Soul great Bettye LaVette has revealed the “contempt” she feels for “mother*cker” Bob Dylan.
The singer is enjoyed a late career resurgence, her bold, powerful voice undimmed by decades of experience. Signing to Jay-Vee, new album ‘LaVette!’ is a wonderful listen, matching a carefully selected guest cast – Steve Winwood, modern blues great John Mayer, amongst others – to some wonderfully raw vocals from the main figure.
Out now, Bettye LaVette took time out to chat to the Telegraph – and revealed her displeasure with rock’s foremost bard.
Back in 2018, Bettye LaVette recorded an album of Bob Dylan songs, titled ‘Things Have Changed’. The album was successful, but the American artist noted that Dylan himself remained suspiciously tight-lipped about the project.
In the interview, Bettye reveals that his failure to show support hurt her – leaving nothing but “contempt” for Dylan.
Labelling the songwriter a “motherf*cker”, she said he “never took the time to say how good it is. And when you’re as big as he is, that can make a huge difference to sales.”
The pair have actually met. A few years before this, the two crossed paths following a show in Spain; “he ran over to me. He put my face in his hands and kissed me square in the mouth.”
“I didn’t offer Bob Dylan a kiss and I’m not a f—ing fan. I was not looking to be kissed. If he thinks I’m good enough to put his mouth on then he should have opened it to say just one good word about my record.”
Find the interview in full on the Telegraph.
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