"... located on the promontory of Point Dume, Malibu, a 'no trespassing' sign hanging across the narrow driveway of his property. Who he lives with is, like the rest of his life, a mystery, but his grandchildren are regular visitors. His neighbours are careful to maintain his privacy too. 'It’s a big honour to have such a beautiful artist as your neighbour,' says Veronica Brady, an award-winning documentary-maker. 'He lives in a very secluded area and everyone respects his privacy. But it’s exciting to have the sight and sound of him around us.' Even if that sound might include his welding workshop. In 2013 Dylan... exhibited his collection of metal gates.... 'Gates appeal to me because of the negative space they allow,' he said in the brochure. 'They can shut you out or shut you in. And in some ways there is no difference.'"
From
"At 83, what drives Bob Dylan? We ask the people who know him best/The most enigmatic man in music is on a gruelling tour — and even sharing restaurant tips on social media" (London Times).
To me, Bob Dylan has made his private life seem completely uninteresting and beside the point. I like that. Go in through the music.
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They say, "The wife got the husband drunk"
But I don't know I wasn't there, I was visiting a friend in jail
They sang "Danny Boy" at the funeral, and the Lord's Prayer
Preacher talking 'bout Christ betrayal
It's like the Earth just opened and swallowed him up
That he reached too high, tumbled back to the ground
You know what they say about being nice to the right people on the way up
Sooner or later, you gonna meet them coming down
Dylan will some day just show up at Picnic Point, at sunrise, singing. It’s a lock.
London Times maneuvers to invade his privacy through oblique angles.
"To me, Bob Dylan has made his private life seem completely uninteresting and beside the point. I like that. Go in through the music." ~ Althouse
Dylan is an entertainer and his style is part of his act: he tells stories and his persona supports his characteristics: what I notice is how consistently this persona reflects his imagination and how all his lyrics and his theme time radio hour analysis are devoted to authentic musical expression and appreciation for the life affirming and even life saving role of music. His humor is as inescapable as his self serious persona: and this irony, ironically, makes his self crafted persona the most authentic aspect of his genius. Bob is timeless: as much as he crafts his art, the art is always first and foremost identifiably Bob Dylan. And universal. His persona is a solid one.
He eats when he’s hungry, drinks when he’s dry, and lives his life on the square — even if the flesh falls off his face he knows someone will be there to care.
Most 80 y/o's have a boring life. At that age, waking up alive, getting out of bed, and going for a walk, is the Great Adventure. And I've never thought Bob Dylan, the man, was particularly interesting.
Its funny how all these Hollywood types are now living forever and being incredibly active in their old age. Quite a change from the early 60s when Gable, Cagney, Cooper, or Tracy were dying or going into retirement. Advance in medicine, I suppose. Plus, the decline in smoking and drinking.
Althouse in a comment from 11/3: Part of a relationship is mystery.
He's almost like an old-time troubadour, but more like a talkadour. With some quirky rhythmic musical accompaniment.
It is great that Dylan is such a mystery. My favorite picture of him is from the 70’s. He is in a drug store reading Baseball Weekly. It never occurred to me that he is a baseball fan.
'It’s a big honour to have such a beautiful artist as your neighbour,' says Veronica Brady, an award-winning documentary-maker.
I can see him now, taking out the garbage and walking the dog with the Nobel Prize on a chain around his neck.
When I was unemployed, I told people I was freelancing, but "award-winning documentary maker" works just as well.
He’s been riding the midnight train, got ice water in his veins.
Several years back, Dylan was walking somewhere in a town and the police noticed him and I forgot the whole circumstances, but they didn't know who is was and he was very polite and cooperative.
"Part of a relationship is mystery." That is why I never divulge where I keep the handcuff key(s).
Bob is the coolest.
I know they are only speculating on his primary residence but as not his tax and legal advisor I would suggest a different locale than California. Pretty much anywhere else, really…
Welding gates? I welded my own steel gate. It was a lot of work, but It's one of those things that gives you a quiet satisfaction every time you look at it. Like laying your own hardwood floors, and making them really tight. I don't know that I would want to do it again, though. Steel is fucking heavy. But I suppose Dylan has a forklift and some kind of crane. Probably has a pretty nice welder, too.
Welding is almost entirely positioning and grinding. You plan the work; you cut the pieces; you have to figure out how to get them to stay in position while you make the first welds. Then you lay down more metal. And then you grind away all the excess metal you laid down.
Probably a lot like song-writing.
When you're eighty three, it's hard to trash a hotel room or to generate an interesting scandal. I don't believe any of those rumors about him and Cardi B at that P. Diddy bash for his 80th birthday.
https://www.pinterest.com/castleandrew/ironwork-by-bob-dylan/
We went to his gates exhibition in London. It was wonderful. We actually went a few times, once my husband and I, and then again with each of our sons. He had painted some fake magazine covers, too. Very fun
"It never occurred to me that he is a baseball fan."
There's a whole episode of his Theme Time Radio on the theme of baseball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss9dKN5dmlE
“The Sixties… remember those days of Cream, Vanilla Fudge and the Strawberry Alarm Clock? Hi, everybody, this is Bob Dylan. My friends at RobCo Records have a six album collection of all the hits…”
Let's leave him alone and give him shelter from the storm.
As a lifetime baseball fan, I've listened to that episode several times. It's great.
I love that Dylan and I share that love of the game. It has a rhythm to it, and swings of momentum. Not surprising really that a songwriter would be attracted to that.
...his primary residence, a rocky estate... located on the promontory of Point Dume, Malibu , a 'no trespassing' sign hanging across the narrow driveway of his property.
"Oh my God... I'm back. I'm home.
All the time, it was... We finally really did it. YOU MANIACS! YOU BLEW IT UP! AH, DAMN YOU! GOD DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!!"
Eeeeeey-ahh. OK. The thing about welding is, welding is a process for taking valuable raw materials and turning them into useless junk. And it is a very efficient process. When you are learning to weld, which is basically when you are welding, you are always teetering on that edge. And yet, the ability to shape steel is a very powerful ability. Things made out of wood are nice, and it's fun to make things out of wood. But steel is an entirely different matter. Things made out of steel are harder and stronger than things made out of wood.
Of course, rust never sleeps.
Welding stainless takes it to another level.
Wait. You mean, they actually flew his fucking gates to Britain? Look, gates are OK. Nice, even. But .... flying them to Britain?
Except. In my experience, songs seldom go where you initially planned. And that's OK, it's a process of aggregation, or perhaps accumulation, followed by a process of removal. Welding is a lot less forgiving.
What would Woody Guthrie say about Dylan's putting up a No Trespassing sign?
“There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me.
The sign was painted, said ‘Private Property.’
But on the backside, it didn’t say nothing.
This land was made for you and me.”
Almost all I know of Dylan I've obtained from posts and comments on this blog. Thanks, Althouse, for fandom of someone more interesting than most others seem.
Rodin's Gates of Hell travel, too, to museums around the world. Gates are cool art.
He actually wrote a song about Catfish Hunter back in the 70s.
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