Van Morrison sues Northern Ireland health minister over op-ed that criticized singer's anti-lockdown comments

Van Morrison's 2021 album, Latest Record Project Volume 1, includes a song, "Where Have All The Rebels Gone?"

Where have all the rebels gone?
Hiding behind computer screens
Where’s the spirit, where’s the soul?
Where have all the rebels gone?

One rebel has been found, Van the Man, who turns 77 this summer. Morrison has been the entertainment industry's most forceful critic of COVID lockdowns.

From the Guardian:

Van Morrison has issued legal proceedings against Northern Ireland’s Department of Health and its minister Robin Swann over an opinion piece written for Rolling Stone magazine.

In September 2020, Morrison released three anti-lockdown songs, with lyrics that accused scientists of "making up crooked facts".

"The new normal is not normal,” he sang. "We were born to be free."

In response, Swann wrote for the US magazine describing Morrison’s songs as a "smear" on those involved in the public health response to the virus, and highlighting the damage the musician might cause to public messaging around COVID-19 in Northern Ireland.

In 2021 Swann sued Morrison over remarks the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee over a public chant that called him "very dangerous."

Related post of mine from Da Tech Guy:

Van Morrison continues his attack on lockdowns and government overreach on his tremendous new album