May 1963 and The Times They Are A-Changinâ in January of 1964, Bob Dylan became the hottest property in American music, stretching the boundaries of what had previously been viewed as a largely collegiate folk music audience. His third album would establish him as the undisputed king of protest music, even if as he was being crowned, Dylan was beginning to experience grave misgivings about both that type of song, fame in general and his own position as reluctant leader of a movementâmisgivings which grew when, as he was recording The Times They Are A-Changinâ that November, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. From this point onwards, he would be harder to pin down, both in his songs and in person. âBeing noticed can be a burden,â he explained later. âJesus got himself crucified because he got himself noticed. So I disappear a lot.â
There would be significant changes on the personal front, too. Following his first liaison with Joan Baez following the Monterey Folk Festival, rumors quickly spread about the nature of their relationship, placing further stress on his already strained relations with Suze, though she initially doubted that his ego would cope with Baezâs fame. âBobby couldnât love Joan Baez,â she told friends. âHe couldnât love anybody that big!â
For both parties, this new affiliation was probably motivated as much by career considerations as anything more romantic, blossoming later into a more emotional or sexual connection. For Dylan, the advantages of teaming up with the Queen of Folk wereobvious, given that her reputation and audience were both bigger than his; for her part, Baez recognized songwriting genius when she heard it, and she had heard it when her manager sat her down and made her listen to an acetate of demos Dylan had recorded for his publishers, Witmark. This, she realized, was a talent that far outstripped all his contemporaries. âHe wrote songs that hadnât been written yet,â she said later. âThere arenât very many good protest songs. Theyâre usually overdone. The beauty of Bobbyâs stuff is its understatement.â
The Newport Folk Festival, held over the weekend of July 26-28, 1963, was effectively Bob Dylanâs coronation. He dominated the gathering, being name-checked constantly as performers covered his songs, and made several appearances of his ownâa solo slot on the Friday night, followed by a group encore of âWe Shall Overcomeâ; a topical-song workshop event on the Saturday; and a guest slot during Joanâs Sunday performance to duet on âWith God On Our Sideâ, followed by another group encore, this time of âThis Land Is Your Landâ. Every mention of his name was applauded by the audience, eager to acclaim the new star. Meanwhile, backstage and back at the Victory Motel where a coterie of young performers were staying, Dylan had begun to take on the character of a star, strolling around playing with a bullwhip which his rowdy friend Geno Foreman had brought him. It was as if he were assuming command of the genre, cracking the whip on the old guard.
Much to Suzeâs chagrin, following the festival Dylan accepted an offer of a guest slot on Joan Baezâs summer tour, for which Grossman ensured he was paid more than the headline star. After recurring arguments about the state of their relationship, Suze finally moved out of the 4th Street apartment, shortly before Joan and Bob appeared at the August 28 March On Washington, at which Martin Luther King made his celebrated âI Have A Dreamâ speech. Bob took solace by making visits to Albert Grossmanâs place near Woodstock in upstate New York. A few weeks later, he took some more time out at Joanâs place in Carmel, where he spent his days reading, writing and swimming. It may have seemed idyllic but, he later revealed, they never really talked that much. And though they
There would be significant changes on the personal front, too. Following his first liaison with Joan Baez following the Monterey Folk Festival, rumors quickly spread about the nature of their relationship, placing further stress on his already strained relations with Suze, though she initially doubted that his ego would cope with Baezâs fame. âBobby couldnât love Joan Baez,â she told friends. âHe couldnât love anybody that big!â
For both parties, this new affiliation was probably motivated as much by career considerations as anything more romantic, blossoming later into a more emotional or sexual connection. For Dylan, the advantages of teaming up with the Queen of Folk wereobvious, given that her reputation and audience were both bigger than his; for her part, Baez recognized songwriting genius when she heard it, and she had heard it when her manager sat her down and made her listen to an acetate of demos Dylan had recorded for his publishers, Witmark. This, she realized, was a talent that far outstripped all his contemporaries. âHe wrote songs that hadnât been written yet,â she said later. âThere arenât very many good protest songs. Theyâre usually overdone. The beauty of Bobbyâs stuff is its understatement.â
The Newport Folk Festival, held over the weekend of July 26-28, 1963, was effectively Bob Dylanâs coronation. He dominated the gathering, being name-checked constantly as performers covered his songs, and made several appearances of his ownâa solo slot on the Friday night, followed by a group encore of âWe Shall Overcomeâ; a topical-song workshop event on the Saturday; and a guest slot during Joanâs Sunday performance to duet on âWith God On Our Sideâ, followed by another group encore, this time of âThis Land Is Your Landâ. Every mention of his name was applauded by the audience, eager to acclaim the new star. Meanwhile, backstage and back at the Victory Motel where a coterie of young performers were staying, Dylan had begun to take on the character of a star, strolling around playing with a bullwhip which his rowdy friend Geno Foreman had brought him. It was as if he were assuming command of the genre, cracking the whip on the old guard.
Much to Suzeâs chagrin, following the festival Dylan accepted an offer of a guest slot on Joan Baezâs summer tour, for which Grossman ensured he was paid more than the headline star. After recurring arguments about the state of their relationship, Suze finally moved out of the 4th Street apartment, shortly before Joan and Bob appeared at the August 28 March On Washington, at which Martin Luther King made his celebrated âI Have A Dreamâ speech. Bob took solace by making visits to Albert Grossmanâs place near Woodstock in upstate New York. A few weeks later, he took some more time out at Joanâs place in Carmel, where he spent his days reading, writing and swimming. It may have seemed idyllic but, he later revealed, they never really talked that much. And though they
Similar Books
