In a major interview preceding his Royal Hospital Kilmainham show on June 17, Beck has told Hot Press why the gig is circled in red on his calendar.
“Shows in Ireland are always great... and crazy!” he enthuses. “I’ve witnessed some of the most incredible scenes of my touring career there. There was a festival a while back where we played during the day and people formed themselves into these human pyramids. It was like being in a field full of circus acts. The rest of the crowd were setting fire to their cups of beer or some other kind of madness!"
He also spoke of his delight - and surprise! - at picking up his first Best Album Grammy at the start of 2015.
"I hadn’t won anything since the mid-’90s, and was up against Beyoncé and Sam Smith and all these biggest records of the year, so I was like, ‘Why will this be any different?’” Beck reflects. “Having lost 12 in a row or something like that, I was really shocked. This was a little record I’d done on my own. I didn’t even write a speech. I sat around for a couple of weeks thinking, 'I should write something' but not doing so because it seemed like an exercise in futility."
Mr. Hansen also talks about the spinal injury that nearly ended his touring career, his friendship with Willie Nelson, losing fans, meeting David Bowie and a whole lot more besides.
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