Neil Diamond Comes Out of Retirement To Thank Firefighters with Private Concert
Suffering is a fundamental part of human existence. In fact, it’s so much so that even the Bible says that (if I may paraphrase) people are born to trouble just as sparks fly upward from a fire.
But it’s not just people who have to deal with pain. The earth itself seems wracked with woe, and the Good Book even describes it as “groaning.”
We’ve certainly seen the universal brokenness of nature in the recent Carr wildfire that has devastated California. But did you know that it’s not the only blaze currently roaring through the United States?
On July 3 in Basalt, Colorado, a pair of twentysomethings decided to go unload some rounds at a shooting range in a state wildlife area. Not exactly an uncommon event, right?
However, these shooters decided to use incendiary rounds in their guns. That ammunition started a wildfire that’s still burning.
Dubbed the Lake Christine Fire, the blaze has consumed nearly 13,000 acres, destroyed real estate worth $2.65 million and damaged electrical infrastructure. However, it has accomplished at least one good thing: It brought singer-songwriter Neil Diamond out of retirement.
With a score of No. 1 singles, several hall-of-fame honors, and a Grammy to his name, Diamond has achieved more than a little in the world of music. He also has delighted fans since his career started in the 1960s.
However, Diamond retired from touring this year. Why? He’d been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The musician has lived in the Lake Christine area for around 20 years. So when he wanted to thank area firefighters for their hard work, he did so in a manner only he could manage.
Diamond and his wife showed up at the Incident Command Post with a guitar in hand and a song in his heart. The singer serenaded the first responders with “Sweet Caroline,” his enduring 1969 hit.
The crowd joined in with Diamond on the chorus, punctuating the performance with the song’s famous “bom bom bom!” and “so good, so good, so good!” sections. Indeed, the attendees seemed to realize what a treat they were enjoying.
During the performance, the camera swung around to survey the auditorium. A battery of smartphones was aimed at Diamond, capturing his every move.
“I love these faces,” Diamond said. “I want to take you all home.
“I want to give you a kiss. I want to make dinner for you. …
“I’ve been here for 20 years, and you made everybody happy. … We thank you for making the trip and to our local guys as well.”
Then he jokingly added, “Now you have to save my house.” Sadly, Diamond doesn’t have any plans to resume touring.
However, fans can take heart: He says that he plans to continue producing albums “for a long time to come.”
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