A Neil Diamond fan community

A Close Encounter

During Neil's sabbatical in the early '70s, and not long after seeing him at the Greek for HAN, I was working in Hollywood, and my office was very close to Ken Fritz Management, Neil's then manager. I decided to drive over there one day on my lunch hour in the hopes of a Neil sighting, because, like the rest of you, I was completely and hopelessly in love with the man (not to mention his music). The office was on a corner with windows just above street level. I parked and walked along below those windows, when something told me to look up, and lo and behold, who do you think I saw, walking and talking and obviously in a meeting, but Neil himself, with his long HAN hair! I nearly fainted, and tried to catch his eye, all the while thinking how foolish I would have looked peering up at him like some stalker groupie, which I was. My heart pounded with excitement and trepidation as I rounded the corner and entered the little building with a receptionist in the front office. I told her I was Neil's biggest fan in all of L.A. and pleaded with her to allow me to say hi to Neil, but alas, reality punched me in the face when she politely apologized because he was in a meeting and couldn't be interrupted. She graciously offered to send me an autographed picture and asked for my name and address. It did arrive, signed, For Diane with all good wishes, Neil Diamond. I kept it for many years until my husband made me throw it out. How I wish now that I had waited long enough for Neil to come out, but I had to get back to work. In hindsight it might have been worth getting fired over, not that they would have anyway, because I had made them all ND fans! How's that for a story?

Tags: NEIL DIAMOND

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Comment by Peggy Rose on February 5, 2012 at 8:15am: He's still touring, mostly in Europe. I think he is releasing a new album soon. He is also in his 70's. Looks good too.

Comment by DiamondGirl on February 4, 2012 at 11:11pm: What a great story Diane! So sorry that you did not get to meet him then. But you never know when lightning might strike and he'll be there!

Say... whatever happened to Engleburt Humperdink any way???

Comment by Peggy Rose on February 4, 2012 at 12:14pm: I have never met Neil, but I did jump the stage(9 mos pregnant) and french kissed Engleburt Humperdinck. Just picture it. The crowd of course went wild with hysteria. By the way I was madly in love with him too. LOL

Comment by Diane Lewis Havenner on January 29, 2012 at 1:43pm: even that day as I longed to meet him, I knew my brain would turn to jelly and my tongue to mush.

Comment by Cherry M on January 29, 2012 at 6:12am: I love the way neil has always been out there on his own in the music world. He was never one to 'follow the herd' and I think his fans are a certain type of person as they can sense that in him, ok, we all fancy him to bits (cos we're only human) but there is more, hes a special person. I love him! Im sure though, that if Id been able to meet him in the 70s, I would have gone to pieces and not be able to utter a word to him or even look him in the eye...I was so shy when I was in my teens, and I know those eyes of his would have knocked me senseless!!

Comment by Diane Lewis Havenner on January 28, 2012 at 10:50pm: Several years later I worked in publicity at A&M Records in Hollywood, and I met many of the bands on the label, but I never tried to socialize with any of them. Neil was the only one I ever felt that way about, but I had to keep it under wraps because he was considered to be very un-cool by music biz types. I believe that's why it took so long for him to be recognized by the R&R Hall of Fame, etc. I'm so angry with the Grammys

Comment by Mandy on January 28, 2012 at 7:13pm: This was great to read....what a shame... you were so close to him yet couldn't meet him....

Comment by Suzanne Stroop on January 28, 2012 at 6:35pm: i know exactly how you feel...I sat seven rows from him in Houston in '71...before all the security and secret knocks...but I was married and pg at the time...in hindsight it would have been worth all the wrath in the world from my ex to have been brave enough to find a way back behind the curtain. I too was a band chaser during my teenage years...the first time i saw Neil i was 16 but for some reason unknown to me i never tried that time either and back then they let almost everyone who was brave enough inside that "hidden door". Like i said before i have to believe in the multiverse theory and that Neil is with each of us somewhere out there.

Comment by Jewel Diamond on January 28, 2012 at 6:19pm: How frustrating to have been so close, but you missed meeting him! Could you not have gone again after work on some days and waited outside, you might have met him eventually. I used to follow some bands around many years ago, and when we found out where they were recording, we went there and waited outside, but we had to go frequently, and sooner or later we met them when they left the studio.

Comment by Mary on January 28, 2012 at 6:08pm: I meant your story of course..my fingers don't always keep up with my brain...