Terri Hooley has been the subject of a book, a film and a stage musical. He's a poet, a blarney merchant and a roaring anti-hero.
is major achievement was to create a record label during the conflict. Without Good Vibrations Record there would be no Teenage Kicks and a lot less fun.
Terri's legacy is even greater than this. From the 1960s onwards, he showed generations of young people to reject the dour codes of their elders. He printed up magazines, marched against senseless wars and decried the use of nuclear weapons.
Terri laid the foundation stones for an Alternative Ulster - a safe place away from the bitter people, the fundamentalists and the masters of war.
You ask the Hooleygan how he might further the legend. How to you follow those euphoric scenes at the Lyric Theatre in 2018, when the box office was emptied and the punters were boldly dancing in the aisles? Terri's glass eye glimmers and his good eye pops with fresh mischief.
"I'm looking forward to Good Vibrations on Ice," he says, not missing a beat.
"I'm gonna put a photograph up on Facebook. A picture of all these ice skaters, rehearsing for the new show. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if it happened someday."
At the age of 72 he has confirmed his first DJ engagement for the post-pandemic age. All being well, he will feature on the decks at Kelly's in Portrush on June 19.
He's looking forward to the big tunes and their power to excite a dancefloor.
This won't be a time for cool behaviour. He's going to cue up David Bowie and Let's Dance. There will be time for Pulp and Disco 2000. He has already set the Ramones and the Ronettes in his DJ bag. And of course there will be the Undertones moment, when Teenage Kicks makes that vital noise and the party people will agree that it's the best they ever had.
"I thought I might try and update my set. But people just want all the old stuff. I'm not trying to be hip or anything. I'm not down with the kids. I'm more down with the grannies."
In 2020, Good Vibrations the musical was due to return to the Belfast stage. Then it was scheduled for the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and plans were well advanced for a New York run. Because of a previous Broadway show about the Beach Boys had been titled Good Vibrations, the production was set for a name change. But otherwise the most amazing thing nearly happened. Terri is philosophical.
"I'm always the last to know, but it will return. It was such a huge success - soldout, standing ovation every night at the Lyric. It was one of the most successful things they've had in years. So they were dying to get it back. There was a great buzz at the Lyric. Even the front of house staff were going, this is brilliant, we love it. In fact, some people like the play better than the film. One camp loves the film and then another camp loves the play. I loved the play."
He's considering DJ requests from Portugal and a return to the castle at Taranto, Italy, the scene of his last international booking. You sense a deal of excitement from Terri. Just over a year ago, he had been planning for a farewell tour and then retirement. His last gig was at the Sugar Club in Dublin in January 2020, a wonderful, messy occasion. Afterwards, there were quiet times in East Belfast. But just like Frank Sinatra, Terri doesn't baulk at the idea of another comeback.
"In 2019 I was a bit agoraphobic. I didn't really want to leave the house.
"Sometimes I didn't even want to go to the Co-op to get a pint of milk. But I've got over that now. I've been locked in the house for months. And I'm dying to get out on the big stages. I'll be running around like a three year old child."
Also, Terri is relocating from Belfast to Bangor. The man who represented the defiant, romantic soul of the city is finally taking his leave.
"I never thought that would happen. Gary Lightbody says I live and breathe Belfast. I've always loved Belfast. I haven't always loved what's happened in Belfast. But I've always thought Belfast was a great place. I'm not sure if my love affair with Belfast is what it used to be. I think it might be time to move on, and grow old gracefully, instead of disgracefully. I think I retired years ago and just didn't tell anybody."
Hooley ran record shops in at least 11 locations and he still can't walk past an empty shopfront without imagining himself inside, setting up afresh. He dreams about finding a warehouse full of records and pictures himself unpacking them, pricing and then racking them up. He's changing the window displays and welcoming in the new customers. There are worse things to dream about, really.
"I would say I've never been as happy as I am now. Truly. I always had this empty feeling, a real sadness inside. For years and years and years. And now it's gone.
"I'm very lucky that I'm so happy. It only took me 70 years to be happy."
