Gerry Casey Interviews Cormac Neeson

June 15, 2025

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Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Cormac Neeson

Cormac Neeson is a magnetic Northern Irish singer and songwriter whose voice has powered both thunderous rock stages and soulful Americana ballads. Best known as the frontman for the acclaimed hard rock band The Answer, Cormac has spent more than two decades carving out a diverse and evolving career that bridges the worlds of classic rock, country soul, and modern folk.

He first burst onto the international scene with The Answer, a band he co-founded in the early 2000s alongside Paul Mahon, Micky Waters, and James Heatley. Hailing from County Down, Northern Ireland, the group caught fire with their debut album Rise in 2006. The record was a critical and commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies worldwide and earning them the title of “Best New Band” from Classic Rock magazine. From there, they hit the road hard, sharing stages with legends like AC/DC and The Rolling Stones. Cormac’s powerful vocals and commanding stage presence became central to the band’s identity, helping fuel follow-up albums like Everyday Demons, Revival, Raise a Little Hell, and Solas. One of the major milestones of his rock career was performing in front of over 100,000 fans in 2009 at the Hockenheimring in Germany during an AC/DC tour.

But Cormac’s artistic journey didn’t stop with rock. In a bold and personal shift, he moved into Americana territory with his solo project, releasing the deeply heartfelt album White Feather in 2020. Recorded in Nashville with a crew of seasoned session musicians, the record leaned into roots music, blending country, soul, and folk influences with lyrics drawn from real-life experiences—including the emotional story of his son’s premature birth. It struck a chord with listeners, climbing to number four on the UK Country Rock Albums chart. During the pandemic, Cormac re-released the album with bonus tracks and special vinyl editions, adapting to a time when live performances had been put on pause.

In his most recent evolution, Cormac introduced a brand new project: California Irish. This seven-piece band reflects a deep love for Laurel Canyon–style folk rock, drenched in lush harmonies, analogue textures, and poetic songwriting. It’s a different kind of energy than his earlier rock work—more introspective, but no less passionate. The group’s debut single, “Big Questions,” arrived in early 2025, recorded live-to-tape to preserve that raw, human feel. Their debut full-length album, The Mountains Are My Friends, is set to be released on June 27, 2025, and marks yet another reinvention in a career defined by fearless creativity.

Whether he’s leading a rock riot in front of a festival crowd or delivering intimate, soul-searching lyrics on a quiet stage, Cormac Neeson is an artist who never stands still. His work with The Answer, his solo explorations, and now his folk-rock turn with California Irish all point to a musician who continues to follow the music wherever it leads—with heart, grit, and unmistakable voice.

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