Joan Baez retired from touring in 2019, following one final spherical of dates on her aptly named Fare Thee Effectively trek.
But the longtime Bay Space singer-songwriter-guitarist — who ranks as one of the vital people music artists of all time — just about hasn’t slowed down since.
Turning her focus towards different inventive endeavors, Baez put a lot effort into her ongoing collection of “Mischief Makers” work, documenting a variety of topics — from Patti Smith and Jackson Browne to Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi — who’ve fought to result in social change.
She additionally launched her first ebook of poetry, 2024’s “When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance,” and was the topic of the acclaimed documentary movie “Joan Baez: I Am a Noise” in 2023.
And, after all, an entire new era of music lovers have been launched to Baez — and her tempestuous relationship with Bob Dylan — via final 12 months’s massively profitable “A Complete Unknown.” (Monica Barbaro was nominated for a 2025 Oscar for supporting actress for her glorious portrayal of Baez within the Dylan biopic.)
For her newest trick, the 84-year-old Rock and Roll Corridor of Famer is becoming a member of the solid of the Vau de Vire Society for “The Soiled Dove.” The circus-infused dinner-theater expertise, which pulls from the skills of 30-plus circus performers, dancers and different artists to move viewers again to San Francisco’s Barbary Coast within the Nineties, runs Fridays and Saturdays Sept. 5-Nov. 1 at Radium Runway at Alameda Level. For tickets, go to www.thesoileddove.com.
I lately had the possibility to meet up with Baez, who was calling in from her longtime house in Woodside. Right here’s our dialog.
Q: Hello, Joan. How’s Woodside at this time?
A: Oh, it’s completely stunning. It pretends that there’s nothing else happening however itself.
Q: I’m unsure when you keep in mind, however we’ve spoke varied instances through the years. The primary time occurred approach again in the summertime of 1996 while you performing a profit live performance for the East Palo Alto-based Ecumenical Starvation Program.
A: And we’re nonetheless kicking.
Q: We have been presupposed to do an in-person interview that day, on-site at Mitchell Park in Palo Alto. However that Interview didn’t really find yourself taking place. However you probably did give me a hug.
A: Effectively, right here’s one other one over the telephone.
Q: I respect it. Effectively, it’s good to speak with you once more. Hey, I assumed issues have been presupposed to decelerate in retirement. However that actually hasn’t been the case for you.
A: I assume I got here out of the womb on output. And I’m nonetheless there. And it’s exhausting maintaining with what to do proper now — for anyone. Therefore the circus.
Q: Sure, inform me how you bought concerned with this Vau de Vire Society manufacturing.
A: The man who labored with me at (circus-dinner-theater firm) Teatro ZinZanni stated, “We’re going to do this circus thing. Are you interested?” And I stated sure. Bingo. And that was it. And I didn’t even know what I used to be stepping into. It was simply an intuition factor.
I’ve this nice quote — hold on — from Mark Twain. And it’s, “The human race only has one really effective weapon and that is laughter.” Isn’t that good?
Q: That could be very good. What are you able to inform me about this efficiency group — the Vau de Vire Society?
A: I don’t know a lot in regards to the firm. They’re very younger. I imply, the people who find themselves going to be hanging from the ceilings and stuff are going to be of their 30s — most. And it’s new to them.
For example, they have been selecting a wig for me. I’m Paloma Blanca — I’m the the queen of the gypsies. So, I used to be in search of regardless of the wig was going to be. They usually had this magnificent blonde factor with braids and curls. And I simply cherished it. Then I simply realized, “This is made for a 30-year old.” And I’m saying, “Well, hang on a minute.” Then I noticed they don’t perceive about getting old. I texted and stated, “Come up with something a little more subtle or age-appropriate.” So, they discovered this glorious, large, wonderful wig.
Concerning the clothes, they introduced this incredible wardrobe — these incredible skirts that weigh about 20 kilos of fabric that you simply twirl in. I noticed that I couldn’t stroll in that and maintain up 20 kilos with one hand. You understand? So, anyway we’re engaged on all these adjustments.
(Pauses)
And I don’t know what your query is ….
Q: (Laughs) That’s OK. I’ve a brand new one and it’s far more vital: So, wait, you’re not going to be hanging from the ceiling from the highest of the tent?
A: I’m sorry to inform you, no.
Q: Is that this straight appearing or will we get to listen to your singing voice within the manufacturing?
A: You get to listen to my singing voice a few instances. We’ve taken benefit of it. Two actual songs. After which a number of nonsense, which comes with the script.
Q: Nonsense could be enjoyable.
A: It’s a number of enjoyable. The opposite factor was, earlier than I stated sure (to the challenge), I stated, “Do I get to dance?” And he stated yeah. As a result of dancing is so vital to me and I’ve by no means actually gotten to it onstage. I’ve been too — I don’t know — we’ve simply by no means lightened as much as that time. And there was no one to bop with. So, I stated I’ll dance my gypsy stuff after which give me an actual dancer who can lead — as a result of I don’t know what I’m doing.
That’s the one factor I comply with in — dancing. The whole lot else I’m main.
Q: Sounds enjoyable and thrilling. And totally different.
A: And irreverent. And bawdy. All of these things that I’m concerned in needs to be off-color and difficult. I believe something that the present — quote — administration would hate, I wish to be concerned in. They usually hate it as a result of they’re all a bunch of pervs. However there they’re and right here we’re.
Q: Do you assume your irreverent and off-color aspect will get sufficient credit score? I imply, do folks learn about that aspect of you?
A: Under no circumstances. This will likely be an actual eye opener for lots of people. There’s this nice man, who was in a union on the East Coast, and he stated that I’ve received the voice of an angel and the mouth of a dockworker. And I used to be so happy with such a praise. However, no, the general public doesn’t know that.
Q: Oh, my goodness. That might be an amazing title for an album — “Voice of an Angel, Mouth of a Dockworker.” And it could possibly be such as you singing, in your prettiest voice, all these tough songs full of four-letter phrases and all that.
A: That seems like a extremely good thought. As a result of that’s most likely all I’ve left in me so far as recording goes.
Q: There you go! I anticipate to be talked about within the credit when that album comes out.
A: Good! You could be arrested with me.
Q: I’d stand by you, Joan! No query about it.
A: If I have been you, I’d stand about 4 toes away. Then you definately’d be protected.
Q: However, then once more, security has by no means been your main concern although, proper?
A: I’ll inform you, being barely extra severe, it’s not what it was within the ’60s and ’70s. Once I went to jail for that temporary interval, we have been nonetheless smiling to the policemen and singing on the best way into the paddy wagon. And issues have modified. I imply, I hesitate to inform a youngster to get on the market and show. And it was by no means in my program to hesitate — however to encourage folks to talk up. And now it’s a severe query of how far you wish to go along with that — how far you recommend it to someone else.
On the circus, they’ve a gallery and I’m going to place my work — “The Mischief Makers” — on show there. I simply attempt to discover all the pieces I can do at this level. And, till they meet up with me, I’ll go on doing it.
It’s additionally within the poetry I’ve been writing. I don’t wish to self-censor. On the similar time, I’m too (expletive) outdated to go to jail. At my age, you’ve received your medicine. You’ve received this, that and the opposite. Within the outdated days, you’d get your medicine, your lawyer, your pleasant visits. I’m assuming that that’s not what is going on at this time.
Q: Who would you continue to like to color on your “Mischief Makers” portrait collection?
A: Bruce Springsteen. I began. However different stuff received in the best way and I couldn’t go on the standard pace. I’ve a bunch of entertainer sorts (work) that I’m going to indicate on the gallery (on the circus). I wished Bruce to be amongst them, however I couldn’t fairly get it executed.
Q: Might I fee a Joan Baez portrait of myself?
A: Is dependent upon what you appear to be. (Laughs) Is dependent upon how lengthy it could take me. And the reply is sure, you could possibly.
Q: How a lot would that price me?
A: Is dependent upon how large it’s. Isn’t that bizarre? It’s the dimensions of the portray that they go by.
Q: Effectively, there you go. I didn’t even know that it was an choice to fee a Joan Baez portrait of myself.
A: I didn’t both. However it’s. So, if I do one the dimensions of a postage stamp you’ll be OK.
Q: That is perhaps all my music critic paycheck can deal with. I might take you to Palo Alto Creamery for a milkshake.
A: That sounds excellent. Besides, I’m lactose illiberal, so we’ll should do one thing else. However, you already know, a bunch of these locations have pretend ice cream. So, we will do this.
Q: Sounds nice. That’s the place we’ll maintain our subsequent interview. Hey, you’ve clearly received all this different stuff happening, however do you miss touring? I imply, it was such a giant a part of your life for thus many a long time.
A: Yeah, I didn’t know whether or not I might miss it or not. And I needed to hold an open thoughts about it. And I don’t miss it. I’m shocked that I don’t. I miss my buddies on the bus. However I’ve no want to go stroll out on stage and do a live performance.
Once I received house — you already know the expression “I hung up the guitar”? — I actually hung it up on the wall. And it’s come down about 4 instances. I’ve executed visitor appearances, which I can nonetheless do. However I on no account wish to return on tour.
Q: I’m curious to understand how you thought Mill Valley’s personal Monica Barbaro did portraying you on the massive display screen in “A Complete Unknown.”
A: I assumed she was actually good. The singing voice is foolish for somebody to attempt to do this. That may have been an excellent place for A.I. — critically. However, in any other case, I assumed she was great. She regarded like me. She regarded dejected like me.
Really, I known as (the filmmakers) and stated, “Does anybody want to hear from the horse’s mouth?” And I received a name again from (Barbaro) and we had an excellent lengthy chat. After which from Ed Norton (who portrayed Pete Seeger) — one other good lengthy chat. Simply making an attempt to offer them no matter they could not know.
I assumed Pete Seeger was brilliantly depicted. I assumed Dylan was well-depicted — just a bit too clear.
Q: So, all in all, two thumbs up for the film?
A: Yeah, I say so. My pals began defending me, “Well, they didn’t show this …. ” But it surely’s a film. It’s an excellent film. It’s a enjoyable film.
Q: I favored the film too. And I cherished this dialog with you. Thanks for being so beneficiant together with your time at this time. I look ahead to probably seeing you out on the circus — and, if that’s the case, maybe even gathering that hug in individual.
A: That seems like an excellent thought. Thanks for the chat.
