History Trivia / VanMorrison

* FanNickname: "Van the Man".

* ReclusiveArtist: Morrison is notoriously shy of giving interviews or making public appearances. At times he has refused to go on stage or has cut gigs abruptly short, making buying concert tickets into something of a Russian Roulette.

* BlackSheepHit: His biggest hits in the US ("Brown Eyed Girl", "Domino") and the UK ("Whenever God Shines His Light") aren't very representative of his typical style.

** In light of his 70th birthday, he finally consented to an [[http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/van/van-morrison-being-famous-is-not-great-for-the-creative-process-not-for-me-anyway-1.2332216#utm_sguid=159039,3fd9dfad-7be6-5e5d-1c0c-6f1efa9b2f2b in-depth interview]] to ''The Irish Times''. He also appeared in a documentary series by Lenny Henry talking passionately about the blues, so it seems like he would consent to interviews or appearances only if the topics interest him.

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** This was marked from a very early age: a piece of archive film that still makes it onto blooper reels is an [[IrishMedia Ulster Television]] interview, where a young and gushing Gloria Hunniford is trying to interview "Belfast's Answer to Mick Jagger". The mounting horror in Hunniford's eyes, as she realises Ireland's Answer To Mick Jagger will only reply in monosyllabic grunts and an occasional "yes" or "no", is something to behold.

** While in LA in 1967-68, Van Morrison joined Music/TheDoors onstage. [[HolyShitQuotient The two Morrisons]] - Van and Jim - [[VocalTagTeam traded vocals]] in an extended version of "Gloria". And ''nobody thought to preserve a tape''.

* ContractualObligationProject: After the death of producer Bert Berns, Morrison was still contracted for an album to his Bang Records company, owned by Berns' widow Ilena, with whom Morrison didn't get along. To get out of his contract, Morrison recorded an album worth of desultory, sometimes intentionally offensive "songs" such as "Ring Worm", "Here Comes Dumb George", and "Blow in Your Nose". They sometimes get released as "rarities" to hoodwink completists.

** An entire 1975 album, ''Mechanical Bliss'', was never officially released. The songs eventually showed up as bootlegs, though.

** While in LA in 1967-68, Van Morrison joined Music/TheDoors onstage. The two Morrisons - Van and Jim - [[VocalTagTeam traded vocals]] in an extended version of "Gloria". And ''nobody thought to preserve a tape''.

* AcclaimedFlop: ''Astral Weeks'' sold poorly when it was first released, but is consistently listed amongst the Greatest Albums of All Time. According to Music Historian Andrew Ford: "''Astral Weeks'' will sell as many copies this year as it did in 1968 and has every year in between."

** In light of his 70th birthday, he finally consented to an [[http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/van/van-morrison-being-famous-is-not-great-for-the-creative-process-not-for-me-anyway-1.2332216#utm_sguid=159039,3fd9dfad-7be6-5e5d-1c0c-6f1efa9b2f2b in-depth interview]] to ''The Irish Times''.

** This was marked from a very early age: a piece of archive film that still makes it onto blooper reels is an Ulster Television interview, where a young and gushing Gloria Hunniford is trying to interview "Belfast's Answer to Mick Jagger". The mounting horror in Hunniford's eyes, as she realises Ireland's Answer To Mick Jagger will only reply in monosyllabic grunts and an occasional "yes" or "no", is something to behold.

* BlackSheepHit: His biggest hits in the US ("Brown Eyed Girl", "Domino") and the UK ("Whenever God Shines His Light") aren't very representative of his typical style

* MissingEpisode: While in LA in 1967-68, Van Morrison joined Music/TheDoors onstage. The two Morrisons - Van and Jim - [[VocalTagTeam traded vocals]] in an extended version of "Gloria". And ''nobody thought to preserve a tape''.

** Oddly enough, he's frequently mentioned in Dublin society columns attending social events with his wife, but rarely photographed together.

** This was marked from a very early age: a piece of archive film that still makes it onto blooper reels is an Ulster Television interview, where a young and gushing Gloria Hunniford is trying to interview "Belfast's Answer to Mick Jagger". The mounting horror in Hunniford's eyes, as she realises Ireland's Answer To Mick Jagger will only reply in monosyllabic grunts and an occasional "yes" or "no", is something to behold.

* AcclaimedFlop: ''Astral Weeks'' sold poorly when it was first released, but is consistently listed amongst the Greatest Albums of All Time. According to Music Historian Andrew Ford: "''Astral Weeks'' will sell as many copies this year as it did in 1968 and has every year in between."

* AcclaimedFlop: ''Astral Weeks'' sold poorly when it was first released, but is consistently listed amongst the Greatest Albums of All Time. According to Music Historian Andrew Ford: "Astral Weeks will sell as many copies this year as it did in 1968 and has every year in between."

AcclaimedFlop: ''Astral Weeks'' sold poorly when it was first released, but is consistently listed amongst the Greatest Albums of All Time. According to Music Historian Andrew Ford: "Astral Weeks will sell as many copies this year as it did in 1968 and has every year in between."

Acclaimed Flop: ''Astral Weeks'' sold poorly when it was first released, but is consistently listed amongst the Greatest Albums of All Time. According to Music Historian Andrew Ford: "Astral Weeks will sell as many copies this year as it did in 1968 and has every year in between."