Almost 50 years since rock music came of age, there exists just one performer, right there at the beginning, who remains as relevant, popular and iconic today. Who else from those heady days can still release new record after new record that routinely delight the fans, always enthuse the critics and sell by the bucket-load time and again? Bob Dylan is not just unique, he’s in a category of one.
This film traces the early career of Bob Dylan in a manner no other has ever attempted, Telling his tale from his birth in Duluth, Minnesota; through school and college; across his years as New York’s bright young star of that city’s then burgeoning folk revival, the story continues through to his electric phase, culminating with the controversial 1966 world tour which had the old guard up in flames and the new hip down with the groove.
Featuring interviews with a host of friends, colleagues and associates from that era [such as his high school English teacher, his best school buddy, guitarist from his high school Rock & Roll band, English folk legend Martin Carthy, drummer from the 1966 tour Mickey Jones, and numerous others], rare and often previously unseen footage, daring and outspoken contributions from the very finest Dylan writers [such as Derek Barker, CP Lee and Clinton Heylin] and a host of other features, this film is among the finest Bob Dylan documentaries yet to emerge.