Van Morrison getting back to his roots with new album

Ahead of the release of his 38th studio album, Van Morrison speaks to Catherine Wylie about fame, his relentless work rate and a self-described cult following.

O describe Van Morrison as a ‘spiky’ interviewee may do the word a little disservice. The prolific musician — who will release his 38th studio album on Friday — knows his way around not answering a question directly and ends a nearly 25-minute chat by hanging up the phone abruptly.

The last five minutes of our conversation are an uncomfortable discussion about fame, but then given that it is his first phone interview in what we’re told is 10 years, a little rustiness can perhaps be expected.