Legendary songwriter Bob Dylan has published a new segment of his rare interview with Bill Flanagan, and offers his opinion on everyone from Adolf Hitler to the Rolling Stones.
One of the most influential figures in modern music, Bob Dylan towers over everyone who has ever strummed an acoustic guitar. A true Renaissance man, Dylan is set to follow up an art exhibition with his new album and the second volume of his memoirs.
Forthcoming album ‘Together Through Life’ is the songwriter’s first since 2006, and is eagerly anticipated by fans. In anticipation of the album’s release, Dylan granted a rare interview to Bill Flanagan which is being serialised on his official website.
Containing some very revealing insights into a creative mind, the interview recently turned to the topic of The Rolling Stones. Bob Dylan has previously performed live with Stones guitarist Keith Richards, but the songwriter doesn’t seem too keen on the band’s current incarnation.
“I’m not saying they don’t keep going, but they need Bill. Without him they’re a funk band. They’ll be the real Rolling Stones when they get Bill back.”
However Dylan did have some words of comfort for the group. “They’re far from finished. The Rolling Stones are truly the greatest rock and roll band in the world and always will be. The last too.”
“Everything that came after them, metal, rap, punk, new wave, pop-rock, you name it …. you can trace it all back to the Rolling Stones. They were the first and the last and no one’s ever done it better.”
Bizarrely, within minutes the singer changes the topic to Adolf Hitler. “How you take a failed landscape painter and turn him into a fanatical mad man who controls millions. That’s some trick. I mean the powers that created him must have been awesome.”
“He knew something. He knew that people didn’t think. Look at the faces of the millions who worshipped him and you see that he inspired love. It’s scary and sad. The torch of the spoken word. They were glad to follow him anywhere, loyal to the bone. Then of course, he filled up the cemeteries with them.”
Bob Dylan’s new album ‘Together Through Life’ is due to be released on April 27th.
