Bob Dylan - Original Punk Rocker
Bob Dylan is best known as being a "folk musician", but he has retained a punk mentality throughout his career.
Bob Dylan dropped out during his first year of college and conned record producer John Hammond into allowing him to record. Dylan wasn't old enough to sign the contracts, so he convinced Hammond that he was a homeless orphan to get around having his parents sign the contract.
Bob Dylan has always done whatever he wanted. He doesn't seem to care what the fans, critics, or friends say; even to this day. If you've ever seen him live, he constantly switches lyrics, tempos, and entire tunes. Maybe to entertain himself, maybe to screw with everyone trying to sing along...it works. Perhaps the most prolific punk-like example of doing whatever he wants was the Newport Folk Festival. On July 25th, 1965, Bob Dylan and friends arrived at the Newport Folk Festival. Unbeknownst to any involved (promoters included), it would be a show to remember. Dylan had played the festival a few years previously, but this time would be different. As folk festivals went in those days: acoustic guitar and maybe some other acoustic instruments. But Dylan set up with his electric guitar and electric band. Fans were shocked and appalled; booing him to the point that he almost couldn't be heard over the sounds of their displeasure. But did he care? Doesn't seem like it!
In the mid 60's Dylan paid a visit to Andy Warhol's factory, but things didn't go well between the two famous personalities. Dylan reportedly got angry, stole one of Warhol's paintings and stomped out the door. Allegedly he hung the painting upside down at his house and would throw darts at it from time to time. Not sure about the darts, but the rest of the story has been confirmed.
Dylan's punk edge can be best observed through his continual creation of political and
anti-establishment songs. With songs like: Blowin' in the wind, Oxford Town, A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall, The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll, With God on Our Side, Chimes of Freedom, Maggie's Farm, Hurricane, The Times They Are a-Changin', Masters of War, etc. it's easy to see his disdain for politicians, authority, and corruption. If you don't know the song/story behind "Hurricane", well here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FOlV1EYxmg
One could argue that Dylan set the precedent by writing and recording materials to benefit someone believed to be unlawfully imprisoned. In the early 2000's punk rockers Henry Rollins, Keith Morris, Iggy Pop, Tim Armstrong, etc. took a note out of Dylan's book and banded together to create a benefit album for the West Memphis Three, a group of young men "wrongfully" accused of murder.
Whether you classify Bob Dylan a folk, pop, or other type of musician, he has always gone about his life with a punk attitude. Though you'll likely never see him playing high speed distorted guitar, screaming in a mic, a"Stick it to the man, I'll do what I want" mindset seems to have always propelled him through the decades.
Bob Dylan dropped out during his first year of college and conned record producer John Hammond into allowing him to record. Dylan wasn't old enough to sign the contracts, so he convinced Hammond that he was a homeless orphan to get around having his parents sign the contract.
Bob Dylan has always done whatever he wanted. He doesn't seem to care what the fans, critics, or friends say; even to this day. If you've ever seen him live, he constantly switches lyrics, tempos, and entire tunes. Maybe to entertain himself, maybe to screw with everyone trying to sing along...it works. Perhaps the most prolific punk-like example of doing whatever he wants was the Newport Folk Festival. On July 25th, 1965, Bob Dylan and friends arrived at the Newport Folk Festival. Unbeknownst to any involved (promoters included), it would be a show to remember. Dylan had played the festival a few years previously, but this time would be different. As folk festivals went in those days: acoustic guitar and maybe some other acoustic instruments. But Dylan set up with his electric guitar and electric band. Fans were shocked and appalled; booing him to the point that he almost couldn't be heard over the sounds of their displeasure. But did he care? Doesn't seem like it!
In the mid 60's Dylan paid a visit to Andy Warhol's factory, but things didn't go well between the two famous personalities. Dylan reportedly got angry, stole one of Warhol's paintings and stomped out the door. Allegedly he hung the painting upside down at his house and would throw darts at it from time to time. Not sure about the darts, but the rest of the story has been confirmed.
Dylan's punk edge can be best observed through his continual creation of political and
anti-establishment songs. With songs like: Blowin' in the wind, Oxford Town, A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall, The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll, With God on Our Side, Chimes of Freedom, Maggie's Farm, Hurricane, The Times They Are a-Changin', Masters of War, etc. it's easy to see his disdain for politicians, authority, and corruption. If you don't know the song/story behind "Hurricane", well here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FOlV1EYxmg
One could argue that Dylan set the precedent by writing and recording materials to benefit someone believed to be unlawfully imprisoned. In the early 2000's punk rockers Henry Rollins, Keith Morris, Iggy Pop, Tim Armstrong, etc. took a note out of Dylan's book and banded together to create a benefit album for the West Memphis Three, a group of young men "wrongfully" accused of murder.
Whether you classify Bob Dylan a folk, pop, or other type of musician, he has always gone about his life with a punk attitude. Though you'll likely never see him playing high speed distorted guitar, screaming in a mic, a"Stick it to the man, I'll do what I want" mindset seems to have always propelled him through the decades.
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