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Welcome to my site about the legendary Bob Dylan, this is my homage to the man that has without doubt become the seminal influence upon music, art and society generally for the past 40 years. Both directly and indirectly Bob Dylan has left his influence upon the 'movers and shakers' in music and art.

In the 1960's "Dylan burst on the scene", Joan Baez said "already a legend"! His influence quickly spread to the far corners of the music world, originally inside the 'hip' world of Greenwich Village's folk fraternity, pretty soon this young 'vagabond' was captivating all of the song writing and poetry elite, soon being courted particularly by the likes of John Lennon and George Harrison of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, other British R&B bands like the Animals and Manfred Mann, US groups such as the Byrds and Ronnie Hawkins band, the Hawks, later to become Dylan's 'The Band' as well as noted poets such as Allen Ginsberg and the great Leonard Cohen.

A prolific whirlwind period in the mid/late 60's produced the most impact ful  works to that point, including the UK's longest single release with 'Like a Rolling Stone'.

Dylan left the spotlight of the world after that, possibly to save his own life, he re emerged some years later with a family behind him and a different take on the world, gone was the firebrand approach and the acid retorts, behind were the controversies of protest and 'going electric', now there was a more worldly Dylan. A man who chose to re surface in the benefit concert for the starving in Bangladesh, at Madison Square Garden, organised by his close friend George Harrison. Soon after that Dylan, proving his legendary skill of staying one step ahead, shunned the massive gathering arranged virtually on his doorstep to attempt to entice him to headline the bill, 'Woodstock' went without him - instead he topped the bill in front of half a million visitors to the Isle Of White Festival. The man was back, creative and innovative and driving in yet another direction - would the fans ever catch up?

The next prolific episode in the Dylan saga and in many ways as dynamic as anything previously attempted, was The Rolling Thunder Revue, this concept was vigorous and fresh, reflecting the mans desire to take his art to the audience in a free and fluid a manner as possible. On the back of two excellent albums, 'Blood on the Tracks' and 'Desire', Dylan rolled out the Thunder across the U.S and Canada in the late 70's, using the skills of an ultimate band of troubadours, whose numbers included, Roger McGuinn, Joan Baez, Ronee Blakely, Mick Ronson, Joni Mitchell, T Bone Burnett ,David Blue,Scarlet Rivera and old friend Bob Neuwirth and a whole bunch of invited guests, the impact was astonishing, raw power and vibrant interpretation, night after night, a real circus. Even more astounding is that Dylan chose at the same time to create a fresh approach to film-making by utilising the cast and others in the movie 'Renaldo and Clara'.

The 80's saw another shift on the axis - religious conversion - Robert Zimmerman the Jew from Minnesota became a 'Born Again Christian', the resulting albums and tours alienated yet more of the fan base, however much of the work of that time/experience is proving to be resilient and is standing the test of time.

Rolling into the 1990's the most surprising thing was to turn out to be the sheer number of Bob's performances, in what was coined the 'Never Ending Tour'. The NET is still the name associated with the high number of concerts delivered by Dylan each year in the US, Europe and the rest of the World.

Now regarded as a master statesman, Dylan has met with Presidents and The Pope, he has awards galore for his work. The recent 'Oscar' for his contribution to the Michael Douglas (a fan) movie, directed by Curtis Hanson (another fan) - 'The Wonderboys'.

Oh and lets all watch out for the next Dylan impact, the movie 'Masked and Anonymous', Dylan plays lead alongside Jessica Lange, Penelope Cruz, John Goodman, Geoff Bridges, Val Kilmer and Ed Harris.

Bob Dylan & Me

My first awareness of Bob Dylan has stayed with me from that time, like a lot of the 'old guard', I remember when……………………

This was not Elvis Presley, this was not Little Richard, although I vividly remember later finding out about their influence upon Dylan, I loved Elvis, The Beatles ruled the world, in a way they still do! But in the early 60's before the age of technology and information, we pieced together what we could, the occasional TV appearance, buying singles, eagerly awaiting the next album, sure to wear the needle through the vinyl. Oh to have seen him, to be just aware of what he was creating, how he influenced the Beatles, Donovan, The Animals, and so, so many others.

My appreciation for the man has always been that of a traditional fan, sometimes critical of the latest offering, but always quietly and with respect, considering that I just cant know why, so that's enough. Finding the mirrors and the patterns in what Bob has already documented being reflected in my own life. Here in England, finding still the warmest of comforts from the oldest of his creations, enjoying honestly the myriad of twists and interpretations projected in his deliveries of old classics and new works alike.

Feeling irrevocably connected to a man that I have never met and yet consider it to be so vital a part of my life, I can't thank you enough Bob Dylan, this is my site about you, inspired by your effect upon my life

Brian West

These artists are no strangers to Dylan's work

U2, Johnny Cash, Patti Smith, Elvis Costello, Lenny Cravitz, The Pogues, Cat Power, Willie Nelson, Dave Stewart, Tom Petty, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Chrissie Hynde, Carol King, Ani Difranco, Fiona Apple, Sting, Joni Mitchell, Mark Knopfler, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Ferry, Warren Zevon, Counting Crows, Ryan Adams, The Wallflowers, Roberta Flack, Nick Cave,  Donovan, Jeff Lynn, Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris, Jewel, Garth Brooks, Gabrielle, Smokey Robinson, Gordon Lightfoot, The Grateful Dead, Marianne Faithfull, Hootie & The Blowfish, Steve Earle, Lou Reed, Indigo Girls, Beck, Joan Armatrading, Judy Collins, Lisa Loeb, David Crosby, Natalie Merchant, Neil Young, 'Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Ron Wood, Sheryl Crow, Sinead O'Connor, The Waterboys

My work is done mainly in oil paint or acrylics, I receive orders for original works or signed limited edition prints, memorabilia of performers from the 60's is ever popular, Bob Dylan is one of the few true stars  vigorously active today and yet is also in the category of legendary performers from earlier decades - both past and present.

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