Neil Diamond’s Australian promoter writes about shock Parkinson’s disease diagnosis

PAUL Dainty — Neil Diamond’s Australian promoter for over 35 years — became so close the music icon is godfather to Dainty’s son Sam. He writes about Diamond’s shock retirement, love for Australia and how he’ll keep making records.

TWENTY years ago I gave Neil an award for selling one million tickets in Australia.

Think about that, a million concert tickets 20 years ago. I couldn’t even calculate what he’s sold here between then and now. He was averaging 300,000 to 500,000 on every Australian and New Zealand tour we did with him.

NEIL DIAMOND CANCELS TOUR AFTER PARKINSON’S DIAGNOSIS

Ask any promoter in the world, Neil Diamond was golden. Aside from his records, he was one of the hottest live acts you could get as a promoter. He would sell tickets over and over, every tour, it was almost a guarantee.

He loved Australia, I never had to chase him to tour here, he always wanted to come here. And he always sold out.

Promoter Paul Dainty with musician Neil Diamond in the mid-80s. Picture: Supplied by Paul Dainty

The last tour we did with him in 2015 was phenomenal. We broke records in some venues. And there were more younger fans than we’d seen before — still the hardcore lifetime fans but a lot of younger fans. You see that happen now and again, younger audiences discover these legendary artists.

This latest tour was selling phenomenally. Auckland had sold 25,000 tickets outdoors and Christchurch was going to do 20,000, which is huge for them. We had eleven shows in Australia and New Zealand; a mix of wineries and indoor shows. He was playing Townsville for the first time. He wanted to do something different so we booked a venue up there. The timing was perfect.

Neil Diamond while touring Auckland.

Neil Diamond performs in concert in Auckland.

He likes to have breaks between legs of the tour. So after the UK leg of the tour ended he wasn’t due to start again until March. I went over to Glasgow in October and spent three hours with him, his production guy and Katie, his wife, talking about all the details. He really cares about everything to do with the tour and the show.

When I saw this latest tour in Glasgow, he was on stage for nearly two hours and forty minutes. He clearly loved being on stage.

Neil Diamond clearly loved being on stage.

A young Neil Diamond.

An even younger Neil Diamond.

When I got the call about the retirement, it was a shock. I’m sure they thought very long and hard before they had to call me and tell me they were cancelling the shows and that he was retiring from touring on doctor’s advice. It’s a pretty big deal to unwind 11 shows as a promoter, but obviously these things happen and his health comes first.

Neil Diamond’s Hot August Night album cover

It was his 50th anniversary tour, who knows what he was planning to do after the tour ended, but we were the last leg of the tour. These things happen, but it’s still shocking. You hear about it all the time, people who are OK one day and the next day they get this bolt out of the blue. I’m sure Neil would have tried to postpone it instead and then reschedule the dates if the circumstances were different.

Music legend Neil Diamond at The Basement in Sydney promoting his now-cancelled Australian concerts in March.

Neil is a lovely person. He’s godfather to my eldest son, Sam. He came to his christening 22 years ago in Toorak, and then came to our house. And as well as an incredible performer, you can’t forget what a prolific songwriter he is. There are so many hits the average punter doesn’t know Neil Diamond wrote.

The good thing is Neil will carry on recording and doing musical things. It’s just he’s retiring from touring due to the Parkinson’s diagnosis. But he’ll keep making records, he’s got his own studio in LA, so there’ll still be music from Neil Diamond.

Paul Dainty has been Neil Diamond’s Australian promoter for over 35 years. The two became so close Diamond is godfather to Dainty’s son Sam.