He also spoke about the songwriting process, which he revealed takes many forms with some starting out with the title alone while others such as ‘Moondance’ beginning as an instrumental which he played for years before penning the lyrics.

It wasn’t as po-faced or earnest as you might expect and when asked what it was like eventually getting to record with one of his childhood heroes John Lee Hooker, Van recalled that everything was done in one quick take in the studio, followed by a Chinese take-away, to laughs from the audience. He spoke nostalgically about some of his early influences: Lord Byron, Ray Charles, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jack Kerouac’s Dharma Bums, listening to old jazz and blues records – from his father’s collection and at a Belfast’s legendary Atlantic Records store. For around 25 minutes, Scots author Ian Rankin fired questions at Morrison which he answered in a surprisingly chatty, informative, entertaining and occasionally mischievous manner. Then the Belfast Cowboy himself arrived out taking a seat in the centre of the stage. With opening words by Queen’s University lecturer Dr Michael Hughes we were first shown a short film with Van jamming and chatting with Bob Dylan. HP sharpshooter Kathrin Baumbach was on hand to capture the action - check out the photo gallery hereĭescribed as 'An Evening of Words and Music', this was Van Morrison as few have seen him before – being interviewed live on stage and performing an intimate set with a four-piece band.

Wasted years van morrison