FOREVER DYLAN

 

The inimitable Bob Dylan keeps rolling, 50 years after he emerged on the early ’60s folk scene.
While most artists tour when they have a new release, the 71-year-old singer-guitarist does the opposite, touring constantly while occasionally stopping to put out a new album. In fact, that’s where Dylan is at now with his 35th studio album, “Tempest,” due out next month.
You can see the Rock Hall inductee and recent Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Tuesday at the Covelli Centre. The downtown arena this week announced that tickets at all price levels still are available, and tickets at new price-levels have been released, including some for $25.
Considering the reclusive artist doesn’t do much press, here are 10 things that you might not know about Dylan.
• Dylan grew up in Minnesota, where his dad owned a furniture store. He graduated from Hibbing High School in 1959.
• Raised Jewish, Dylan turned to Christianity in the ’70s before returning to Judaism in the ’90s.
• Early in his career Dylan, real name Robert Zimmerman, went by the stage name Elston Gunn.
• At the height of his success in 1966, Dylan was in a horrific motorcycle accident that kept him off the road and out of the studio for three years before he returned healthy.
• Woodstock officials offered Dylan a headlining spot at the legendary musical festival. He turned them down, with the slot going to Jimi Hendrix. Ironically, Dylan at the time lived in Upstate New York — in Woodstock.
• In the late ’80s, Dylan joined The Traveling Wilburys with George Harrison, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne.
• Rolling Stone magazine readers voted Dylan the second Greatest Rock ’n’ Roll Artist of All Time, behind The Beatles.
• Rolling Stone also put Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” at No. 1 on its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Other songs of his ranked as followed: “Blowin’ in the Wind” (No. 14), “The Times Are A-Changin’” (No. 59), “Tangled Up In Blue” (No. 68), “Mr. Tambourine Man” (No. 106), “Desolation Row” (No. 185) and “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” (No. 190).
• Dylan has five biological children, one adopted child and 11 grandchildren.
• His soon-to-be-released new album, “Tempest,” includes the 14-minute title track about the sinking of the Titanic. More so, the sly Dylan adds references to the 1997 blockbuster film.

By John Benson entertainment@vindy.com

Source: http://www.vindy.com