Bob Dylan is likely one of the most vital figures in all of rock music. And now, over 60 years into his profession, he’s the topic of the brand new biopic A Full Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet.
Timothée’s efficiency is already getting buzz, and it appears possible that the film will likely be successful! The James Mangold-directed movie is ready within the first half of the 60s, chronicling Bob’s arrival in New York up till his 1965 Newport Folks Pageant look.
The film is ready to hit theaters on Christmas Day 2024, and critics are already beginning to reward Timothée’s portrayal of Bob. The trailer for the movie gave followers a sneak peak in October 2024.
Earlier than going to see Timothée carry Bob’s early days to the massive display screen, there are many issues to know in regards to the Blonde on Blonde singer. Maintain studying to be taught extra about Bob.
His Actual Identify Isn’t Bob Dylan
It might come as a shock to some, however Bob Dylan’s actual identify will not be “Bob Dylan.” Bob was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Minnesota in 1941.
As to why Bob selected “Dylan” for his surname, the most typical legend refers to him borrowing it from the poet Dylan Thomas, who was shouted out on Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department.
Regardless of this being the most typical declare, the person himself truly denied these rumors in a 1961 New York Occasions interview. “I didn’t take my identify from Dylan Thomas,” he stated, by way of WMGK. “Dylan Thomas’ poetry is for those who aren’t actually happy of their mattress – for individuals who dig masculine romance.”
He did clarify that he at all times meant on altering his identify in his memoir Chronicles: Quantity 1. He didn’t clarify if there was a deeper that means to picking “Dylan” as his final identify.
“The primary time I used to be requested my identify within the Twin Cities, I instinctively and robotically, with out pondering, merely stated: ‘Bob Dylan,’” he wrote.
“What I used to be going to do as quickly as I left residence was simply known as myself Robert Allen. So far as I used to be involved, that was who I used to be – that’s what my mother and father named me. It sounded just like the identify of a Scottish king, and I favored it. There was little of my id that wasn’t in it.”
Bob Dylan Has Launched 40 Albums
Bob has a massive discography. While you’ve been making music for over 60 years, you’ve had lots of time to make some albums, and there’s loads of Dylan materials for brand spanking new followers to dive into.
Bob’s first album was 1962’s self-titled report, and his most up-to-date was 2023’s Shadow Kingdom. Over the previous 60 years, Bob has launched tons of classics like Highway 61 Revisited, Blood on the Tracks, and lots of extra.
A lot of Bob’s early hits weren’t for his personal performances. Songs like “Blowin’ within the Wind”, “The Occasions They Are A-Altering”, and “Mr. Tambourine Man” had been all covered by other musicians. Artists like Nina Simone, The Byrds, and Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded their very own variations of Bob’s songs.
Apart from the studio albums, Bob has numerous reside data, bootlegs, compilations, and writing credit for different hits.
He Participated In The Civil Rights Motion
Bob was a serious determine within the Civil Rights Motion within the Nineteen Sixties. A lot of his songs had been thought-about protest anthems, and so they spoke in regards to the civil rights that individuals had been combating for.
Songs like “Blowin’ within the Wind” and “The Occasions They Are A-Altering” each expressed concepts in regards to the civil rights motion and the combat in opposition to racism. Bob’s track “Solely a Pawn in Their Sport” is in regards to the 1963 assassination of civil rights activist Medgar Evers.
Maybe most notably, Bob additionally carried out on the 1963 March on Washington. He and fellow people singer Joan Baez had been each slated performers, per Rolling Stone. Bob’s 4 track set will not be as nicely often known as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s well-known “I Have a Dream” speech, which he delivered that day.
Bob Dylan Going Electrical Stirred Up Controversy
One of the well-known moments in Bob’s profession, which can be featured in A Full Unknown, was his 1965 efficiency on the Newport Folks Pageant.
After making a reputation for himself as a people musician (and acoustic performer), Bob shocked the group on the 1965 pageant by performing with an electrical guitar. He was met with outrage.
Bob solely managed to play three songs, earlier than he was booed off stage. Many folks followers felt that Bob was betraying his fanbase by performing with electrical devices. Some folks had clearly thought he’d offered out.
Regardless of the controversy, lots of the songs with electrical devices have since gone on to be classics. His first electrical track “Subterranean Homesick Blues” is a beloved basic, and lots of the tracks on Freeway 61 Revisited are considered classics, now.
Bob Dylan Has Performed With Different Iconic Artists
Through the years, Bob has gotten to share the stage with tons of basic artists. Joan Baez was one of many greatest names that he carried out with early in his profession. Nonetheless, there are two bands that Bob is most frequently grouped with.
Most famously, Bob is related to The Band. The basic rockers had been already a longtime act, however Dylan recruited them to be his backing band starting in 1966. Notably, Bob is the one who modified their identify to The Band.
When The Band performed their farewell live performance The Final Waltz in 1976, Bob joined them for a number of songs.
Within the late 80s and early 90s, Bob was additionally a member of the Touring Wilburys. The supergroup additionally included George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison. They put out two albums collectively.
He’s Been On A ‘By no means Ending’ Tour For the reason that 80s
Whereas loads of artists decelerate on the highway as they become old, that’s not likely the case for Bob. In June 1988, Bob set out on the “By no means Ending” tour. Bob has been on the highway persistently ever since.
He normally performs about 100 reveals per 12 months, and regardless that his 2021-2024 tour was dubbed the “Tough and Rowdy Methods” tour, many nonetheless think about it a part of the “By no means Ending” tour.
Whereas many individuals will possible be curious about catching Bob after seeing A Full Unknown, it’s well worth the warning that he does make important adjustments to his songs reside. Followers typically complain about how tough it may be to inform what songs he’s acting at latest live shows.
