Q&A: Bob Dylan

Have you ever hung with Little Richard?
Yeah!

What was that like? Did you tell him that in your high school yearbook you wrote your ambition was to be in his band?
He's a fantastic person. Very exciting guy to be around, as you can imagine. I don't think I told him about the yearbook — I don't think I needed to. He knows I've been a fan of his from way back.

In the book you don't talk too much about playing harp. What harmonica performances of your own are you most proud of?
A lot of them, really. I don't know if proud is the word.... I play the harmonica like I play the piano. I don't really need to listen to what I'm playing. Of course, I can tell if I'm playing it wrong, when it's not going to appeal to anybody. It might on a technological level, but it won't on a gut level. If I put it into the beat, right on the one or the three, that's really basically all I have to do to get the point across. It will form a melodic structure on its own. Someone can always play it better, but you've heard a lot of great musicians where it sounds great at the time, but you forget about it two minutes later. I stay away from that showoff thing.

This is how I see it: You fly to Italy, hang out with beautiful women, make a little scratch and next thing you're in a Victoria's Secret commercial.
Yeah. Was I not supposed to do that?

I enjoyed it.
I wish I would have seen it. Maybe I'd have something to say about it. I don't see that kind of stuff. That's all for other people to see and make up what they will.

Why do you leave your Oscar on your guitar amp?
I think it's welded to it now. The guys who work with me backstage are so thrilled about seeing it that they keep putting it up there.

What's the last song you'd like to hear before you die?
How 'bout "Rock of Ages"?

I heard you've written songs for a new album.
I have a bunch of them. I do.

When will you crank 'em out?
Maybe in the beginning of the year. I'm not sure where and when.

Can you tell me about them?
No, I couldn't explain them to you. After you listen to them, call me back. It's difficult to paraphrase them or tell you what kind of style they're in. You won't be surprised.

Why not?
The musical structure you're used to hearing — it might be rearranged a bit. The songs themselves will speak to you.

I saw you play at the Newport Folk Festival a couple of years ago. What was up with the wig and fake beard?
Is that me who you saw up there?

[From Issue 963 — December 9, 2004]