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Clive Culbertson, former Van Morrison Bassist, Releases reimagined single "How Can You Say" ft. Simon McBride
- Drop Rocket Team
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
The Northern Irish Musician is Featured Bassist on Van Morrison’s BPI Certified Gold, 1989 album, “Avalon Sunset” (Mercury Records).
Following a lengthy battle to reclaim the publishing rights to a catalogue of over 40 original songs - a remarkable effort spearheaded by Shay Hennessy of Crashed Music Group, whose successful fight saw the songs returned in November 2022 - Clive Culbertson, the Ballymoney-born bassist, vocalist, songwriter, recording engineer and record producer, acknowledges a fresh chapter in his five-decade long career.
The publishing rights to 6 of his original songs however, still remain unreturned.
Though "How Can You Say" is not among the recently reclaimed tracks, the reimagined single, to be released on March 21st 2025, sees Culbertson bring a fresh stylistic approach to the work, drawing particular inspiration from Nashville country music group Lady Antebellum.
Produced and engineered in Culbertson’s own No Sweat Studios in Coleraine, “How Can You Say” is bound for new life, reimagined almost 40 years after its original creation (1986).
The single features Simon McBride (Deep Purple) on guitar, Matt Weir on drums, Rodd McVeigh on keyboards, and Áine Whelan on vocal harmonies, with Culbertson himself handling recording, bass, and engineering duties - ensuring a deeply personal and refined rendition of the song.
About Clive Culbertson:
Clive Culbertson, one of Northern Ireland's most talented songwriters; Ballymoney born bassist, vocalist, songwriter, recording engineer and record producer.
Having released a series of fine pop and punk singles on Belfast's Rip Off Label, Culbertson’s band, The Sweat, landed an album deal with Dave Dee’s Double D Records. The single ‘Why’d Ya Have to Lie’, picked up major airplay across the UK, ensuring the band a string of promotional UK dates, before Clive returned to Northern Ireland to set up his own studio, 'No Sweat' and to develop his solo career.
After quickly attracting attention as a fine bass player and songwriter, he became a commercial session player, performing on countless live, radio and TV appearances, whilst establishing himself as a sought after producer in the busy country music scene. In the late 80s, a friendship with Van Morrison developed into an active role as bass player in Van’s live band. Culbertson subsequently played bass on the “Avalon Sunset” album, which featured the hit single, “Have I Told You Lately”. He also toured extensively in the UK and Europe with Van and The Chieftains in 1988 promoting the 'Irish Heartbeat' album.
Since departing the Van Morrison lineup, Culbertson has continued to develop his writing and performing career, notably with country rock band New Moon, who were hugely popular on the country festival circuit in the late 90s/early noughties, and being a special guest of the Anthony Toner Trio.
After two Top Ten Hits in Japan, ('Time to kill' - 1979 and 'Kiss Me' - 1981) and the current fascination with powerpop music in Japan, Clive’s solo 80s vinyl punk material has been steadily selling for substantial sums of money on the Japanese collectors’ market, resulting in Tokyo based 1977 Records re-releasing two of Clive and The Sweat's CD's in 2007. To coincide with this, Clive reformed the band in November 2007 and flew out to Japan to play two exclusive sold out dates in Tokyo.
Culbertson has sessioned for the Hothouse Flowers in Ireland and Italy and performed on BBC Ireland's Imeall Geal programme with guitarist/singer Fiachna O'Braonain.
With his flame rekindled, Culbertson headed into his Coleraine studio to begin working on his own material; The result, “Still Havin’ Fun”, a classic collection of pop rock love songs that bear the hallmarks of Clive’s whole career, from powerpop to country ballads. The album features exceptional performances from some of the finest session players in the country.
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