Fact #100954

TRANSCRIPT OF DYLAN PRESS CONFERENCE.

Ronnie Burns (BBC TV South) : Why did you come to the Isle of Wight?


Bob Dylan : I wanted to see the home of Alfred, Lord Tennyson.


Ronnie Burns : Why?


Bob Dylan : Just curious.


Ronnie Burns : Can I have your general views on the situation of drug taking among teenagers and young people these days?


Bob Dylan : I don't have any of those views ... I wish I did, I'd be glad to share them with you, but I ... I think everyone should lead their own lives you know.


Ronnie Burns : You used to, I believe, make public pronouncements on your views on things, like Vietnam, and it has been noticed in certain quarters you haven't been doing that recently, making your views known on big political and international issues. Is this deliberate policy on your part?


Bob Dylan : No ... I think that's more a rumor than a fact. You check your old newspapers, you won't be able to find too many statements I've made on those issues.


Ronnie Burns : I've heard it said here today by some of your fans that the new Bob Dylan is a bit of a square ... Is that true?


Bob Dylan : You'll have to ask the fans (amidst general laughter)


Press: Do you feel that your days of protesting are over?


Bob Dylan : I don't want to protest any more. I never said I'm an angry young man.


Press: Can you tell us exactly what happened when you suffered an accident a while ago?


Bob Dylan : Rikki ... where are you? ... (silence from Dylan for a moment) It's true I suffered a broken neck. It's awful hard to explain. I have to take it easy sometimes.


Press: Bob.


Bob Dylan : Yes, Ken (general laughter from press).


Press: Do you think you have changed very much since we last saw you in London? Your clothes and hair have changed?


Bob Dylan : I believe there's a conscious thing since the accident. I haven't really changed ... It had more to do with the show I was doing than anything else. It really had nothing to do with me personally ... that stuff was all for publicity. I don't do that kind of thing any more.


Press: Can you tell us what songs you will be performing?


Bob Dylan : Everything we will do is on record. I'm not going to sing anything new ... Things you will have heard before but with new arrangements.


Press: Because of your lack of public appearances, do you still like doing shows?


Bob Dylan : We appeared a month ago in St Louis ... the more shows the better.


Press: Who are you looking forward to meeting while you're here?


Bob Dylan : I'm hoping to meet anybody who's around. I'd like to meet The Who and maybe Georgie Fame.


Press: What about The Beatles?


Bob Dylan : George Harrison has come to visit me. The Beatles have asked me to work with them. I love The Beatles and I think it would be a good idea to do a jam session.


Press: What about reports that various people will perform with you on stage?


Bob Dylan : Great, great.


Press: Do you feel that cameras are like guns?


Bob Dylan : I don't know.


Press: Do you feel this change that has come over you and your music is due to domestic effects? Are you chiefly a family man now?


Bob Dylan : I would think so.


Press: There is a very large crowd expected here for your performance. Any comments on that?


Bob Dylan : I just hope it's a good show.


Press: Do you have a personal message for the kids today?


Bob Dylan : Take it easy and do your job well.


Press: What exactly then is your position on politics and music?


Bob Dylan : My job is to play music. I think I've answered enough questions.