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).