Bob Dylan
Date: Fri, 01 Dec 2000 13:16:05 -0800 From: Paul Myles-Kelly paulk@northeast-press.co.uk To: webmaster@expectingrain.com Subject: Dylan review Bob Dylan and the History of Rock'n' Roll - From Paul Myles-Kelly Customs House, South Shields. ALMOST 200 Bob Dylan fans were held spellbound by a two-hour illustrated talk by revered writer and critic Michael Gray. After tracing the early days of British rock'nā roll, Tommy Steele and bland UK versions of American pop classics, the author of the highly acclaimed Song & Dance Man lll ? The Art of Bob Dylan (Cassell) described how Elvis, Little Richard and Chuck Berry were a taste of the real thing in dull late 50s Britain. But it was the voice and radical attitude of Dylan in the early 60s which really fired the young Michael Gray's imagination. Playing recordings of Dylan singing All I Really Want To Do and Mr Tambourine Man to the hushed South Tyneside crowd, Gray said the most striking thing about the American singer-songwriter ? who is still performing dozens of shows a year at almost 60 - is that he made great art by breaking every rule in the musical book. Another treat was to see rare footage of Dylan live in 1966, at the height of his so-called electric phase, performing a thrilling version of Ballad of a Thin Man. Michael Gray received warm applause at the end of his fascinating lecture with sound and images and Customs House management should also be applauded for staging this gig with a difference. A repeat performance next year must surely be on the cards. Terry Kelly (Review appeared in Shields Gazette newspaper) Michael Gray:
|