NEIL DIAMOND - DIAMOND WOULD HAVE BEEN NO GOOD ON IDOL

NEIL DIAMOND has great respect for the young wannabes he's mentoring on AMERICAN IDOL this week (beg28Apr08) - because he wouldn't have made it past the first round of the TV talent show.
The Sweet Caroline singer has been helping to coach the remaining finalists on the show as part of Idol's Neil Diamond Week - but he would never have put himself through the audition process for the show.
He explains, "I would never have made it through the first round. My voice is strange and different. I would have been much too nervous.
"It took me years to feel comfortable in front of an audience and on stage.
"But these guys, they all pretty much blew me away. I was impressed by not only their singing ability, but their poise."
Only four Idols will remain in the competition after one of the existing five contestants is voted off the show on Wednesday night (30Apr08).