The Great Baez-Dylan Love Affair

I think it is rude that you say dylan looks demented. I think that is almost antisemitic. He just looks like an older Jewish man with roots in Eastern Europe. How will you look when you are his age? I know both of these people and they both have a dignity. Get a life yourself.

What do you mean Dylan looks demented? I have to say that sounds strange coming from someone with so many letters behind his name. Even the scantiest knowledge of Dylan's work in recent years would show that he is still a unique voice in American culture. He continues to write superbe songs (not forgetting his Chronicles) and has even branched out to art. And you think he's demented? Apart from being "so beautiful it's almost painful", what exactly has Baez been doing since her 3 or 4 years of glory in the early 60s?

"cotton picking" refers to Elizabeth Cotton (think "Freight Train Blues") so should be Cotton-picking.

I was finding this interesting until I reached the point where you say Dylan looks demented. What an absurd comment! Takes away all of your credibility.

That is absurd that you called Dylan "demented looking". He looks far better than most any man his age. Never overweight, fit, with a good smile when he flashes it, an expressive face and a full head of hair! How often have you seen him?

Dr. Peele's "demented" comment reminds me of a story concerning the old "Camera Camera" television show from the middle 1960's. During one of the gags, during which a Candid Camera actor was behaving in a peculiar manner at a lunch counter in the attempt to elicit astonished responses, one bystander whispered in the ear of show producer Alan Funt that the guy was "crazy," and gave his name and credentials as a licensed psychiatrist to give credence to this "professional opinion." Shaken when the ruse was revealed, the "expert" gave written permission for his recorded "diagnosis" to be used on national television. Fortunately for him, Mr. Funt had the sense not to use this clip, realizing that the psychiatrist did not consider the deleterious effect this comment could have had on his professional career. Since the editor of this website did not have this good judgment, perhaps Dr. Peele could publish on the site a retraction of his statement, perhaps inconsequential if made by a layman or ordinary critic, but - at the least - professionally embarassing to have been made by a credentialed expert, one licensed to make diagnoses which carry life-altering consequences.

Whilst I agree that Dr.Peeles description of Dylan as looking demented was ill chosen,I cannot see how anyone could interpret it as in any way antisemitic.Bobs demeanour to my eyes is unchanged over the last 40 years that I have taken an interest in him.He always appears to me to spend his inner life in a different(better)place or is always anxious to seek a way of getting there.Rather than demented,this to me displays a vibrant,active mind.

He looks old. Oldish. Joan Baez looks good for her age. BD lived a little harder than she did, though, I think. But, demented is a strange word choice. My Gram looks lovely, but she suffers dementia. Perhaps a thesaurus is needed before submitting further articles.

I've always been impressed by Joan Baez's honesty, and she made her feelings about Bob Dylan plain not only in "Diamonds and Rust" but also in her two autobiographies. She was, is, and always will be a class act. Dylan is an American icon, but he never deserved her.

Dr. Peele - Would you diagnose as "demented" one of your clients/patients based solely on his or her appearance and/or voice? And no rhetorical dodges - only a person with a mind can be "demented"; to use this adjective to describe a voice or a "look" makes no sense, literally or figuratively.

All-time favorite Dylan quip--- Steve Martin hosting a Grammy where Dylan, beamed in live from an Austrialian tour performance (and looking like Vincent Price) received an award. Martin (paraphrased): And now here's Bob live from Australia. We have an 18 hour time difference but for Bob that's normal.

Btw, how does one's coinages and unique turns of phrase come to commonly populate newpapers, broadcast and spring naturally from lips in conversation.
Neat trick, how do you do that. Genius springs to mind but offers no explanation.

In Jersey, he was scoping out the house in which Bruce Springsteen wrote his early hits, Born to Run, etc. Dylan has visited the former homes of many of his faves - Neil Young, John Lennon, Mark Twain, to name a few. Early in his career, Dylan visited Carl Sandburg at his home in North Carolina. When Dylan was living in Woodstock with his wife and children, he was constantly pestered by people trying to sneak onto his property, digging through his garbage, etc. Is pursuing an interest in visiting the past residences of one's favorite entertainers/artists a sign of dementia, doctor? I recently visited Graceland in Memphis, and if this is the case, there sure are a lot of demented people out there!

This is a cruel review. First, the author condemns Dylan for his ungenerous personality. This in a review of a Christmas album whose entire proceeds are being donated to charities to feed the hungry. Then, the author takes advantage of his psychologist credentials to groundlessly assert that Dylan is demented--a low blow if ever I've seen one. (Senior citizens, no matter how competent, are vulnerable to ageist comments like this). I haven't heard the Christmas album and have no expertise in analysing photos for signs of dementia. I have, however, listened to the three other albums Dylan has released in his sixties--"Love and Theft", Modern Times, and last year's Together Through Life. These are among his best works, exceeding in musical craftsmanship anything he could have done in his earlier years. They are obviously the product of a keen and penetrating intellect.

I offer to Dr. Peele this post which summarizes the audience's reaction to Dylan's perfomance at the Hollywood Palladium on Oct. 15. :

It was then that I realized that Dylan has become more than a rockstar to most of these people. To them, and to me, he is a national treasure; a piece of history who tells of a world that is both inside his head and in the real world. While Elvis, John Lennon, George Harrison and Jimi Hendrix, people who many thought would be around forever, have all passed on, here is Bob Dylan, still standing behind his piano, still blowing away at his harmonica. To many people, he is the perfect manifestation of America. He is a scop in the truest sense of the word. He tells of days of old, but treats the stories as if they are happening now, and tells us where he wants us to go. To compare him Elvis and the Beatles is unfair. Rather, Dylan can be canonized with Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, Henry David Thoreau and other great American poets who wrote about their times and in turn, shaped them.

posted by eric m. garcia at 1:55 pm

I offer to Dr. Peele this post which summarizes the audience's reaction to Dylan's perfomance at the Hollywood Palladium on Oct. 15. :

It was then that I realized that Dylan has become more than a rockstar to most of these people. To them, and to me, he is a national treasure; a piece of history who tells of a world that is both inside his head and in the real world. While Elvis, John Lennon, George Harrison and Jimi Hendrix, people who many thought would be around forever, have all passed on, here is Bob Dylan, still standing behind his piano, still blowing away at his harmonica. To many people, he is the perfect manifestation of America. He is a scop in the truest sense of the word. He tells of days of old, but treats the stories as if they are happening now, and tells us where he wants us to go. To compare him Elvis and the Beatles is unfair. Rather, Dylan can be canonized with Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, Henry David Thoreau and other great American poets who wrote about their times and in turn, shaped them.

posted by eric m. garcia at 1:55 pm

Mr. Peele, We Can't Help You.

Psychiatry and Mental Health Center

Well, I don't think you are in a position to write him off as having a "chilling personality". Have you actually met this man? Do you know him at all, beyond what has been written about him? I have watched him (footage on YouTube) being interviewed in later years, and I was favourably impressed by Dylan's replies and by (what came across as) his honesty. All great performers have a public persona - you ought to be aware of this! - and possibly his hid a frail ego and a gentle person who found it hard to cope with fame and adulation, with the constant performing and touring, the very high expectations vast numbers of people had of him, and with being hounded by the press. I have recently watched early interviews with Dylan (again on YouTube)and I was very struck by how utterly shy he was back then; he had a sweet, gentle smile when young, and he was obviously very nervous during these interviews (pre-1966,ca).

Quite a few of us have behaved in a profoundly hurtful manner towards a lover we have "outgrown", or whom we wish to break off the relationship with. Dylan was in a public spotlight, and his behaviour was witnessed by many and commented on by many. That is the only real difference.

As for looking demented: No. Dylan does NOT look demented. He has a somewhat "careworn" face, but he is now very nearly 69 years old, for Heaven's sake! As one of the other people in this thread commented: Dylan looks like an ageing Ashkenazi Jewish man, and this is what he is, ethnically. Really, I would have expected better from someone with your credentials!

Perhaps we might be permitted to like both Baez and Dylan, albeit for different reasons? It isn't a question of either/or; is Baez the goodie and Dylan the baddie (or the other way round). This is a false dichotomy.

I'm laughing at Dr. Peele's comment. Dylan would probably laugh at it as well. But he's off creating music somewhere and I don't think he cares much about any comments made about him at this point.

I can see why you made the comment, Dr. Peele, but in this day and age how many celebrities DON'T look demented? It's almost a pre-requisite.

I think a lot of unique, interesting and brilliant people look demented. Einstein comes to mind. Dylan's contribution to the world makes up for his quirks at the end of the day.

Anyway I enjoyed your blog.

Bob Dylan has always come across as an arrogant prig. Breaking Joan's heart like he did is proof he was always a cad. Like Frank Sinatra though you have to ignore the man behind the voice.

I totally agree with the author's remarks about Dylan. And mind you - I love Dylans work! It IS possible to aknowledge and enjoy someone's talents, and still not find them attractive when it comes to their human qualities. Joan Baez, on the other hand, I have loved her from the first minute I heard her sing, and I admire her life long commitment to political causes. I think she is remarkable. As to Dylan's "dementia", I trust Peele's suspicion, on the other hand, Dylan's particular persona exists in homeopathic literature as the "Sulphur persona", being a genius but also an egotistical, horribly egocentric person, a cold and often mean husband, only preoccupied with himself, but when the wife finally leaves him, he collapses totally. The Sulphur Persona is famous for his unwashed and bum-like appearance. And the genius degenerate both physically and mentally.

I zoned out through high school and college so I never was into Baez or Dylan. I knew of them but knew little about them. The A,erican
masters documentarypn Jan Baez woke me up. I find it peculiar how closely people identify with Dylan who never identified with anyone but himself. How protective they are. How loath to accept your remarks at face value without prosecuting you vis their passionate protective defenses.

Here's a story about Dylan that is 100% true. A very attractive client of mine, from about fifteen years ago, knew Dylan and told me he had asked her out on a date. She refused to go. She found him unappealing and weird. Though she didn't call him demented she clearly was unimpressed. Turned off, even.

Though I was part of the few who were never fans, this story stuck in my mind. When I saw the American Masters segment on Joan Baez, I realized I had missed out on following a magical talent and a life well lived. While most of us live life for ourselves and those we are close to, some, like Ms. Baez go way beyond that. Comparing her to Dylan and saying her accomplishments were small in relation to his is a perspective lacking in vision. She led an in compromised life. She stood up and allowed herself to be counted. She was her brother's keeper. The result is that she has become a role model and inspiration for many on how to lear a truly expansive life. She belonged to the world. Dylan belonged only to himself. Dylan acquired fame. Joan Baez acquired greatness. There is absolutely no comparison.

As for his not inviting her onstage with him on the 19)65 Brittish tour, his behavior was emblematic of who he was. Like many geniuses: Self involved. Careless. And Without heart.

Dylan does look his age. What is disturbing to me is calling his looks demented contributes to all of the prejudices our culture has concerning the outward appearance of people. When Dylan got his life time achievement grammy award a number of years ago, virtually all of the presenters thanks our brave men and women for their glorious battle in Iraq. They all looked smooth and clean and smiley and well dressed and shiny. To me, they sounded and looked totally demented. But that is how folks expect people to look and sound. Bob came out and sang a blistering Masters of War wearing a funny looking straw hat with a puffy face added in the bargain. When he accepted his award, he gazed at it and looked at the audience and said something like "My daddy told me a lot of things. He told me that a man can become so defiled that only God can forgive him. Thank you." So. Bob did not look normal, did not sing normal, did not talk normal. As far as I could tell he was the only sane person during the entire program. The me the rest of the sounded and looked utterly insane. Thank you.