Chat live to The Divine Comedy. Don't miss this one off opportunity to talk to Neil and the rest of the band right here on Freeserve Live Events.

The Divine Comedy spent the year 2000 writing, rehearsing and recording their new studio album, Regeneration. Recorded with producer Nigel Godrich (whose credits include Radiohead, Beck and Travis) the new album was released in the UK on March 12th 2001.

The band's new album Regeneration is the most potent example yet of the group's power as a seven piece unit and sees them operating with a renewed sense of purpose and direction. Hence Regeneration's dictionary definition starts to sound about right - "to undergo moral, spiritual or physical renewal or invigoration" - but with great tunes intact.

The new album seems to fly in the face of everything the casual listener might expect from a Divine Comedy record. Where is the arcane wit, the aural equivalent of a raised eyebrow, the glib demeanour, the playfulness, the archness and the cleverness? In short - WHERE'S THE BLOODY IRONY? Join us live on Thursday 10 May at 6.15 to ask them!



Anon. asked:
Dear Neil,
Hi Neil, Re: The Beauty Regime. How do you 'beat stress' and who is your favourite movie star? Cheers,

The Divine Comedy replied:
Not quite what the song is about but anyway...I beat stress by taking the dog for a walk and not reading Lifestyle magazines. My favourite film star is Audrey Hepburn

TheTalbot asked:
Cher Neilou!
WHO plays ping-pong at the end of Note to self ?
Thanks Neily!

The Divine Comedy replied:
That is Joby and Brian we believe - allegedly. Half of us are rubbish and half of us are good at ping pong.

Anon. asked:
Dear Neil,
Apart from the Father Ted theme (!), I never really liked your earlier stuff but Regeneration is absolutely superb. I've hardly listened to much else since I bought it. Why the change? And is it anything to do with Pat Barker's novel of the same name?

The Divine Comedy replied:
The change is precisely because you like it and thank you thank you thank you. Obsequious. No I have not read the book but I was aware of its existence.

Anon. asked:
Dear Neil,
If Neil could be a dog, what breed would he be?

The Divine Comedy replied:
Neil would be a Rhodesian Ridge back because they are quite large but not too large, very athletic but also quite sociable. Pinkie would be a poodle and dye myself pink because I'd be pink.

rich asked:
Dear Neil, do you see the new album as a new dircrtion for the band?

The Divine Comedy replied:
Yes. And a new way of working as well. It was very much a group creation unlike previous records when we had a lot of big ideas and was desperate to impress them.

Alexlarman asked:
Dear Neil, what was the last CD you bought?

The Divine Comedy replied:
Neil was last handed Amnesia by radiohead which he hasn't listened to. Pinkie: I bought the Daft PUnk album. Neil: I bought a compilation of The Goons Show and it is very funny.

Cassman asked:
Dear Neil,what is your favourite song that you've written?

The Divine Comedy replied:
Crikey...I cannot change between them - they are my children but if I were to choose my v=current favourite from Regeneration it would be he title track - I like the complicated chord structure. Pinkie: My fave is Mastermind because its a lovely song

Anon. asked:
Dear Neil,
What was your father's reaction about Eye of the needle ?

The Divine Comedy replied:
He hasn't given me one yet....I'm sure he'll be as fascinated as usual

Helen asked:
Dear Neil and everyone else,
Has it caused any tension in the band now that you're all getting your picture taken more as a "band", or have you all dememnded your own stylists?!

The Divine Comedy replied:
Laughs....No tension in the band - we all share the same stylist. We are all too relaxed for that.

Lovin what they do asked:
Dear Neil,
Do you write music in a technical way, saying "This chord will sound good now" or do you just play it by ear, i.e. bash out something and see if you like it?

The Divine Comedy replied:
Its a bit of both, you usually start by bashing something out then if you need to expand upon it or add to it you use technical

Katie asked:
Dear Neil,
When did Ivor realise that playing the guitar with a recorder was an excellent idea?

The Divine Comedy replied:
I'm afraid he's not here to answer that but we all think its excelelnt - I think he thought it was a good joke and we all said 'no, no, you've got to do it' He has already trashed one recorder - he has got a new one now though.

Bribey asked:
Dear Neil,
If you had to eat one of the following, which would you choose: olives; anchovies; your foot?

The Divine Comedy replied:
Neil: Anchovies. Pinkie: Olives. I think thatis a good description of our general taste

Kevin Humphreys asked:
Dear Neil,
What advise can you give me on writing lyrics, i have been writing since i was about 12 and seem to write about the same things, can you help me please.

The Divine Comedy replied:
Basically, you have to be absolutely truthful with yourself and not try to please other people because that only leads to cliches.

Anon. asked:
Dear Neil,
A friend of mine is thinking of applying to Stars in their eyes as Neil Hannon, Any Advice I could give him? Do you have any plans to release Dumb It Down as a single has it's one of my favourites on the albums, also what does Dumb It Down mean? Becoming More Like Alfie

The Divine Comedy replied:
I'm afraid its been done! and besides, why would you want to???

Lovely Horse asked:
Dear Neil,do you like it when fans sing along at gigs, or does it put you off?

The Divine Comedy replied:
Its great we love it - more please. Its really good. The joining in is always encouraged

Anon. asked:
Dear Neil,
Have you ever thought of doing an "Audience with" the Divine Comedy where the members of the audience can have a request for a favourite song, because I've been to see you three times now and you never do "Songs of Love" and its my absolute favourite.

The Divine Comedy replied:
Sorry. I think 'an audience with' would be problematic do to our lack of star friends. But I promise to play 'Songs of Love' soon in my little acoustic set.

Ms Hepburn asked:
Dear Neil and Pinkie, if you weren't in DC what would you be doing? a)ideally and b)realistically?

The Divine Comedy replied:
Pinkie: a. climbing mountains b. a school teacher
Neil: a. I'd be a rich man and go to parties b. Be making wicker baskets in the local craft shop in Enniskillen.

Dolphin1 asked:
Dear Neil,
doesnt it annoy you when you get poor air play on radio. by the way bad ambassador is my favourite.

The Divine Comedy replied:
Thank you very much. Its frustrating but you have to get on with it.

Al asked:
Dear Neil, will you ever do a film score?

The Divine Comedy replied:
If anybody ever offers us a good film to do - yes!

Soul Trader asked:
Dear Neil,
is it coincidental that Soul Destroyer sounds a bit like Where The Streets Have No Name?

The Divine Comedy replied:
LOL - not at all coincidental! I was absolutely obsessed with U2 at the time. But you don't want to be listening to that too often!

Lovin what they do asked:
Dear Neil,
If you could go back and change anything about any of the previous albums what would it be?

The Divine Comedy replied:
I wouldn't change a thing really. All the albums are an accurate portrayal of who we were at the time.

TheTalbot asked:
Dear Neil and Pinkie,
How and when have you met Yann Tiersen ?

The Divine Comedy replied:
He is on our label in France and I heard his album through them and very much liked it. He kindly asked me to sing with him for a French radio session.

angel8 asked:
Dear Neil,
Why did you get married in these futuristic days of divorce and cybersex?

The Divine Comedy replied:
Just did!

Marc asked:
Dear Neil, how would you like The Divine Comedy to be remembered?

The Divine Comedy replied:
I'd like to remembered as the biggest band in the whole world ever!

Anon. asked:
Dear Neil,who is your least favourite person in rock 'n' roll

The Divine Comedy replied:
Very dangerous question! Has to be Celine Dion...she just goes on and on!

Myrtle asked:
Dear Neil,
Your lyrics suggest that you have a love of poetry. Is this the case and, if so, which poets have influenced you?

The Divine Comedy replied:
Strangely enough I don't really read poetry and I don't subscribe to the view that rock lyrics are the new poetry.

anon asked:
Who in the band has the most bad habits?

The Divine Comedy replied:
I'm afraid each one of us have a plethora of bad habits! Brian loses things, Miggie goes sideways, Joby rants, Pinkie talks too much, Ivor sulks - the eternal pessimist, and Neil picks his nose. Rob talks to us about football too much.


Freeserve 10/05/2001