Tori Amos - Interview on Neil Gaiman

[TheBlissfulSpirit]

I agree, Neil is not cheap with his advice and Tori is not cheap with praises. She hit the nail on the had talking about Neil Gaiman and she worded all in such beautiful ways : )

[jeanjeanieB]

His parents were Christian SCIENTIST. That's not the same thing at all as Scientology. There is no such religion as "Christian Scientology." Look it up.

[Wowbagger86]

No wonder thei're friends. The way she speak is pretty similar to the way Neil Gaiman speaks in interviews. Focused, pausing on sentences, thinking everything she says through and haveing a real passion for what she's talking about...

[interwoven222]

it's the digital age know, he's upgraded from a rolodex to an IBlanket

[xenos740]

@urkalla Godwin's Law.

[billaustinireland]

Give it a rest guys, who cares what religion someone is, but Neil's parents were Christian Scientologists, he has stated a number of times however that he is not a follower of that himself.

He's the finest writer out there, no contest and it should never matter what religion etc someone is anyway should it?

[goldensolder44]

he is the tim urton of books

[yunaclone]

i am a big fan of gaiman, and i never even until now had an incling of him being a scientolgist. Out of all the Gods he wrote about in American Gods was there one that would back that belief? Coraline and stardust are stories based on general myth and urban fantasy which are familiar to earthlings lol so if he is one, i surely did not pick up on it in any of his writing, then again i dont care at all. Ive read almost all of his writing and im not dying to become a scientologist, so he failed lol

[Zubirrex]

I don't give a fuck what religion Neil Gaiman, or his family, belongs to. I enjoy the man's writing. Grown the fuck up.

[ExcaliburofLight]

Scientologists group together and partner with each other, that's why Amos and Gaiman constantly promote their lackluster careers. Mark Headly testifies in his book Blown for Good that Scientology reinstated David and Neil Gaiman and apologized to them for an earlier disconnect (Guardian office coup), so Gaiman is a scientologist in good standing.

[Urkalla]

Hey Volcano Girl, Scientology isn't a religion, it's a CULT where people end up dead like poor Lisa McPherson. How about standing up against a nasty organization that hurts people and destroys lives instead of gazing at your navel? What do you stand for? Fairies and writing songs about your pants?

[deisels]

it sounds like they have a really strong friendship :)

[Quibre]

Personally I don't give a SHIT if he's a Scientologist, a trasvesti, an alien, Japanese, or Satan himself. He is one of the BEST male writers for me, along with Jonathan Stroud, Clive Barker and Philip Pullman. That's what matters. He's just people. Oh, yeah - and he RULES.

[lilzinani]

i agree he is an amazing writer his personal life is of no consequence to me as long as he remains as great a writer as he is him and neal stephenson are by far my favorite authors

[Quibre]

Exactly. Totally right. He's great and his personal life should be kept as private as everyone else's. Go Neil!

[freedomisoursnow]

People who twitter & blog their life 24 hours a day and do anything to get publicity shouldn't expect privacy.

[GDGspire]

lol um why did you include "Japanese" with all that other stuff?

[Soniclife1]

@Quibre andddddd he's marrying Amanda Palmer.

[ssaemulus]

@Quibre Jonathan Stroud is so epic.

[Operationraptortalon]

@Quibre I'm sorry, you probably don't follow this account anymore but this comment just gave me an idea. How awesome would it be if he were Satan? I mean, sure he's going to torture everyone for ever and ever and ever but at least with a mind like that you know it's going to be inventive!

[phyllis9998]

Gaiman family refers to the family Gaiman was raised with. He didn't donate money personally. His wife is still a scientologist but they are divorced. He would readily disvow Scientology but can't do so as his family wouldn't be allowed to communicate with him per Scientology rules. It's more Scientology which is to blame for this silly situation where they blackmail current and former members.

[marinafilms]

exactly, he can't denounce scientology or completely cut ties.. it is dangerous to do so.

I'd never even known that he was raised a scientologist until reading these comments.

he's so silent about the matter. he obviously wants to remain neutral. if he were devout, he'd make

it well-known. it's incredibly hard to leave the CO$, even if you were born into it against your will.

[marinafilms]

it's sad that they resort to blackmail and dividing families. I can't comprehend how hard it must be to be to tread the line of peace in such a position. so why people go around calling him an idiot on random youtube pages is beyond me.

what's also beyond me is how these trolls are so obsessed with demonizing him despite seeming to know nothing about him? does the fact that he's a good novelist just go flying out the window?

[Urkalla]

Neil Gaiman is a Scientologist and raised his kids in the CULT. One of his daughters even went to the notorious Greenfields school in East Grinstead. Gaiman funds Scientology and has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the CULT. Gaiman is a self serving, CULT loving idiot who is giving your money to Scientology.

[Kyberdude]

Well at least his books are entertaining. As long as he keeps making awesome things like Sandman, Stardust and Coraline he can donate as much money as he wants to Scientology.

At least his books are better than L. Ron Hubbard's stuff.

[CULEX0R]

oh fuck off, who cares.

[Urkalla]

I could counter and say who cares about your delusional idolization of Tori "I talk to fairies" Amos. Amos studied Scientology, she has a house near clearwater and gave birth there. Amos is friends with cult funder Neil Gaiman. Why the fuck do you people stick up for a grown man who acts like a pussy paying Scientology off so they won't hurt him while being a hypocrite in public and talking about free speech? Gaiman's a jackass.

[ForkInTheToaster42]

@Urkalla

Would you say those things to his face?

Why would you be so hurtful, and so hateful? Does it give you pleasure? Do people applaud your cruelty?

[Urkalla]

I would LOVE to say these things to his face, but the Scientologist litigate people into hell. Neil's father, David Gaiman, was one of the Scientologists who hounded journalist Paulette Cooper, trying to drive her insane or get her thrown into prison. They sent an undercover scientologist to sleep with her and steal her stationary then forged letters to the FBI to get her arrested.. That's the kind of family Neil Gaiman comes from. Neil was an auditor at that time. Neil Gaiman sucks!

[formless777]

Really ? So Neil Gaiman and Tori Amos are both scientologists ? Where would I find confirmation of this please ?  I have found that Neil's father was a member, but nothing to suggest that Neil was ever serious about it.

[Urkalla]

Scientologists must be in good standing with the cult or be disconnected from their families. Look up Neil Gaiman at Wealden House, the Scientology center in East Grinstead run by his sister Lizzie Calcione. Look up Clair Edwards, Gaiman's other sister and head of worldwide recruiting for Scientology. Gaiman's mother Sheila has a Scientology website.

[Urkalla]

Google Wealden House, Neil Gaiman. Wealden House is the Scientology center run by Gaiman's sister Lizzie Calcione. Gaiman's other sister is Clair Edwards, the head of recruiting for all of Scientology. Gaiman's mother is Sheila Gaiman who has her own Scientology website. Gaiman goes on holidays and cruises with them, meaning he is in good standing withScientology. Read all about it on Why we Protest. Neil's father was a BIG DEAL in Scientology, David Gaiman hurt people like Paulette Cooper.

[formless777]

OK I will. It's a side of his character idk much about. Regardless, like Mel Gibson, you may not like his religion but her really knows how to spin a tale.

[Urkalla]

Formless, you are civil. I must point out that Scientology is a Cult, not a religion. Scientology blackmails people & disconnects members from their family. Scientology is connected to hundreds of deaths and suicides & is being sued for Fraud in France and investigated in Austraila for harassment resulting in suicide. Scientology is a dangerous cult and people that fund the cult like Gaiman are serious problems for everyone.

[formless777]

Hi Urkalla, believe me when I say that I loathe scientology, and you are correct, it is a cult. My use of the word religion was more to reference Mel Gibson than Neil Gaiman. I am still a fan of both of them for the work they produce.

[allthatisandeverwas]

@Urkalla To paraphrase Henry Rollins, I really don't give a shit what crazy cult members do. The majority of Scientologists are converts, they're the idiots who decided to get involved with that scam and we shouldn't have to fight for their stupidity. Fuck Tom Cruise, and Neil Gaiman is nowhere near an ideological Scientologist. And all major religions have way more blood on their hands than Scientology ever will, so if you're coming at anybody, at least go for the real bad guys.

[ForkInTheToaster42]

Urkalla, I'm afraid that you're ranting at this point. There isn't a single Neil Gaiman fan i know of who would take you seriously (let alone care) about Neil's Scientology background. Besides, the information you spout off sounds much more like conspiracy theories or urban legends. It reminds me of the horror stories that Nazis told about Jews and Roma people. Please drop your prejudice and turn away from the computer screen for a while.

[Urkalla]

Hey Toaster, I'm afraid you're a pea brained, uneducated jackass who probably works for the Sea Org. Are you comparing the Cult of Scientology to the Jews? Is that what I'm hearing? The Jewish faith is a religion, the cult of Scientology uses mind control and enslaves its members with blackmail. Are you comparing those who stand up to Scientology with Nazis? You really are spineless and useless. What do you stand for in life? Keeping quiet and funding dangerous cults? Amos is a CLAM you idiot.

[ForkInTheToaster42]

What do I stand for? Well, I stand for not calling people "idiots" and "jackasses", to start with. Also, I don't really like prejudice. Whether they're a Scientologist or a Jew or a Christian or a Muslim, people usually don't like others telling them that because of their religion or what religion they support, they're evil/immoral/a jackass/ a CLAM.

[formless777]

No, Urkalla is correct. Scientology is a very evil phenomenon and I have read supporting legal literature which upholds all of what Urkalla says. I don't think scientologists should die or anything, but I don't think the movement should be allowed to proselytize or continue given what they have done. I feel that way about the church though too.

[TrollNationUnited]

@CULEX0R Who the fuck cares? you narcissistic snarky faggot, apperantly the people who like Tori Amos and Neil Gaiman those are the people that care, piss off faggot.

[TeskoVirgo]

Do you know anything about Neil Gaiman other than his family's involvement with Scientology? Have you ever read any of his works? Have you heard him speak in interviews, on panels or at events? Have you read more than one post of his blog or Twitter account? If you have done any of these things, you would know that Neil is fair, kind, and well meaning, that he treasures his family and friends, and he is sincerely grateful for his many fans. Shame on you for making an unjust generalization.

[Urkalla]

Neil Gaiman is a Scientologist who has always had sex with random women and has now divorced his wife. Scientologists have weird views on sex being the 2nd dynamic and I'm afraid you are very naive to buy the crap Gaiman is selling. Gaiman is the source of the money contributed to Scientology by his family members and last time I checked he is supposedly a grown man who could stand up for something but chooses not to. Gaiman is pathetic.

[Urkalla]

Neil Gaiman is a liar who pretends to be fair and kind when he is really using people behind the scenes. Gaiman had a string of affairs during his marriage and is now involved with another nutty Scientologist, Amanda Palmer. Gaiman wears a mask to get your money and is really just another power seeking Scientologist. Gaiman is just another Scientology idiot who is part of the problem, he funds a cult that hounds and hurts people. Gaiman is a thoughtless idiot.

[TeskoVirgo]

Really? You're still going on about this? Personally, I couldn't care less what someone's beliefs are, I still enjoy Gaiman's writing, and will gladly pay for his work even if that money is going to a religion it I don't agree with. I'm also not a Christian, but I don't have any problem enjoying the work of C.S. Lewis. I don't believe in anarchy, but I'll still read Alan Moore's graphic novels and listen to Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

[Urkalla]

I answered your damn question Tesko, and just because I read The Marquis de Sade's work doesn't mean I have support his personal choices. Gaiman's a lying Scientologist.... oh, thanks for writing back, makes finding the thread easier :)

[winterskys]

I don't understand how people can go on and on about this, for every clip on youtube that features Neil Gaiman!

Personally, I don't care what he believes in or what he spends his money on. I enjoy his great work and that's that.

Get a life, people!

[ThomasUfnalCrowlake]

At last, someone reasonable :)

[sginblack]

Just live your lives to the fullest here on earth cuz there may not be an afterlife =)

[sginblack]

how is that different from any other religion?Looks like its got less wars under its belt than any other religion and the catholic church is much more decadent than any scientology church...Why do you lemmings need a religion anyway;you dont need to have a church and an organized religion to believe in something.....if they someone wants to believe in aliens,angels and demons,or the vengefull watcher in the sky than to each his own.

[NewWorldBeleiver]

Mich, honey you're the one not being smart. Sorry, Neil Gaiman IS a big time Scientologist. It is not Hateful to tell the truth. He was VERY public about being a Scientologisy from birth. Still took courses in his own name (using fake names is in SC is common), until 1988. Admiting being a Scientologist bad for career so he shut up about it. Takes Scientology cruises yearly with Cruise & the rest of them, & gives them TONS of $. Smart people get brain-washed too. Neil's book smart & life dumb!

[JediGoddessChristy]

I LOVE Neil hes fantastic

[mistercrawley]

He'll certainly love your punctuation.

[snowball1988]

does anyone know what year this is from?

[CCarmen]

I believe it's either 2001 or 2002. Scarlet's Era. There another clip of this interview where she talks about life post-9/11 and it's just so moving. I could listen to her speak aaaaaaaaall day long, everyday.

[clitorides]

haha, 'crawling around down there in the trenches'. I like that line.

[horribleburningitch]

i love the shout out lyrics to him in her songs.

"if you need me, me and neil be hanging out with the dream king. neil said hi by the way"

"so where's neil when you need him?"

[EstelEstelEstel]

Negative, Delirium IS and ISENT inspired by Tori.

Look - delirium was FIRST created before Gaiman meet Tori. but Sandman was written and release din time period of something about 15 years, and Delirium apperance in "Brief Lives'' (from Dream and Delirium conversation with Destiny) is 100% Tori inspired.

[poesuicide]

Actually Tori IS Delirium. They've fooled us all.

[RogueWyldrider]

XD tell me about it right?

Neil says it was purly by accident that Del adn Tori are so silmeler, i disagree, look at Del in her white suit in "Breife Lives" during the Destruction chapter, its so similer to tori its scary.

[ENeithneYA]

whoa..I want to be neil.

[jules1964x]

No they are friends that's a fact I know!

[rzr999]

Were they together at some point in their lives? :)

[SaYDiEShApEr]

i don't think so

[tobiascdngustaf]

No. He is merely her best friend. They have never dated. Tori is married, Neil is married, and Neil has been married for a long time. Tori tends to have many good male friends (Maynard, Trent at one point--it's not really known if they dated but if they did it wasn't serious) anyway they are just friends--and to be specific, best friends. His wife is fine with that, and her husband is fine with that. Men and women can just be friends!

[rzr999]

Yes, of course I agree to this. Even so, she speaks very passionately about Neil, and whether she would like it or not, something develops in humans over time. It's about how they handle it and which feelings they let loose really.

[tobiascdngustaf]

You can be passionately attracted to someone on a purely platonic level. I am passionately attracted to my three best friends (two female, one male). I have NEVER been physically or romantically attracted to ANY of them. Yet, we are passionately attracted to spending time together on a platonic level. Tori feels the same about Neil--they are passionately connected (without romance/sex).

[stephanierossi]

no, they have been very good friends for a very long time. They are active members in the Mutual Appreciation Society. Neil is as huge fan of her work, as she is of his.

[forja]

Neil es por mucho el mejor escritor de estos tiempos, es una suerte que finalmente se hagan peliculas basadas en sus libros como Stardust o Coraline, y su pelicula MirrorMaks es absolutamente fantastica no se la pierdas.

[bookstar77]

Henrik Ibsen, the infamous 19th Century Norwegian playwright, did similar things to people that Gaiman is doing, according to Tori. He used a lot of real-life people as templates for his subversive plays.

For more info on him, and how he - and others like him - were that dangerous, read the book "Intellectuals" by Paul Johnson, published by HarperCollins. It is a very powerful book.

[wareq]

If Gaiman ever collaborated with Joss Whedon, would the universe implode from the sheer concentration of win?

[shiversandchills]

He collaborated with Pratchett, why not Whedon. Gotta say I'm loving this idea. Go spread it on the boards and it'll happen. If there's two guys who take readers seriously it's those two.

[DrBojayHookah]

Could Neil write an introduction to this video?

[jason2segal]

"me and neil'll be hanging out with the dream king..."

[Lolapopmentos]

omg this woman is so charismatic,..is almost magical,.. i love tori...

[enchantedblack]

I absolutely adore Neil Gaiman. Wonderful writer.

[FuzzyWhisper]

Gaiman's brilliant. I have nothing but contempt for anyone idiotic enough to trash him without extremely good reason.

[honatalee]

Neil Gaiman rocks, really.

[EstelEstelEstel]

Someone in past commentary said, that delirium was based on his poet friend kathy Acker - negative, it is ''official'', hat Delirium is based on Tori

[shellycoat]

You're wrong, check out The Sandman Companion - Neil didn't meet Tori until several years after Delirium had been created. It's a common enough mistake though.

[BugAMartini]

'Get me neil on the line, no I can't hold'!!!

[Yuna0511]

have him read "Snow, Glass, Apples" when nothing is what it seems.:)

I loooooooooooooove Snow, Glass, Apples.

[TwoOssify]

Hahahaha, she's awesome

:D

This made me smile.

SO TRUE!

[amarbleinspace]

Neil Gaiman is your typical jewish hack.

[justinjoschko]

I bet you like Dan Brown because he makes you feel smart.

[genpershing]

Was that really necessary? Just because you're jealous of him, does that really require you to make an ass of yourself? Hmmm?

[amarbleinspace]

genpershing ,fair enough

[chickenblaster]

Amarbleinspace is obviously sleeping with mel gibson.

[lokimyth]

Before you condemn him as a hack, what by him have you actually read? Neil Gaiman at his best is nothing short of brilliant. I'd tell you to go read "The Sandman" or "American Gods" but their total awesomeness would probably offend you, you bigot. What does ones writing ability have to do with ones religion?

[chickenblaster]

"American Gods" was excellent, and "Anansi Boys" was very good as well. How anyone could ever knock Gaiman just boggles me!

[archer1949]

If I could write like he does, I wish I could be a "typical Jewish hack".

[woodgatejack]

Don't feed the trolls!

Anyone who uses someone's religion to belittle their talent, or to discredit them for whatever reason has already lost the augument.

[woodgatejack]

The same goes for sexual orientation, their social class, the country they come from, their neighbourhood or the colour of their skin.

[michiyoyoshiku]

You're a hater. He's too smart to be involved with that cult

[michiyoyoshiku]

Or you'll just say it was

[Urkalla]

Gaiman fans are an embarrassing lot... even though Gaiman FUNDS Scientology, you just want to live in your delusional world. Scientology makes a fortune off of you idiots.

[volcanogirl28]

Seriously, what is your religion, and name me one religion that doesn't raise money for their cause.

[Urkalla]

Religion? Are you insane? Scientology is an abusive CULT that runs prison camps (Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF) for "Sea Org" members in Los Angeles, Clearwater FL, Copenhagen and other sites. Scientology is a CULT of Greed that destroys family's through their "disconnection" policy and drives its enemies to ruin through its "Fair Game" policy. Don't be naive!

[Inesses]

Tori Amos is talking about Neil Gaiman exactly the same how I imagine him. I talked with Neil Gaiman yesterday... You see, this is indescribable feeling. It was short conversation but I felt after this like it was the happiest moment in my life... I love Neil Gaiman with his strange way of reading his novels, books or poems. I wish I've met Him one more time.

Greetings for all Gaiman's readers.

[Inesses]

Tori Amos is talking about Neil Gaiman exactly the same how I imagine Him. I talked with Neil Gaiman yesterday... You see, this is indescribable feeling. It was short conversation but I felt after this like it was the happiest moment in my life... I love Neil Gaiman with his strange way of reading His novels, books or poems. I wish I've met Him one more time.

Greetings for all Gaiman's readers.

[brabon]

ive always been under the impression that neil has the fantasy of being a rock star, and that through tori, this fantasy partially comes true

[pele0822]

...if you need me, me and Neil will be hangin out with the Dream King ;)

[hotfukka]

Neil said hi by the way:)

[comatoselucy]

But will you find me if Neil makes me a tree? (:

[Gantarka]

I also love both Neil and Tori. Thanks for this video :D

[delirium19]

Luv neil and tori.

FYI:

Neil created Delirium based on his poet friend Kathy Acker

[Sarahon06]

Yes Kathy kicked ass. I believe she passed away, not sure on that though. SHe wrote wonderful novels. I can see why her and Neil got along so well.

[doffo]

"...and that's how he created Delirium."

Fuck, he rules.

[Winten5alex]

That is cute ^_^

[Godoflies]

The Books of Neil Gaiman are cool^^

American Gods --> Great!

[Tigersky]

This is really cute. :D

[Vic666]

Cute interview..thanks for posting it :)