Dylan Speaks: The Legendary 1965 Press Conference in San Francisco (2006)

1965 was a pivotal year in Bob Dylan's career. In the early part of the year he released "Bringing It All Back Home" following it up with "Highway 61 Revisited." His appearance at the Newport Folk Festival saw him use an electric guitar on stage a move that saw him booed by much of the audience. Against this background Dylan went into the studios of TV station KQED in San Francisco for a broadcast press conference hosted by Ralph J. Gleason his only one from this era to be filmed.System Requirements:Running Time: 50 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: MUSIC DVD/CONCERTS Rating: NR UPC: 801213507290 Manufacturer No: EM35072-9 Product Description

Fun.

What you get here is an hour of Bob Dylan answering questions. Is it worth ten bucks? Oh, you betcha.

I don't think a single Dylan documentary exists that doesn't pull footage from this particular press conference. During this period, he was young, feisty, enigmatic, charming, cocky and brilliant. Not much has changed over the years (save the young part), but this is a period in history where Bob couldn't escape the hounding press and actually seemed to be having a bit of fun with the whole thing. Clearly annoyed of answering the same types of questions over and over again, you get an hour's worth of Bob entertaining himself at the expense of the naive newsreporters (not much has changed in that regard either!).

Sarcasm and oddness abound, but legitimate questions are answered with respect. Whatever they gave, he gave back. Gotta love Bob for the whole, you know, human factor thing. May 12, 2008

NOT "for Dylan fans only" --

For those not in existence at the time, here's an opportunity to see that we, as fans of the era, didn't know: that Dylan, The Beatles, and everyone else who was a famous performer at the time, was constantly asked the same questions, over and over and over again, by "reporters" who didn't read the prior several newspaper articles, or interviews, and thereby learn the questions had been asked, and answered, one or more dozen times, during one or more dozen prior press conferences. Thus we were treated to baffling, and often apparently serious, "intellectual," "philosophical" -- weighty -- responses to the questions from the performers. What did the always-serious Dylan "mean," when asked if he thought of hismelf as a protest signer or a rock 'n roll singer, when he responded, "I think of myself as a song-and-dance-man"?

Though occasionally thoughtdul," "intelligent," "philosophical" or like responses happened, and one hears it here when Dylan attempts to get across what he is about -- an entertainer; a musician and songwriter -- much of the "controversey" and, with The Beatles and Dylan especially, hilarity and absurity was simply a way to deal with the boredom inherent in confronting the same questions, over and over and over again, from "reporters" who hadn't done their homework. So in an interview, as example, The Beatles are asked, for the umpteenth time, "Why Beatles," to which McCartney gives a slight shrug of a shoulder and says, matter-of-factly, "We could have called ourselves "The Shoes." And he glances at John, who glances back -- seriously -- and says, "Yes, we could have been called "The Shoes". And then there is a signalling of agreement among the four that this was a real, serious possibility that they hadn't thought of.

At the time, we fans thought they were intelligent, creative, clever, witty -- and hilarious; and they were those things. We did not know that mostly they were having fun in effort to deal with the boredom. Thus much of the heavy intellectual analysis of the "hidden" and "philosophical" meanings" of their responses which came out of that was based upon ignorance of that simple fact: that they were finding ways not to be bored with questions they were by then fed up with being asked, and yet having to answer yet again. Thus things were out-of-control, and got more and more out-of-control, as Dylan and The Beatles made such mode of responsiveness the norm for at least themselves (few others could pull it off).

And out of that came the search for "hidden clues" in Dylan's and The Beatles' music, and from there the "Paul is Dead" hoax, and so on.

However, such interviews are well worth watching for the fun, the intelligence, the wit, the effort, which could only have got more and more difficult with the passage of time, to remain patient and be polite, even while pulling the "reporters'" (and readers'/viewers') legs. And for the appalling lack of research effort by the so-called professional "journalists" of the day. A classic instance is that of the "Time" reporter who had the gall to ask Dylan (in England), "Do you believe in what you write?" and the "reporter's" response to Dylan, who furiously goes off on him, that he's only doing his job. That, in short, he knew nothing about Dylan; he was simply assigned by "Time"'s editors to show up at the press conference and try to get an "interview". So, the dumb questions, already answered countless times -- and a question which was a direct insult, And the next day the "reporter"'s assignment is to get a comment from some public figure in some entirely different field of endeavor on some "important" event of the day, again without bothering to do research in advance.

So such "events" were viewed as constentious (they sometimes were) andd "controversial" simply becaue we didn't know what was actually happening. And this is a lcassic of the "form," in which Dylan is "combative" and "non-responsive," as he was described then when he gave the sorts of responses he gave. And yet one sees him attempt not to insult, or hurt the feelings of, the girl who asked the dumb question she got "from a movie magazine".

Alas, the only thing different today is that the performers/entertainers have no wit, nothing interesting to say, even if only as "send up". Instead we get the inane, the unintelligent, and the outright grunt-level rude.
April 12, 2008

dylan speaks is AWESOME!

IF you are a Bob Dylan fan, then this is a must see!!! I have read MANY of his books so I was aware of several topics that were addressed. But, if you would like to see Bob as a vulnerable young star in all his glory, you will truely enjoy this candid interview - his only public address - He is only 21 yrs old here and spectacular. It may not be for a casual fan; this if for a true "die hard"! Enjoy! February 8, 2008

A Great Time Capsule of Both the Era and Bob

It's impossible to watch this gorgeous print and not be charmed by Dylan's humor and (obvious?) nervousness at having to perform in front of a crowd that ranges from the weirdly obsessive to the completely clueless. While Dylan the singer has been documented on tape and film more than any other artist in rock history, this very unusual public appearance shows a side of Dylan that has rarely been seen over the 45 years of his fame. Sure he blows a good bit of smoke, and yet between the quips he takes the time to answer some questions seriously (particularly those from Ralph Gleason). It's such a treasure to have, and belongs in the collection of any remotely serious Dylan fan. January 22, 2008

nice interview, lil pricey

great piece of history and a must for dylan enthusiasts. others can stay away. not meaty enough for the price. August 14, 2007

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