It sounds as though he was last here in 1947.

Where's my medal Bob?

Sorry if someone already posted it--I must've missed that.

Damn, I didn't see Rich's comment.

Let me say first that I am a fan of Bob Dylan's music. but...


Why does everyone think this fake cowboy likes Duluth? He played here once in the last 25 years and there is adulation deserving of someone that actually gives a shit. He always talks shit about the northland saying that it is backwater and boring. Can someone write this bastard a letter and stop being a dick instead of erecting false impressions of him.

I know he's been here a couple of times, I saw the show in '99 even.  But still, I agree with Rich.  Classic baby boomer, stuck in the 1950s.  Their calcified formative memories don't go much past the Johnson administration and I guess Bob isn't any different.

Can't believe he actually did an interview, though.  The armory folks must be beside themselves.

I remember seeing Bob Dylan a couple of times when I was a young teen (early 70s). He'd stop in Duluth on his way to visit relatives in Hibbing. It was mostly errand kind of stuff- popping into the bank, stopping at the old Snyder Drug on Superior street. Most people have a certain view of the place where they grew up and couldn't wait to leave. Picasso said no one in Spain would take him seriously as an artist, so he had to go to Paris. Jesus even said that no one believes the prophet in his home town. You gotta remember that a lot of people HATED the lanky kid with the nasal voice- until he moved away and got famous. (There are still plenty of haters here behind the taconite curtain, but maybe not as many).

It wouldn't let me attribute it to Tim K, but here it is. (Should be up in a day or two.)

Fond insults wrapped in poetry...He obviously has complicated feelings about Duluth.

I can not say what the man means but I would venture to say the he is touched by Duluth's natural glory and that even he has been changed by this place forever; as we all have had our molecules rearainged through Gichi Gami's water and been inspired by its presence.


Peace

I don't get what people object to in that comment, or what they think is no longer true, or the mentality that so often insults him for daring to think there's more to the world than the local area. Damp, cold, wind, hills, waterfront, grain elevators, train yards, view from the road, old industrial appearance--yep, all still here. And though it has become a local tourist destination, I often wonder why it isn't more of a national one which may be what he meant.

Yeah, this is turning out to be another great discussion.

I think Bob is just great, btw. A la Nate, Todd, and even Not_hater.  But I appreciated very, very much Tim K's insights about "seeing Bob" around town and CathyP's thoughts on his ambivalence (although note to Tim K wasn't that "Snyder Drug" actually on 4th street, where the "new" Twins bar is now?  If it was, I love the image of Bob shuffling around in the hillside, much ado about nothing)

Funny thing from eco eco's note here is that while he/she nails it with the analysis of Duluth's panoramic view, all of that is indeed still here, but ... I find it noteworthy that our transportation and industrial infrastructure has essentially been in a free fall since he left and what is left is more an homage to the past, than the reality of the present.  Also, a lot of what has "replaced" those jobs has been wait for it ... tourism.  

So that's another 2 cents from me.  And this is just another great example of a great PDD discussion.  

Love,

Wild Goose

I love this quote, and don't understand the negative reaction from some of the first comments. I think it's impressive coming from a fella who has seen every town on earth. This one has obviously stuck with him. I'd also like to note that he's not being judgemental, just describing what he sees. Everybody sees what they want to in a town.

Somewhat related-- anybody know where to find photos of the Cash/Young concert? That felt like a small piece of the kind of magic Bob's help inspire. Nice job all.

The other day I listened to Dylan's 2001 album "Love and Theft", starting on track 2, and it sounded oh so good.  That album is underrated.  I had to turn the bass down a little bit in the car though.

I may be mistaken but I believe it was the Average Guys on Pact Tv were discussing Dylan, the Rolling Stone article, and how great it would be if he would stop at Wade Stadium this summer while touring the smaller baseball stadiums.