There’ll be days like this: Van keeps his hat on despite museum’s Da Vinci code

Moody music legend Van Morrison is rarely seen without his hat these days — and he now refuses point blank to appear without it in public — no matter what the cost.

Publicity-shy Van, who divides his time between luxury homes in Belfast, Dublin and Bath, recently turned up at the Ulster Museum to check out a new exhibition of drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, but turned and stamped off when told by officials he would have to remove his trademark black fedora to enter to the building.

Heavy security measures are in operation in the Belfast venue and these include getting full-on CCTV images of each visitor. This results in everybody being asked to remove their headwear.

But when Van, who once sang the number What’s Wrong With This Picture? turned up to view the historical drawings, he was told he would have to take off his hat to get inside.

A spokeswoman for the Ulster Museum said that high-security measures only applied to the da Vinci exhibition and not to the rest of the museum.

When staff at the museum explained the situation to Van, he chose to hang on to his hat and left the premises.

The spokeswoman added: “Some of Leonardo’s first drawings are on display in this exhibition, which will run until the end of August. As part of a range of security measures to safeguard these works and to facilitate facial recognition, visitors are not permitted to wear headwear including hats, baseball caps and hoodies into the gallery where the exhibition is being held.”

Music legend Van was given a massive make-over by his wife Michelle Rocca many years ago. His new look included always wearing a stylish hat, dark sunlasses, and being decked out in predonminantly black outfits of the expensive variety.

Van will have a new album released shortly on the legendary Blue Note record label, the home of countless classic jazz and blues albums down through the years.

The singer will also headline an open-air gig in Dublin’s Marley Park on August 25, with support from Tom Jones — who sang the hit You Can keep Your Hat On — and soul legend Bobby Womack.