Saturday, August 15, 2009

By the time I get to Woodstock

OK, so Bob Dylan wasn't there. In fact I just read that he pulled out of his appearance at the legendary concert forty years ago because his son was sick. It was interesting that he was reportedly peeved because there were too many hippies showing up and the venue was very close to his home. Apparently this was more than he could bear.

Interestingly enough however, a somewhat timely piece from the local paper today tells a funny story of Mr. Dylan's encounter with the local police at the Jersey Shore. Neither of whom had a clue who he was.

SOUTH JERSEY — Rock legend Bob Dylan was treated like a complete unknown by police in a New Jersey shore community when a resident called to report someone wandering around the neighborhood. Dylan was in Long Branch, about a two-hour drive south of New York City (only if you are on a three legged horse and stuck in traffic) on July 23 as part of a tour with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp that was to play at a baseball stadium in nearby Lakewood.

A 24-year-old police officer apparently was unaware of who Dylan is and asked him for identification, Long Branch business administrator Howard Woolley said Friday.

"I don't think she was familiar with his entire body of work,'' Woolley said.

In defense of this young officer I would have to say that if I had occasion to encounter a more contemporary artist I would have been just as clueless. But for goodness sake, it was Bob Dylan. Though at this point Willie Nelson probably looks younger.

I am getting old. I don't like it. Damn kids.

The rest is at The Home News Tribune.

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