He was/is a singer of folk, protest music, folk rock, soft rock, light metal and gospel.
Now, Bob Dylan is portrayed in a full-length movie, “A Complete Unknown.”
It will be shown starting Christmas Day at theaters across Alabama. Showings run through mid-January:
Mobile, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Birmingham, Alabaster, The Summit, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Trussville, Oxford, Prattville, Montgomery, Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Cullman, Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, Florence, Dothan.
Showtimes and tickets can be found online.
The film is classified as an American biographical musical drama. It is based on the 2015 book, Dylan Goes Electric! By Elijah Wald.
The star and co-producer of the movie is Timothee Chalamet.
The movie title, “A Complete Unknown” comes from the chorus lyrics of Dylan’s top-selling hit, “Like a Rolling Stone.”
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
The six-minute single (1965) was one of the longer hits to reach #1. It marked Dylan’s transition from acoustic folk to electric.
The movie length is also long – 141 minutes.
The movie plot follows Dylan from his 1961 move from Minnesota to New York to his 1965 controversial performance at the Newport Folk Festival, where his use of electric instruments was criticized.
Movie trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdV-Cs5o8mc
Dylan has been performing professionally since age 16.
His unique, sand-papery voice is instantly recognizable. He somewhat modeled his early style of singing after iconic folk singer Woodie Guthrie and country icon Hank Williams, Sr.
The names that Bob Dylan went by changed as many times as his genre of music: Shabtai Zisel ben Avraham (Hebrew name), Elston Gunnn, Blind Boy Grunt, Bob Landy, Robert Milkwood Thomas, Tedham Porterhouse, Lucky Wilbury, Boo Wilbury, Jack Frost, Sergie Petrov, Zimmy.
Dylan maintained a vigorous itinerary of touring before a 1966 motorcycle accident curtailed his travel. The touring cutback gave him more time for his other art form – painting and drawing.
“The times, they are a-changing.”
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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