Exile” is great. I also enjoy his live album, “A Night In San Francisco” with Jimmy Witherspoon. Van loves the Blues. And he can scat.
My public service announcement: When you meet a famous person or celebrity, regardless of your position in life, treat them as you would being introduced to your second cousin's sister's boyfriend. They're just real people behind all of that jazz. Sure it's okay to acknowledge their accomplishments or compliment them, but then just treat them as a regular person after that. They'll appreciate it. And if they don't feel like talking to you, cut them some slack.
That Van Live was pretty good. He said during the BANG years Bang the NYC INDY record label was a sometime " Family business" you know... BANG-BANG ! Van was getting royally ripped off, so he DUCKED to Boston. This narrator totally glossed over. VAN was part of a Warners Records planned deliberate major roster change . Van, Leon Redbone, John Prine ( I think) Neil Young went to Geffen... I had just left the wholesale retail record industry. I am A Peter Bardens fan. PETE had known Van in Them. Peter had just left CAMEL, and hooked with Van for "WAVELENGTH," in 1978. I recommend it! A long career, despite cutting Van for no effing reason! Van went to Mercury and kept.... Making successful records!
There are certain voices that just hit you when you hear them perform live. I've been to many concerts over the years, but only on two occasions I was totally gobsmacked by hearing "That Voice". The first was the first time I saw Paul McCartney and the second was when I saw Van the Man. Unreal.
It's interesting that Van Morrison was talking about how false the pop scene was at a time that people are always referring to as the period when music was "real" and artists were true artists. Just goes to show that from the outside we never really know what is actually going on behind the scenes, and that every generation tends be criticized more harshly by generations before it, for the same things that were prevalent during their time.
He was talking from a very independent perspective, which to me means he had blinders on as far as some of the composer performers who were also very independent, introverted and alienated by the hype. But by and large he's right that a lot of rock and roll "rebels" are just sell out poster boys.
Van Morrison is a modern version of Milarepa or Rumi. A spiritual being that never compromise the raw experience. He abhor well behaved and hypocritical demeanours. It’s all about truth!
Never got, or even understood the allure of Van the Man. That is until 2020 where he stood loud & proud where so many other artists either did not or could not. Somebody said he was Dangerous !
"Moondance" and "Into the Mystic" caught my attention, at a time when Celtic undertones were very compelling. Then I caught him live in DC. It was curious how he would get lost in his solos, which I hadn't expected, at all.
Anyone who spreads medical misinformation to a willfully ignorant public is dangerous. I trashed my Clapton albums too. I’m sick of people who ignore the training and experience of the majority of medical experts and just repeat the amateur libertarian interpretations of medical data to endanger other people with their ravings. There is absolutely no reason to take Morrison’s word over that of my doctors. I don’t tell electricians, farmers, or generals how to do their work or that I know more than they do. Why would any untrained person pretend that they have the enough skill to tell medical researchers that they are wrong? The only way to “justify” such conduct is to make up accusations about “big pharma” without a shred of the kind of evidence that would stand up in court. Thousands died because of this spread of fear and ignorance and today we even have children getting sick and dying from diseases that we have long had vaccines for. I blame everyone like Morrison. Their anti-vax b.s. is as bad as religion.
Van’s rage against the best advice that we got from the vast majority of medical scientists is simply unhinged. There is nothing in it to admire, or did it somehow escape my attention that he got a medical degree and has been astounding the science world with new knowledge that it never had before?
I have always Loved the MoonDance Album. and several others. Around 1967 we went to see him at the American Music Hall in San Francisco. Very Sadly.... we were really Bummed out because he was quite STONED and muffed up the concert. I still love his music though.
I went to see him on my 21st birthday at the Palladium, NYC on 11/2/78. He performed 1 song, then like a petulant child, threw the mic down and walked off the stage, twice, never to return. Thanks Van
A similar thing happened to me in 1972, Wash, DC. He did not like the camera flashes going off and said he would stop the show if it continued. They were banned at the venue but some a-holes don't care about rules. The band kept playing until he came back on. It happened a few more times until the show was over.
Wonderful docu, thank you very much!! I see myself in Van Morrison. His introvert and frustrated character feels so familiar to me. Unfortunately I'm not one bit as musical as him... so there's that 😅I enjoy EVERY album he's ever made, and I hope he never changes.
Back in the early 1970s, a buddy of mine was an auto mechanic in Marin county California. Van Morrison was obsessed with Ford cortinas. He had five of them. And my friend worked at a British car dealer. They had several conversations, mostly centered around that car and the folk music scene in Scotland, where my friend was from.
Excellent insight into Van the Man. I saw Van perform ONE song. Ronnie Wood Ian McLaughlin and Bernard Fowler ... great show. The Warfield, San Francisco with my dear and since passed friend Chip. Towards the end of the show.. we could see a rotund baldish man in sunglasses bumbling around back behind the amplifiers coming out and going back.. . He looked like a drunk lost gym teacher. while Ronnie an the band were hamming The guy came back out in a a shiny track suit . . Suddenly Ronnie announced:' " Ladies & Gentleman ' Van Morrison!" Man,that gym teacher coukd sing. Ha! One of the best rncores I've ever seen🎉❤
Morrison played Chico State to a huge crowd In About 1976. For whatever reason he didn’t play any of his hits or people’s favorites. After 4-5 songs the crowd began booing and eventually he walked off stage. People were not happy.
"I Can Only Give You Everything" (THEM) - what we danced to a long time ago. "Tupelo Honey" (Van Morrison) - for my heavenly-resplendent wife, Barb. Barb (RIP)
Them were amazing at that time, completely original, saw him twice in 70s best show ever for me was at the Capitol in Port Chester NY and my friend knew a stage mgr there so we got to sit right above the stage in the Box.. unforgettable
You see me up there baby, I'm on the screen But I know better now, it's so unreal If this is success, then something's awful wrong `Cause I bought the dream and I had to play along
A true artist is forged out of steel, he wont be bought by hard times, money, fans, producers, other musicians, time they stay the course even to their detriment, to share their prospective with the world even if that world reject them.
A bit of a cantankerous nutter. But one of the greatest and most creative singer/songwriters ever. A true original. I just love his music, his voice, his sublime stream of consciousness lyrics, and the wonderful musicians he gets to play with him. Divine insanity.
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I'm an old Boomer, but I got to see so many of the greats in the 70s & 80s, including Van Morrison. Living in Northern CA, I went to a LOT of concerts - especially at places like the Fillmore, Winterland, and Day on the Green (thank you Bill Graham!). I was at that Winterland concert in '76, and it was magical! "Moondance" (the album) is one of my Top 5 favorites of all time. I know every word, every note, and every nuance of every song on that album. It is perfection! I also got to see him in '78 as he was touring to promote "Wavelength". Another unbelievable concert! It was a private concert of only about 100 people - they were filming it for one of those late night rock shows that were so popular back then. OMG! I was not more than 10ft away from him, and he was amazing. Absolute perfection. It is true - he doesn't smile, he doesn't look at the audience, and he doesn't talk to the audience. Fans accept that this is just the way he is, because the music is worth it. I will have those memories forever, and of course, I still have my records 😍
That’s incredible! Glad you got to see those iconic concerts! Love Van and of course Moondance is an all time favorite!
I am so envious!!
Wow, I was there. Growing up in San Francisco during the sixties and seventies almost made one a fugitive from reality..
seeing Hendricks , Joplin , the Airplane with Slick and Kantor, Jerry and the Dead playing just playing at Speedway Meadows in Golden Gate Park no tickets no charges, just music and vibe… taking the N-Judah from the Sunset getting off at the Fillmore West and seeing some of the greatest Rock and Roll ever but also the Blues and music that lives forever. BB king to Its a Beautiful Day , we saw it all.
Didn’t realize how lucky we were until later in life when I discovered it wasn’t the same for those growing up in Ohio, Arizona or any place else in the world…
Truly the best years of The City by the Bay… Damn I miss those years so long ago.. world is just too F’d up today, not enough music
saw him in NY a tt eh Beacon in late 80s
@@stephenhead9738 I agree 100%! We were SO fortunate to see them all! I'm from Santa Cruz and I remember seeing the Doobie Bros multiple times at outdoor concerts - for free! But I haven't heard anyone mention It's a Beautiful Day in ages! That really took me back. And don't forget Boz Scaggs, Santana, and all the other Bay Area greats that played all the time. We were very fortunate, indeed.
I don’t care what causes it. If he says, I can’t go. Then he can’t go. He’s human. May God bless him. I love his works.
Me too. He is quite the genius, doesn’t fit any mold. I love seeing him on stage, such fabulous musical experiences.
@@annanikia7949 I’ve been listening to St. Dominic’s Preview a lot today. Drove around a little extra on my way home. And, topped my day off with it.
Thank you Mr. Morrison for all the happiness you have given me through the years.
He called out the music industry for what it was..‼️ criminal ‼️
Too Long in Exile
@@leighcecil3322 I agree 💯 percent. ❤️🎶💚🍀
He figured out what they were trying to use him, their agenda.
another maga "victim"
Van is a tue artist, and my favorite singer of all time. He transcends all categories. Seeking to define him is a fool's task.
Nah, easy to define: MEDIOCRE at best.
Whatever his, or others, issues are, I don't care. The man can write and perform great songs.
“Really “
Pedo's included!
@@waltwenzel9549 ABSOLUTELY!
Gloria!! Yeah, Mozart level skills there, chief
@@streetcat1510 Far too complex for a yank.
I saw him in the 2005 and he was wearing a fedora, sunglasses and a suit in tie and sang through a harmonica when the temperature was near 95 degrees. It was an amazing show.
I have loved his music since I was a child of the 60's
You are a very lucky person to know and love te music of Van the man from Old Belfast town, he is a God send to us all
A truly poetic soul! Not many artists ever reach the mystic! He managed to keep his soul, not giving in the pop machine.
Indeed
Just remember to take his paranoid lunatic comments about COVID-19 and public health measures with a hefty lump of salt.
I’ve never gotten pop.
@@walterkersting9922 Same as English.
A star who never sold his soul for fame .
No but he didn't mind selling expensive tickets and then barely showing his face on stage.
Says who????
@@edie4321I Say So
@@jthomeskillet , No soul, no sale?
@Van- He's just particularly dIffERent.
A hECOFa writer and expressive studio performer. He got alma elements that relatively sO few have realized or have known.
(+Hope Van is in R&R Hall of Fame. And if not, "So WhAt" - Miles Davis
Madness and Genius go together very often.
Thanks V.M.
Yes! I've always thought genius bordered on madness. Like Van Gogh to Van Morrison.
@@John-vz5un He’s not mad and he is a genius
....and still putting out brilliant music every 2 years or so even today. and his voice strong as ever....🙏🎼🎭😎
yes, his voice gets better and better if that's possible, it's his soul. i think i read that he said he preserves his ability to sing a wide range and especially to still hit high notes by singing from down in his stomach, it was wikipedia, and he was telling about a technique he used to preserve the quality of his voice. whatever he's doing, it's working.
Van is Perfection performer w his music and soul, zero room for any gimmicks.
My sister worked with him. He was so obnoxious that she threatened to punch him out. He loved it and asked for her every time he could from then on.
Amazing musician & writer and an asshole. Great story, thanks for sharing!
Yet there are people in the comments saying he "blessed" them.
@@edie4321 most great people are complicated.
@@bglrj , Great??? or programmed? The elite are quite different than us. That's why we were warned about idol worship, and false gods.
@@bglrj, Great? or priveledged? I know many that can sing way better than him. He's programmed., and from an elite family. That's required for membership.
Van had one of those voices, that he could sing most any song, and make it a hit.
Yes indeed
So do so many that never get the chance.
Alternative view. He was bang average.
He could sing any song and wreck it. I never could stand his voice because it sounded like he was an a**hole and a violent person. Nasty edge to it.
Still alive
Van IS The man ! Astral Weeks a masterpiece .
I feel the same way! It is up there on the top of my favorite list!
Astral Weeks is a record Lester Bangs would go on to describe as, “proof that there was something left to express artistically besides nihilism and destruction.”
Madam George.
@@reverendbStaard Bangs? The man who was jealous of the fame rock stars got
There’s a magical little area of east Belfast where a magical little stream runs along by a little school and other small nuances creating a beautiful place that I keep in my memory. And the smell of the bakery from down the way wafting over this place. Van Morrison was born right nearby so I guess he absorbed the magic too. I kept mine in memory I think he put the magical influence to great use.
Van, I dig you. G.O.A.T. Thanks for the wonderful music. I love it. I love you.❤🍀💚🎶
No, Bob is clearly the GOAT
😊
Dick Clark is so respectful. He is missed.
💯
Dieser Mann ist für mich einer der genialsten Musiker unserer Zeit.Bis Ende der 90er Jahre war jede neue Platte eine Überraschung,nein fast schon Offenbarung.Er ist sich und seinen inneren "Kompass" stets treu geblieben,ist in fast allen Genres zu Hause und komponiert seine Songs wie Bach oder Beethoven,vielschichtig, komplex und voller musikalischer Fülle und Reife.Kein Song gleicht irgendwie dem anderen,alle haben ihren eigenen Spannungsbogen.Er hat eine unerreichte Ausdruckskraft in der Musik und in seiner Stimme-Emotion pur.Er ist zwar eine Legende aber nie Berühmt geworden (wie Dylan oder die Stones)ich denke,er hat es auch nie gewollt.
Er war großartig - aber er ist langweilig geworden.
I always said Van Morrison was the best thing to come out of Ireland since Guineas
Well, I kinda liked Thin Lizzy, too. 😊
@@RickFruckberry they were a great band, and are very much missed.
Rory Gallagher , and Gary Moore soo much soul in Ireland
Guiness.
When were Italians thrown out of Ireland?
Into the Mystic was my wedding song.....the first song I danced with my lovely bride to, October 14, 2006. Van Morrison's music is amazing, haunting, timeless. What an incredible musical talent! ......the sky is crying and it's time to go home...
❤️
I can't love that song enough.
@@Bobby-dh7ez It is my favorite Van song of all time! And I have it listed as the one song I want played at my funeral. There are others, of course, but that song says so much to me.
As my old man used to say…”that boy is just wired different”
Sounds a little bipolar to me
One of the greatest songwriters of all time!
Dylanesque
@@david-pb4bi Sings as well as ole Zim does, better than John and Paul for sure
@@PaulFormentos 100% Van the man “it’s too late to stop now”
@PaulFormentos Astral Weeks has never been bettered and probably never will be, but come on, as a songwriter he's not in Bob's league.
You got his music you got his soul what more do you want he gave you the best❤
Van is the creator of the sound track of my life! When we travel, Hymns tomthe Silence is soul nourishing music. It just takes you away from worries, struggles and passed failures and bring peace to your heart! He's a musical prophet!
💯
I agree, total mysticism.
Northern Ireland has given us Van,the singer,Rory ,the Golfer and George Best the foot baller….population 1.5 million
The best Van gig I ever saw was Knebworth. 50 years ago today! He was relaxed, joked with the audience, played great sax. Also on the bill were Allman Bros, Doobie Bros, Mahavishnu, Tim Buckley and Alex Harvey. What a memory.
Wow 🤩
Wow! Tim and Van on the same bill. 2 of the best live albums ever are Buckley's "Dream Letter" and Morrison's "It's Too Late to Stop Now".
He goes into a higher state of consciousness. My favorite artist since age 12 and 1967s Brown Eyed Girl.
Agreed, he taps into something deep. That monastery stay might have helped him early on.
LMAO, dude's got a good voice but let's not get goofy about it with the laughable "higher state of consciousness" crap, that's just ridiculous. He's an asshole rock singer, not a brilliant spiritual guru.
Seen him twice in N.Ireland, and 3 times ( so far) in Las Vegas. ❤ We love his music, and accept his ‘prickly self’. For us it’s the music, not the the hype ( whether good or bad)
Great documentary. I've seen Van Morrison live once, at Manchester Apollo around 1988 when he was touring with The Chieftains to promote their joint album, Irish Heartbeat. The Chieftains opened the show with a 45m set of their traditional Irish Folk music, then Van Morrison's band did a set - including many of the songs from Poetic Champions Compose, which was his most recent solo album at the time. For the 3rd set, Van Morrison and The Chieftains did most of the songs from Irish Heartbeat. It was a fantastic gig, and notable as being a time when Van seemed comfortable on the stage, especially with The Chieftains on stage. He was joking during the introductions between the songs. For example, when introducing his song Celtic Ray (originally from his Beautiful Vision album, but covered on Irish Heartbeat), Van joked that it was about an Irish Fish 'n' Chips shop.
Thank you 🙏
I was in a band for awhile, and I hated most of it. Rehearsing songs, playing the same things over and over again, and performing.....
the part I liked was "jamming", or improvising. That's when music is living and breathing. It's communication from the heart and soul.
Yep, I've been in a few and it gets old quick, especially when your travelling in a bus! I've never been in a "bar band", but I imagine that sucks even more. That was long ago, thank God.
Aka, "art." That is the beauty of it. 😊
My favourite Van Morrison album came out late in his career the excellent 1997 effort The Healing Game. He & Bob Dylan are notorious for their lack of interacting with their audiences at gigs.
My sister worked for both of them. She said Van Morrison was so obnoxious that she threatened to punch him out, after which he always asked for her. He liked it. Bob Dylan, she said, was the weirdest person she ever met. Some stars didn't want you around them. Bob Dylan acted like he didn't want anybody around him.
If you are an ass, you are an ass.
Forse Morrison voleva solo provocarla perché gli piacciono le persone che hanno carattere?
Never was big on Van, until that one night, I heard Astral Weeks. No one can sing like him. My Dad became a Van Morrison fan too, he was a C&W music guy, but he knew a great singer when he heard one.
❤😊It doesnt matter whay hes said or what he does or doesnt do, he owes us nothing but Thank God he shares his gift!❤ Forever Grateful🎉
💯
Grateful. Yes.
He’s the real thing!! So glad he’s created his own path and avoided the system. I would love to see him play at a small venue.
Don't put the word artist and pop/rock star together much, but Van, to me, is truly an exceptional artist.
A cat like Van Morrison would never have a chance today. At least in the 60s uniqueness and originality were somewhat encouraged, at least on the surface level…He boldly dared to be himself and express his art uncompromisingly, and thankfully, there was support for that, although he still had to fight for it.
Nonconformists like Van are what this world needs but the record industry has no time or money for that now. My favorite quote from him: “Music is spiritual. The music business is not.” That says it all, I think.
Have you seen the interviews where he seems numb to music as anything creative? He calls it just a job, without any need for passion. He doesn't make much sense.
I saw VM live in 1989 and he was amazing. His very best music is genius IMO.
"Not what it seems. "
Love his contribution.
Grew up in SF during the sixties, seventies … the Filmore West later the Fillmore, Speedway Meadow in GG Park, Winterland and almost every great that ever played… but Van was different… pure genius, so often turning his back to the audience his entire time on the stage.. Morrison is a Musical Savant, he lives in a different world than the rest…very similar with Miles Davis. One almost must bridge a dimensional plane to communicate interpersonally .
You're reading too much into it..
@@paulgentile1024 IDK about that one.. guess
It depends on your perspective.
I myself love music and have the utmost respect for those who have the ability to create and make music at a professional level and I’m aware that within that community there’s many different levels. I simply do not half the ability to create or play music, I just love it.
Contrary to my lacking this gift, you may well be a pure bundle of talent. Insomuch that you possess a musical gift , you could be far less impressed than a common fan would purchases the art others create, because we ofte we love so much which you can’t do, we may well be overly impressed… as previously mentioned IDK…. Sports wear where I excelled, specifically baseball .
To this day I so wish I had the ability just to play an instrument.
That perspective thing is tricky
you gave us more than most van we love you with all your small character miss steps carry on forever.
…like. Your. Spacing. Of Your. Words. How. Do. You. Turn. Off auto-period
The Dobbie Brothers wow… Tower of Power ring a bell… then how bout Tower Records… of course the cutting edge of Tech: had to have a 8 track deck in your car… I still have my IABD 8 track …
Funny you mentioned Santana: my parents had a coffee shop in SF on the corner or 3rd & 16th… Carlos walked in one day looking for a job washin dishes… he walked down 16th from the mission(it’s a journey). My Pop really liked him but he had already chained me to the dish tank…so Dad called he friend who owned the Tic Tock drive in down 3rd st a bit.. Carlos worked theee washing dishes for 8-10 years…….
Many years later after 7 day weeks for 60 years my dad pass away… no three page obit or advertisement but 300 -400 showed up for his memorial… and Carlos Santana was in middle of it all..always humble and pure class… never forgot my Dad helping him when he need help the most…funny what you see in life , that you never expected … we were truly blessed to grow up where and when… I don’t believe it will ever happen again.
You have picked the best bits of interviews. I felt gleeful when he said Springsteen stole his old moves from the 70s. BS is so full of himself and all show except for his very early songs. The opposite of Van Morrison who doesn’t have a fake bone in his body. Well done documentary! I only clicked bc it’s a Freewheeling doc. They are the best in well balanced presentation of the subject matter. No axe to grind or viewpoint to push.
Thank you so much!! And I agree on your assessment of them!
Sprigsteen is s servant of the system
Gotta agree on B S!! I won't even listen to him and I've seen him treat people badly!! Been a couple of shows that he ruined for me!!
When Springsteen bought a house in Beverly Hills, I thought that was the perfect move for him. Such a phoney...
@@stillnotwoke They are all phonies apart from Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Meat Loaf and Roger Waters
I Am Lucky To Have Met & Spoken With Van The Man. He Blessed Me & My Friends! 🙏🎹🍹
That must've been while he was living at the monastery, eh? 🤨
What??? Is he a god??? Or are you just an idol worshiper? Your comment was shocking.
@@edie4321 Well bless your heart for speaking your mind..
@@Tom-xn2gu, Thank you, I usually avoid these types of channels as the idol worship really bothers me. He "blessed" them??? I thought they all sold their souls for fame. I doubt that was a blessing. I do think people need to stop and think, as we are so very programmed.
There are lots of blessings we have throughout any given day
Remarkably talented, creative musician. Astral Weeks & Moondance are among the best albums ever, especially if you prefer melody but the creativity of the lyrics are also amazing. He is also incredibly arrogant and self-absorbed. Springsteen writes about Morrison's influence. You can't really steal a persons physicality, their moves on stage. We're human. Those things can't be patented. Bruce is just as original as Van Morrison. Springsteen is an unmatched performer and all around musician who loves the crowd.
I thumbed down to NYC from NH to see Van at the Palladium on November 02, 1978, during the Wavelength Tour. He was doing two shows a night with very few nights off. Appears it all came to a head during the 2nd show that night, because halfway thru "Natalia", which was just the 8th number of the set, Van dumps over the mic stand and does an exit-stage-right. Lead Guitarist, Bobby Tench, miraculously assumes lead vocals and the band finishes the song. They then go into the next number, which should have been Rice Miller's "Help Me" (most appropriate for the situation), but sounded a lot like the instrumental, "Green Onions", since Van never returned to the stage to sing it. Once it became clear to all Van would not be returning, "Help Me" came to abrupt end, the band rushed off in darkness, and the security goons jumped up on the edge of the stage ~ arms folded, as if to dare us to rush them. We certainly would've been justified. I was pissed as hell, but eventually exited the theater and schlepped over to Penn Station to grab a midnight train back to Boston. Salt in the wound, my ticketed seat was in the next to last row/orchestra; but I had weaseled my way to 6th row/center. At least I witnessed an incredible "Tupelo Honey" from that perch, but Van the Man had let me down ~ big-time.
I read about this from some others that attended. Maddening.
Nowadays the ticket would have cost you $500, $1000, who knows. I like alot of his stuff but have read many stories about him - stage fright or not - just being a douche.
A wonderful wandering leaping gnome , love his story. Excellent narration! 👍. 🌍✌️🌎
Many thanks!
THANK YOU ! In solidarity with the fighters for peace, love, freedom, justice and truth, we express our feelings with music on our channel.
Greetings from Germany, CLUB OF THE UNCENSORED POETS
✌️
Van Morrison has been my hero my whole life and Im 74
Really liked his music! Great artist great voice!!
Fame is a certain kind of hell, not everyone likes their feet burned.
@ 8:50 a quote from Lester Bangs of Cream Magazine. Anyone remember the film 'Almost Famous' by Cameron Crowe? 😂
Moondance was my introduction to Van Morrison. I bought it back when I was still a wild eyed teenage boy. God that must have been 50 years ago. I guess his lyrics gave me a sense of balance mixed with the hard driving rock and roll of the period. It was one of my favorite albums of all times and remains so today. Van Morrison will always remind me "it's a fabulous night for a Moondance."
For a man like Van, with such a unique singing voice going solo was possibly the best move of his life.
I have always loved van. He and his songs fit all of life’s situations you can grab peace or whatever you require van has always said it is just his job well thanks van for all the love and soul you have given me and my departed wife. I still love your songs.
Classic stands in the test of time....unique Van.❤❤❤❤
Been a fan for many years. I've seen him in concert a handful of times, and they were what I would call wooden performances. I finally decided to forgo seeing him in concert and stick to albums only. His two album masterpiece "Too Late to Stop Now" is one of my favorite albums of all time.
Thank you for the insight and clarification. He is one of my favorites, genius.
You’re welcome!
Some of these anecdotes make me love Van more than I already do. He is definitely from a more mystical realm than most humans and sometimes has no tolerance for the nonsense! That seems to be the big conflict!
You're on the right track.
Peace
I suffered from extreme social anxiety. If van suffered from this it’s amazing that he could even perform on stage! Had to be really tough!
Many turn to substances to deal with the anxiety and to keep the energy up through grueling tours.
@thomashugus You are 💯 percent accurate. 🙏😊
Absolutely fantastic have a wonderful day freewheeling ❤
He's human, like the rest of us.
He's not a murderer or serial killer, just someone with problems, and he's not the only one, eh?
It's Too Late To Stop Now is brilliant.
Thanks for the nice video it's very enjoyable to watch and listen to 👍🇺🇸
You’re very welcome!! Glad you enjoyed it!
He's my hero. GOAT
No, Dylan is GOAT
@@ScrotusZangenpepper dylan has no voice 😅 and no more inspiration
I hear people say 'If you want to be an artist you have to be a business man'.
Maybe being an artist doesn't spring out of a desire to be a business man.
Maybe being an artist is more like being a Shaman than a businessman.
The stories of both Rickie Lee Jones & John Densmore regarding their interactions with Van are real eye openers into his persona.
Yea I found them interesting and definitely added to the story to give additional perspective.
I met him in 1973 and mentioned Bruce Springsteen and how I thought Van's music influenced him. Van got pissed said he didn't see it. However, years later Van was whining about people ripping off his musical style and mentioned Bruce as one of them. Until he starts attending AA meetings he will always be unhappy.
@@harvey1954 Love Van. Springsteen not so much.
@@CC-xu2yz The point was that Van blows me off for even suggesting that Bruce sounded like him. Years later he's whining about how Bruce should pay him royalties for stealing his sound. What a hypocrite.
@@harvey1954 Truth be told, early Springsteen was definitely emulating Dylan more than Morrison. Those first two Springsteen albums were Dylanesque to the max! Oddly enough, they're also the only two Springsteen albums I still like and own.
I like most of his music since Them. His ‘93 album “Too Long In Exile” is great. I also enjoy his live album, “A Night In San Francisco” with Jimmy Witherspoon. Van loves the Blues. And he can scat.
My public service announcement: When you meet a famous person or celebrity, regardless of your position in life, treat them as you would being introduced to your second cousin's sister's boyfriend. They're just real people behind all of that jazz. Sure it's okay to acknowledge their accomplishments or compliment them, but then just treat them as a regular person after that. They'll appreciate it. And if they don't feel like talking to you, cut them some slack.
aaaaaah shut ya pie hole .
Good call Brian
This is a fascinating clip. Reveals him more deeply.
That Van Live was pretty good.
He said during the BANG years Bang the NYC INDY record label was a sometime " Family business" you know...
BANG-BANG !
Van was getting royally ripped off, so he DUCKED to Boston.
This narrator totally glossed over.
VAN was part of a Warners Records planned deliberate major roster change .
Van, Leon Redbone, John Prine ( I think) Neil Young went to Geffen...
I had just left the wholesale retail record industry.
I am A Peter Bardens fan. PETE had known Van in Them. Peter had just left CAMEL, and hooked with Van for "WAVELENGTH," in 1978.
I recommend it!
A long career, despite cutting Van for no effing reason!
Van went to Mercury and kept....
Making successful records!
There are certain voices that just hit you when you hear them perform live. I've been to many concerts over the years, but only on two occasions I was totally gobsmacked by hearing "That Voice". The first was the first time I saw Paul McCartney and the second was when I saw Van the Man. Unreal.
Don't forget Live Bullet. Van Morrison was a big part of the Silver Bullet Band creating some of the funkiest grooves on the whole album.
It's interesting that Van Morrison was talking about how false the pop scene was at a time that people are always referring to as the period when music was "real" and artists were true artists. Just goes to show that from the outside we never really know what is actually going on behind the scenes, and that every generation tends be criticized more harshly by generations before it, for the same things that were prevalent during their time.
He was talking from a very independent perspective, which to me means he had blinders on as far as some of the composer performers who were also very independent, introverted and alienated by the hype. But by and large he's right that a lot of rock and roll "rebels" are just sell out poster boys.
No mention of "Wild Night", my favorite VM song. Good vid.
Thanks!
Great album, too.
Absolutely 💯 love morrison’s music,brilliant ‼️
Van Morrison is a modern version of Milarepa or Rumi. A spiritual being that never compromise the raw experience. He abhor well behaved and hypocritical demeanours. It’s all about truth!
Never got, or even understood the allure of Van the Man. That is until 2020 where he stood loud & proud where so many other artists either did not or could not. Somebody said he was Dangerous !
Ive liked his music since Gloria in the 60s with Them.
"Moondance" and "Into the Mystic" caught my attention, at a time when Celtic undertones were very compelling. Then I caught him live in DC. It was curious how he would get lost in his solos, which I hadn't expected, at all.
Anyone who spreads medical misinformation to a willfully ignorant public is dangerous. I trashed my Clapton albums too. I’m sick of people who ignore the training and experience of the majority of medical experts and just repeat the amateur libertarian interpretations of medical data to endanger other people with their ravings. There is absolutely no reason to take Morrison’s word over that of my doctors.
I don’t tell electricians, farmers, or generals how to do their work or that I know more than they do. Why would any untrained person pretend that they have the enough skill to tell medical researchers that they are wrong? The only way to “justify” such conduct is to make up accusations about “big pharma” without a shred of the kind of evidence that would stand up in court. Thousands died because of this spread of fear and ignorance and today we even have children getting sick and dying from diseases that we have long had vaccines for. I blame everyone like Morrison. Their anti-vax b.s. is as bad as religion.
He’s been singing about the “system” for decades - in many of his songs
Van’s rage against the best advice that we got from the vast majority of medical scientists is simply unhinged. There is nothing in it to admire, or did it somehow escape my attention that he got a medical degree and has been astounding the science world with new knowledge that it never had before?
The one Van show I saw, Buffalo 1978, was one of his stage fright nights where he'd run offstage before the band even finished the songs.
I have always Loved the MoonDance Album. and several others. Around 1967 we went to see him at the American Music Hall in San Francisco.
Very Sadly.... we were really Bummed out because he was quite STONED and muffed up the concert. I still love his music though.
This was really interesting. Van reminded me of Mitch Hedberg, performing with eyes closed.
I went to see him on my 21st birthday at the Palladium, NYC on 11/2/78. He performed 1 song, then like a petulant child, threw the mic down and walked off the stage, twice, never to return. Thanks Van
A similar thing happened to me in 1972, Wash, DC. He did not like the camera flashes going off and said he would stop the show if it continued. They were banned at the venue but some a-holes don't care about rules. The band kept playing until he came back on. It happened a few more times until the show was over.
Wonderful docu, thank you very much!! I see myself in Van Morrison. His introvert and frustrated character feels so familiar to me. Unfortunately I'm not one bit as musical as him... so there's that 😅I enjoy EVERY album he's ever made, and I hope he never changes.
You’re welcome 🙏
Thank You Henry ! ❤️
The Irish invasion, Van, Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore. They were all great people and poets.
They all certainly were , all soulful lyrical poets 💚☘️
Back in the early 1970s, a buddy of mine was an auto mechanic in Marin county California. Van Morrison was obsessed with Ford cortinas. He had five of them. And my friend worked at a British car dealer. They had several conversations, mostly centered around that car and the folk music scene in Scotland, where my friend was from.
Van the Man 2024AD
Excellent insight into Van the Man.
I saw Van perform ONE song. Ronnie Wood Ian McLaughlin and Bernard Fowler ... great show.
The Warfield, San Francisco with my dear and since passed friend Chip.
Towards the end of the show.. we could see a rotund baldish man in sunglasses bumbling around back behind the amplifiers coming out and going back.. .
He looked like a drunk lost gym teacher. while Ronnie an the band were hamming
The guy came back out in a a shiny track suit . .
Suddenly Ronnie announced:'
" Ladies & Gentleman ' Van Morrison!"
Man,that gym teacher coukd sing. Ha!
One of the best rncores I've ever seen🎉❤
Thanks! And what a great memory!
Morrison played Chico State to a huge crowd In About 1976. For whatever reason he didn’t play any of his hits or people’s favorites. After 4-5 songs the crowd began booing and eventually he walked off stage. People were not happy.
"I Can Only Give You Everything" (THEM) - what we danced to a long time ago. "Tupelo Honey" (Van Morrison) - for my heavenly-resplendent wife, Barb. Barb (RIP)
So sweet!
@@freewheelingideas Many thanks. Cheers. -- W
Remember seeing Van around Central Sq Cambridge Ma in 1968 before Astral Weeks etc
Them were amazing at that time, completely original, saw him twice in 70s best show ever for me was at the Capitol in Port Chester NY and my friend knew a stage mgr there so we got to sit right above the stage in the Box.. unforgettable
Incredible!
Thanks Mr Morrison for the music.
Interesting analysis, thanks
You’re welcome!
You see me up there baby, I'm on the screen
But I know better now, it's so unreal
If this is success, then something's awful wrong
`Cause I bought the dream and I had to play along
A true artist is forged out of steel, he wont be bought by hard times, money, fans, producers, other musicians, time they stay the course even to their detriment, to share their prospective with the world even if that world reject them.
a very small group
Van is not here to please. Period.
Love this legend
Astral Weeks, what an impression it made on me and many of my friends , you knew this guy was was going to make some really good music !
A bit of a cantankerous nutter. But one of the greatest and most creative singer/songwriters ever. A true original. I just love his music, his voice, his sublime stream of consciousness lyrics, and the wonderful musicians he gets to play with him. Divine insanity.
Astral Weeks is a masterpiece!