Guardian/Observer staff photographer Sarah Lee first watched Dont Look Back whilst perched on a crowded bed in a Camden flat with a struggling rock combo called Coldplay. As sheâs now a BAFTA photographer, Sarah checks plenty of other names in
Rebecca Slaman, writer and social media guru, is a fan of Bob Dylanâs âperfect random meme humour.â Twitter? âGirls lust after him! But Iâve seen some pretty egregious stuff. Old people donât understand the platform.â Dylanâs 1987 film Hearts o
In the 61st year of her singing career, five-time Grammy nominee Bettye LaVette warns us that our chat will be âstraight, no chaserâ. And she lives up to that promise. Bettye describes her surprise backstage meeting with Bob Dylan: âHe kissed m
Like his main man Bob Dylan, comedian Simon Munnery knows a few things about heckles: aside from being arrested in Edinburgh for heckling Arthur Smith, he met his future wife when she heckled him in Australia. When not on the road, Simon joins
Journalist Helen Barrett was lullabied to sleep as her mother sang Mr. Tambourine Man; she had it played at her motherâs funeral (âthe Dylan version, not the Byrds coverâ). To top it off, Baby, Stop Crying was the soundtrack to her Dylan-loving
Michael Bonner, editor of music magazine Uncut, takes on Dylanâs 2022 UK concerts, as well as The Philosophy of Modern Song (âDylan mimicking the critical noise around Dylanâ). Other topics include an in-depth dissection of Key West (âambient,
Comedian and columnist Stewart Lee remains âgrateful to the people who brainwashed me into listening to Bob Dylan during a period of emotional and physical weakness.â He remembers seeing Dylan live at Hyde Park with his kids (âone of the greate
Writer Matt Rowland Hill is well placed to comment on Dylanâs âProperty of Jesusâ years: âthe kind of fire-and-brimstone Christianity that I grew up with was exactly the kind that Dylan converted into. He was ripe to be capturedâ. At the age of
Jeff Hanna, founder member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, is a team player. He has played with Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Jackson Browne, John Prine, Levon Helm, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Rosanne Cash, Linda Ronstadt and Mat
Australian singer/songwriter Emma Swift's highly acclaimed Blonde On The Tracks album, with guitar backing by life partner (and former podcast guest) Robyn Hitchcock, was her breakthrough recording. Emma swears that "singing Dylan's songs is li
Prize-winning poet and playwright Caroline Bird reminds us that âweâre all poets when weâre asleep. Writing is trying to find a way to dream while weâre awakeâ. On Bob Dylan: âYou always hear him choosing the dark side of the roadâ; âWhat I lov
Patti Smith Group guitarist and author Lenny Kaye reminds us that âBob Dylan is still experimenting, seeing who he might be, putting on the weirdest shows ever, upending barriersâ. Almost in one breath, Lenny gives forth on working with or list
Film director/screenwriter Justin Trefgarne talks about Dylan, but also about fathers, sons, archetypes and coincidence. âBob has been the guardian angel and surrogate father for my entire adult existence,â he tells us. From his first encounter
Singer/Songwriter/Actor John Doe tells terrific tales: hanging with Dennis Quaid and Winona Ryder in Memphis, gigging with Nick Lowe in London and hearing his voice come out of Christian Baleâs mouth in Todd Haynesâs Dylan biopic Iâm Not There.
Belfastâs Steven Cockcroft (co-host of leading Beatles podcast Nothing Is Real) offers unexpected takes on The Boys and Bob: âRoll On John isnât about an individual, itâs about the sanctification of Lennonâ and âThe Travelling Wilburys was a ca
Our special culinary episode with critic Eric Asimov includes the story of long-time Dylan bass player Tony Garnierâs delicious Christmas gumbo and Dylanâs wine-making venture, Planet Waves (âthe wine has aged better than the albumâ). A fan sin
Singer, songwriter and saxophonist Curtis Stigers tells us true stories with a cast of characters including Van Morrison, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan. A fan from way back (âBob is the perfect creation. Heâs an art form in himselfâ), his jazzy co
Comic actor Thom Tuck discovered Bob Dylan when, growing up in Bangladesh, he caught the promo for Subterranean Homesick Blues on MTV Rewind. His family eventually returned to Leeds, where his outsider status was made even worse/better by his o
Fellow podcaster Laura Tenschertâs Definitely Dylan contains multitudes of theories and insights which she shares in this eye-opening episode. German-born Laura learned English by listening to Bob, which gave her sharper ears than most. Dozens
Writer and musician Richard Strange insists âIf you donât want to be Bob Dylan, you shouldnât be writing songsâ. He takes us on a journey that starts in his Brixton comprehensive (âI was always bunking off, going to art galleries and the haunte
Author, editor and podcaster Andy Miller is mad as hell and heâs not going to take it anymore: âBob Dylan is not a safe option!â âThe heritage industry around the Beatles and Dylan is neutering the anarchy of the music. The world sees me as jus
Music journalist Kate French-Morris found her calling in a University of California class taught by Greil Marcus (âhe gets closer to Bobâs mind than anyone can, with his sideways thinking and his cattinessâ). Kate shares a birthday with Dylan,
While held captive for 32 months by Somali pirates, writer and Dylan fan Michael Scott Moore had plenty of opportunity to contemplate lyrics, especially All Along The Watchtower. He was given a Bible during his captivity and discovered, in Isai
Comedy writer Daniel Radosh initiated the Twitter hashtag #BD969, celebrating every officially released Dylan song, as well as posting four playlists for The 80th Birthday: Bob Dylan For Beginners. We discuss these gems and open up the contenti
Jonathan Taplin, former road manager for The Band, has done it all. He set up the equipment for Dylanâs electric set at Newport in â65 (âthe soundcheck lasted ten minutesâ) and was production manager for Dylan and The Band at the Guthrie Tribut