Thursday, May 19, 2011

Bob Dylan Nudging 70

I've seen Bob Dylan numerous times over the years and I'm glad about that. Sadly the last time I saw him, a few years ago in Manchester, it wasn't so great. His voice has gone to such an extent that I had trouble recognising some of the songs until he was halfway through. I still found it a wonderful occasion although my beloved, not a Bob Dylan fan, found it truly dreadful.

Having said that I think his recent stuff is still extremely listenable as he seems to have written it to suit his voice. As he approaches his seventieth birthday it is inevitable that his voice is a little rocky, he's been touring virtually non stop for decades, which must have taken a toll.

There's an interesting piece about Bob Dylan, and ageing rock stars in the Telegraph today.

2 comments:

Sean O'Hare said...

Dylan's voice went awry a lot earlier than you seen to suggest. I've only seen him live once - at Earl's Court in 1980 or 1981 I believe. It was always blamed on him breaking his neck in a motorcycle accident I understand. Not sure whether that is the truth or not though. The fire certainly seemed go out with the demise of the protest songs. To my mind there have only been two memorable albums since the mid 70's namely "Blood on the Tracks" and "Desire". I'm still a Dylan fan, but always feel a bit sad when I see him perform nowadays and feel it might have been better if he'd packed it in a lot earlier.

Gregg said...

Yes Sean, probably right. Many thought he never could sing, including my beloved. Others, like my brother-in-law will still be making pilgrimages to see Bob if he's playing when he's 110.

I think it's the legend that is Bob Dylan, and as you say his early protest songs, that keep him going now rather than his voice or new material.