Neil McCormick
@neil-mccormick.bsky.social
Telegraph music critic. Author. Opinionated hack. Failed rock star.
Went to the opening night of Camille O'Sullivan at the Soho Theatre. The Irish chanteuse is such a high wire act, she seems to be coming apart and reassembling herself in songs by Bowie, Cave, Radiohead, Brel, Sinead & Shane McGowan. Somewhere between interpretive masterclass & a nervous breakdown.
November 27, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Went to the opening night of Camille O'Sullivan at the Soho Theatre. The Irish chanteuse is such a high wire act, she seems to be coming apart and reassembling herself in songs by Bowie, Cave, Radiohead, Brel, Sinead & Shane McGowan. Somewhere between interpretive masterclass & a nervous breakdown.
“Paul and I are going to do some stadiums next year," announces George.”
“Mud wrestling,” says Paul. “I think we can pull it off too.”
“I’ll be the ref,” deadpans Ringo.
The last stand of @thebeatles
www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/the-bea...
“Mud wrestling,” says Paul. “I think we can pull it off too.”
“I’ll be the ref,” deadpans Ringo.
The last stand of @thebeatles
www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/the-bea...
The Beatles Anthology’s ‘new’ episode proves familiar, but achingly poignant
The seminal documentary series returns looking better than ever, and now marking George Harrison’s last stand as a Beatle
www.telegraph.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 8:21 AM
“Paul and I are going to do some stadiums next year," announces George.”
“Mud wrestling,” says Paul. “I think we can pull it off too.”
“I’ll be the ref,” deadpans Ringo.
The last stand of @thebeatles
www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/the-bea...
“Mud wrestling,” says Paul. “I think we can pull it off too.”
“I’ll be the ref,” deadpans Ringo.
The last stand of @thebeatles
www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/the-bea...
Jimmy Cliff has crossed his final river
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/j...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/j...
Jimmy Cliff made some of the most beautiful records anyone could ever hope to hear
The Jamaican singer-songwriter put soul into reggae. He should be remembered as one of the greats
www.telegraph.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Jimmy Cliff has crossed his final river
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/j...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/j...
Its the remastered remix of the remastered rejects. Is this where @thebeatles story has got to, endlessly repolishing discards from the bottom of the Apple barrel?
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/b...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/b...
This barrel-scraping Beatles cash grab should have stayed in the vaults
A shiny ‘new’ version of the Anthology series essentially means just remasters of rejects
www.telegraph.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Its the remastered remix of the remastered rejects. Is this where @thebeatles story has got to, endlessly repolishing discards from the bottom of the Apple barrel?
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/b...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/b...
Sabrina goes down a rabbit hole. Alice in Wonderland has inspired pop stars from Jefferson Airplane and The Beatles to Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Tom Waits and, er, Marilyn Manson. www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/s...
Will Sabrina Carpenter prove too provocative for Alice in Wonderland?
The notoriously risqué pop singer will produce and star in a new musical film adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale
www.telegraph.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Sabrina goes down a rabbit hole. Alice in Wonderland has inspired pop stars from Jefferson Airplane and The Beatles to Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Tom Waits and, er, Marilyn Manson. www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/s...
Those dirty Rats.
November 1, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Those dirty Rats.
Cat getting himself into hot water again. Yusuf speaks with a lot of passion and compassion, but he probably won't want to look below the line at the reader's comments.
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/interv...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/interv...
Cat Stevens: ‘The St George’s flag was once a symbol of compassion and Christianity’
The veteran singer-songwriter on the dark side of early fame, finding his Islamic faith and being refused a US visa
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Cat getting himself into hot water again. Yusuf speaks with a lot of passion and compassion, but he probably won't want to look below the line at the reader's comments.
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/interv...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/interv...
I made my choices and stand by them (he says, as 3000 readers comment point out the error of his ways) www.telegraph.co.uk/music/0/best...
The 50 best albums of all time
The Beatles to Beyoncé, Prince to Pink Floyd – our critic ranks the most influential LPs of our times. Has your favourite made the cut?
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I made my choices and stand by them (he says, as 3000 readers comment point out the error of his ways) www.telegraph.co.uk/music/0/best...
Smash and grab raid in north London. Call The Police!
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
Sting’s post-Police reinvention could sell out bigger venues than this
Sting 3.0 relies on the style of the 80s pop trio, but it’s sleek and dazzling stuff
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 25, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Smash and grab raid in north London. Call The Police!
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
As part of my 30 year anniversary as the Telegraph's music critic, here's a few of my greatest hits (talent spotting Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, Ed Sheeran, David Gray and Raye) and worst misses (er, Coldplay, Nick Cave and The White Stripes 🫣)
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/f...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/f...
Five times I spotted a future megastar (and when I spectacularly failed)
In my 30 years as music critic, I’ve played a part in discovering and promoting world-beating talents
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
As part of my 30 year anniversary as the Telegraph's music critic, here's a few of my greatest hits (talent spotting Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, Ed Sheeran, David Gray and Raye) and worst misses (er, Coldplay, Nick Cave and The White Stripes 🫣)
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/f...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/f...
Some of the most memorable gigs from my 30 years at the Telegraph - from U2 and Oasis in a stadium in San Francisco to Amy Winehouse at Pizza Express in London. Check out the reader's comments. I've got gig envy reading about some of the shows they have seen.
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
The five best gigs I’ve ever seen
I’ve seen thousands of bands and singers perform everywhere from cramped pubs to enormous stadiums – here are the most unforgettable
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Some of the most memorable gigs from my 30 years at the Telegraph - from U2 and Oasis in a stadium in San Francisco to Amy Winehouse at Pizza Express in London. Check out the reader's comments. I've got gig envy reading about some of the shows they have seen.
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
Some interviews go better than others. Encounters from 30 years as the Telegraph's music critic.
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/interv...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/interv...
My all-time favourite interviews as The Telegraph’s chief music critic
In my 30 years at this newspaper, I’ve spoken to almost all of my heroes – including an explosive encounter with Sinéad O’Connor
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Some interviews go better than others. Encounters from 30 years as the Telegraph's music critic.
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/interv...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/interv...
30 years as The Telegraph’s chief music critic. This article may set a record for names being dropped ... 😬
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/3...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/3...
The untold stories of my 30 years as The Telegraph’s chief music critic
From visiting the Pope’s house with Bono to being served lunch by Sting’s butler, the past three decades have been a whirlwind
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 18, 2025 at 8:40 AM
30 years as The Telegraph’s chief music critic. This article may set a record for names being dropped ... 😬
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/3...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/3...
50 years on, Horses still sounds like a revelation.
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
Patti Smith is a spitting, roaring wonder (with help from Johnny Depp)
Fifty years on from the release of Horses, the rock ’n’ roll legend still sounds fantastically wild
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 3:57 PM
50 years on, Horses still sounds like a revelation.
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
Jesus died for somebody's sins ... but not Patti's (or mine)
October 12, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Jesus died for somebody's sins ... but not Patti's (or mine)
Receiving a barrage of abuse & death threats over on Twatter after the Telegraph posted what I think is a perfectly reasonable 3 star review of Taylor Swift. 🤔 When did fandom become a bloodsport?
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/t...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/t...
Taylor Swift’s new album is as sickly sweet as a Barbara Cartland fever dream
The Life of a Showgirl gives us romance and wit, but it lacks the drama of her earlier music
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Receiving a barrage of abuse & death threats over on Twatter after the Telegraph posted what I think is a perfectly reasonable 3 star review of Taylor Swift. 🤔 When did fandom become a bloodsport?
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/t...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/t...
I went gaga for Gaga ag-g-g-gain
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
Spectacular show from Mistress of Mayhem leaves the crowd gaga
US star summons gothic chaos on the first UK date of her Mayhem Ball tour at the O2
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 30, 2025 at 1:20 PM
I went gaga for Gaga ag-g-g-gain
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
Upstairs downstairs. The Grand Ole Opry came to the Royal Albert Hall in London. Looks like someone was trying to drill into Marty Stuart's dressing room.
September 27, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Upstairs downstairs. The Grand Ole Opry came to the Royal Albert Hall in London. Looks like someone was trying to drill into Marty Stuart's dressing room.
Incredible night at Ronnie Scott's jazz club with Raye vamping it up. She's a next level talent who could have been a star in any pop era.
September 24, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Incredible night at Ronnie Scott's jazz club with Raye vamping it up. She's a next level talent who could have been a star in any pop era.
Robert Plant is an inspiring example of a rock star growing old gracefully. As fans, we have all had bad experiences seeing musical heroes who have gone on too long, becoming bloated with ego and oblivious to waning physical prowess. But there is another way ...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
Robert Plant’s intimate folk gigs are the hottest ticket in rock
The former Led Zeppelin singer is an inspiring example of a rock star growing old gracefully
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 22, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Robert Plant is an inspiring example of a rock star growing old gracefully. As fans, we have all had bad experiences seeing musical heroes who have gone on too long, becoming bloated with ego and oblivious to waning physical prowess. But there is another way ...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concer...
Night 2 at Ally Pally, spot The Charlatans, Celeste, Princess Nokia, Jools Hollamd, The Last Dinner Psrty and Tyler Ballgame.
September 17, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Night 2 at Ally Pally, spot The Charlatans, Celeste, Princess Nokia, Jools Hollamd, The Last Dinner Psrty and Tyler Ballgame.
Back at the magnificent Alexander Palace Thestre for the recording of Jools Hooland. Get Your magnifying glasses out and you might spot Robert Plant, Jehnny Beth, Nina Persson & Olivia Dean.
September 15, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Back at the magnificent Alexander Palace Thestre for the recording of Jools Hooland. Get Your magnifying glasses out and you might spot Robert Plant, Jehnny Beth, Nina Persson & Olivia Dean.
This month's Music War & Peace playlist hits the motherload. It's my
@U2
themed song set, with some protest songs, some heroes and allies, & some connections only a U2 freak would make. It's Love and Peace of Else!
open.spotify.com/playlist/0jo...
@U2
themed song set, with some protest songs, some heroes and allies, & some connections only a U2 freak would make. It's Love and Peace of Else!
open.spotify.com/playlist/0jo...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
September 8, 2025 at 3:33 PM
This month's Music War & Peace playlist hits the motherload. It's my
@U2
themed song set, with some protest songs, some heroes and allies, & some connections only a U2 freak would make. It's Love and Peace of Else!
open.spotify.com/playlist/0jo...
@U2
themed song set, with some protest songs, some heroes and allies, & some connections only a U2 freak would make. It's Love and Peace of Else!
open.spotify.com/playlist/0jo...