October 23, 2008

Bob Dylan Story

I was just visiting Jeff at Imagine Echoes and he has a review of the new DVD "Inside Bob Dylan’s Jesus Years: Busy Being Born…Again!".  It reminded me of a story from my own life.  I'll preface it with a quote from Jeff's blog:


"Inside Bob Dylan's Jesus Years is an in depth look at the evangelical Dylan era. There are many who probably never knew that Dylan went through this stage in his life which means that there are many who wouldn't have any reason to watch this film."
I'm not good with dates but I would guess this happened in very early 80's.  Here is the short version of this story that I may have told here already, if so, I apologize for repeating myself (they say the memories the first thing to go as we age...)

I was on the beach drinking beer with my boyfriend, Nuel.  We heard that Bob Dylan was going to be doing a free concert that evening not far from where we lived.  Nuel was ecstatic and said we were going but I didn't want to go because of the venue.  This "free concert" just happened to be at a huge church in Costa Mesa called Calvary Chapel. 

It was the height of Dylan's "Jesus Years" and I thought it would be very hypocritical of us to go see him for free at a church.  It seemed so wrong (now looking back, it doesn't seem wrong, just weird).  But Nuel insisted.  So we got in the car and drove down there.  I had my arms crossed over my chest and was not speaking to him the whole way there and refused to get out of the car.  After all, I was a woman of principal and I was not backing down.  PLUS we were both kind of drunk and I thoguht God would strike us dead if we stepped foot into His House while intoxicated. 

So I sat in the car and listened while Nuel sat in the church.  I eventually snuck up and looked in to at least SEE Bob.  So that was it.  Nuel eventually got bored because he was hoping for Bob's classic tunes but all he got was preaching and Christian songs.  Looking back the whole thing seems silly, especially the fact that we were drinking on the beach...

6 comments:

Paul Rhodes said...

great story, i think the best way to appreciate bob in this phase is to think of how great the born again areathat was, ie its gospel music, his sved album really is phenomenal gospel music, its an astounding album , a massie departure, as god as when he takes on country w/ nashville skyline; bob is a vulnerable man just like everyone, prone to over identify with jesus as with wody guthrie, prone to be vulnerable, which is afterall the great strength of his voice; long live bob i say, born again or not !

Seano said...

Layla, Check out Bob playing the recorder at the Chabat Telethon in LA in 1989.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZTJgJtFBrQ......fairly hilarious. great story.....seano

Bar L. said...

Paul, I agree - Long Live Bob! I love the man and have seen him only once, but it was perfect.

Seano, will check it out, thanks!!

Jeff said...

I would be so devestated if I went to see Dylan and all I got was gospel music. How big was the church? Was it a pretty intimate setting because at least that would make things a little better.

Anonymous said...

Although it's not my favorite incarnation of Dylan, he did some amazing gospel music. I can't wait to see him again when he comes back to Milwaukee in 13 days!

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

Cool story... I did a short review of Tell Tale Signs the 8th of the Bootleg Series on Wednesday and am featuring some incredible music by a woman named Etta Baker today. You NEED to come listen

next week is all new music tuneage to take our minds off the election for a spell

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