Bob Dylan is likely one of the most essential 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 shall be a success! 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, there are many issues to know concerning the Blonde on Blonde singer. Preserve studying to be taught extra about Bob.
His Actual Title Isn’t Bob Dylan
It might come as a shock to some, however Bob Dylan’s actual identify isn’t “Bob Dylan.” Bob was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Minnesota in 1941.
As to why Bob selected “Dylan” for his surname, the commonest legend refers to him borrowing it from the poet Dylan Thomas, who was shouted out on Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Division.
American people pop singer Bob Dylan at a press convention in London. (Photograph by Specific Newspapers/Getty Photographs)
Regardless of this being the commonest declare, the person himself truly denied these rumors in a 1961 New York Occasions interview. “I did not take my name from Dylan Thomas,” he mentioned, by way of WMGK. “Dylan Thomas’ poetry is for people that aren’t really satisfied in their bed – for people 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 selecting “Dylan” as his final identify.
“The first time I was asked my name in the Twin Cities, I instinctively and automatically, without thinking, simply said: ‘Bob Dylan,’” he wrote.
“What I was going to do as soon as I left home was just called myself Robert Allen. As far as I was concerned, that was who I was – that’s what my parents named me. It sounded like the name of a Scottish king, and I liked it. There was little of my identity that wasn’t in it.”
Bob Dylan Has Launched 40 Albums
American electrical people hero Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman) and singer, songwriter Joan Baez in Embankment Gardens, London. (Photograph by Keystone/Getty Photographs)
Bob has a large discography. If you’ve been making music for over 60 years, you’ve had loads 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 Freeway 61 Revisited, Blood on the Tracks, and plenty of extra.
A lot of Bob’s early hits weren’t for his personal performances. Songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind”, “The Times They Are A-Changing”, and “Mr. Tambourine Man” have been all coated by different musicians. Artists like Nina Simone, The Byrds, and Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded their very own variations of Bob’s songs.
Other than the studio albums, Bob has numerous stay data, bootlegs, compilations, and writing credit for different hits.
He Participated In The Civil Rights Motion
Folks singers Joan Baez and Bob Dylan carry out throughout a civil rights rally on August 28, 1963 in Washington D.C. (Photograph by Rowland Scherman/Nationwide Archive/Newsmakers)
Bob was a serious determine within the Civil Rights Motion within the Nineteen Sixties. A lot of his songs have been thought of protest anthems, they usually spoke concerning the civil rights that folks have been combating for.
Songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changing” each expressed concepts concerning the civil rights motion and the struggle in opposition to racism. Bob’s tune “Only a Pawn in Their Game” is concerning 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 have been each slated performers, per Rolling Stone. Bob’s 4 tune set isn’t as properly 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
American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, whose actual identify is Robert Zimmerman, smoking a cigarette on the Savoy resort in London. (Photograph by Keystone/Getty Photographs)
Some 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 competition 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 people 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, most of the songs with electrical devices have since gone on to be classics. His first electrical tune “Subterranean Homesick Blues” is a beloved traditional, and most of the tracks on Freeway 61 Revisited are considered classics, now.
Bob Dylan Has Performed With Different Iconic Artists
American folk-rock singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. (Photograph by Specific/Specific/Getty Photographs)
Through the years, Bob has gotten to share the stage with tons of traditional 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 traditional rockers have 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 ‘Never Ending’ Tour For the reason that 80s
Musician Bob Dylan performs onstage throughout the AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Michael Douglas at Sony Footage Studios on June 11, 2009 in Culver Metropolis, California. (Photograph by Kevin Winter/Getty Photographs for AFI)
Whereas loads of artists decelerate on the street as they become old, that’s probably not the case for Bob. In June 1988, Bob set out on the “Never Ending” tour. Bob has been on the street constantly ever since.
He normally performs about 100 exhibits per yr, and though his 2021-2024 tour was dubbed the “Rough and Rowdy Ways” tour, many nonetheless think about it a part of the “Never Ending” tour.
Whereas many individuals will possible be fascinated about catching Bob after seeing A Full Unknown, it’s definitely worth the warning that he does make vital adjustments to his songs stay. Followers typically complain about how tough it may be to inform what songs he’s acting at current concert events.
