BD Geocoin

(English)


My goal is to visit the 'NM Music: Bob Dylan' Geocache in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA.

On my journey I would like to visit cities and maybe concert halls I have played at, all over the world.
I would be happy to meet some Bobcats on the way. Though I normally refuse pictures, please post some at places connected with me or with your Dylan memorabilia (could be a CD or a whole Dylan-collection). And if you find out, post a year and concert hall that I've played at in the cache's city, or else your favourite Dylan song or anything Bob-related.

Don't you dare miss it! ;)





(German)

Mein Ziel ist der 'NM Music: Bob Dylan' Geocache in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA.

Auf meiner Reise würde ich gerne Städte und evtl. Konzerthallen besuchen, in welchen ich überall auf der Welt gespielt habe.
Ich würde mich sehr freuen, einige Bobcats auf meinem Weg anzutreffen. Obwohl ich normalerweise bilderscheu bin, poste bitte ein paar an Orten, die mit mir in Verbindung stehen, oder zusammen mit Deiner Dylan-Sammlung (das könnte eine CD oder eine ganze Dylan-Kollektion sein). Und falls Du es herausfindest, publiziere in welchem Jahr und welcher Konzerthalle ich in der Stadt des Caches schon gespielt habe. Oder nenne Deinen Lieblings-Dylan-Song oder irgendetwas in Bezug auf Bob.

Don't you dare miss it! ;)


 

On May 24^th, 2011 Bob Dylan celebrates his 70th birthday.

Born as Robert Allen Zimmerman in Duluth, Minnesota, his family moved to Hibbing, Minnesota, when he was six years old. There he grew up before he went out into the world. Bob Dylan’s life consists of many periods, experiences and artistic works that taken alone from each other could fill a whole life-time:
 

     The Folk Period: Fifty years ago, in 1961, Bob Dylan first arrived in New York City, where he soon made a name of himself in the local Folk Scene. His first album was released only one year later, containing folk traditionals and his first two original songs. It soon became a time of very productive songwriting for Dylan and more albums with only self-written songs followed. Some famous songs of this period are “Blowing in the Wind”, “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’”. Joan Baez introduced him to a wider audience and they performed, for instance, at the "Newport Folk Festival" and at the “Great March on Washington” where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Dylan’s publicity grew very fast and he toured the world.

The Electric Period: In 1965 Bob Dylan went electric to the displeasure of many of his fans. In 1966 he played shows, e.g. in Europe, half solo acoustic, half electric (backed up by musicians later known as “The Band”). At the electric half he got “boo”s and was even called “Judas!”. He was received controversial among his fans, but clung to the Rock music at the time. Three notably albums in a row sprung from this time: “Bringing It All Back Home”, “Highway 61 Revisited” (probably his most essential album with the greatest song of all times according to the Rolling Stone Magazine (2007), namely “Like A Rolling Stone”) and “Blonde On Blonde”.

Big Pink at Woodstock and the Country Period: Exhausted from touring and officially giving a motorcycle accident as reason, Dylan withdrew from public in 1966 and dedicated himself to family life at his house in Woodstock. He would not tour for eight years to come. Just for fun Dylan recorded basement tapes with “The Band” at their “Big Pink” house (also in Woodstock). Two regular albums followed, whereas “John Wesley Harding” (1967) contained “All Along The Watchtower” (made famous by Jimi Hendrix’s cover version) and “Nashville Skyline” (1969) was a trip to Country Music containing a duet with Johnny Cash. Dylan’s settlement at Woodstock was one reason for putting the famous Woodstock Festival (1969) in this area, but Dylan refused to play there.


Rolling Thunder Revue: After touring again in 1974 with “The Band”, the following year began another mentionable chapter: The Rolling Thunder Revue. Dylan set up a big show with musician colleagues (Joan Baez, T-Bone Burnett, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Joni Mitchell, Roger McGuinn, …). They played two tour-legs with an impressive sound and a lot of white paint in the musicians’ faces. Dylan interpreted his songs once again in a different way (as he would do his whole career).

The Gospel Period: In the early 80s the Jewish-born Dylan became a born-again Christian. This was reflected in his music as well. After recording two religious albums and touring by singing his Gospels, he released some more albums till the end of the 80s, including a few rather weak ones.
 

The Current Period: In the 90s Dylan recorded two cover albums (et al.) and had an MTV Unplugged appearance. In the 00s Bob Dylan wrote and sang the title song “Things Have Changed” of the movie “Wonder Boys” and received an Academy Award for it. Beginning in 2006 he hosted a radio show (“Theme Time Radio Hour”) for three seasons, presenting songs by different musicians (often from his youth) to a special theme in each show. His latest regular album “Together Through Life” was released in 2009 and in the same year the Christmas Album “Christmas In The Heart” for charity.

 
The Neverending Tour: In 1988 the first concert of the so-called "Neverending Tour" is dated. It is the unofficial name of his constantly touring all over the world till today. The touring is not for any promotional reasons, but has become a part of Dylan's life (or probably a drug?). Though being 70 years old, he still plays about a hundred concerts a year (!), whereas he hardly speaks to the audience, but just plays and sings having fun with his band for two hours.