Knock, knock knockin’ on Newcastle’s door
AS THE FAMOUS DYLAN DOCUMENTARY COMES TO THE TYNESIDE CINEMA, WE RECALL THE SINGER’S PAST TRIPS TO NEWCASTLE
BOB Dylan remains one of the most influential musicians in the world. Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature last year, he is still a music icon, and is embarking on a UK tour later this month.
To celebrate 50 years since the release of D.A Pennebaker’s film Don’t Look Back, documenting Dylan’s 1965 tour, the movie is being shown across the UK.
Following the same path as Dylan’s original tour, the movie is being screened at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle on Saturday May 6, and to celebrate this we are taking a look at some of the historic links between our great city and the man himself.
Dylan’s visit to Newcastle, as part of his 1965 tour, is immortalised in the film.
As well as showing a conversation between Dylan and then Councillor Theresa Russell, in which he gives her a harmonica in exchange for her offer of staying at Mansion House the next year, it also shows him visiting a clothing shop.
The footage shows him trying on a jacket and tie at Marcus Price on the Groat Market, and it is even reported that he wore the jacket on stage at Newcastle City Hall at his gig later that evening. Dylan returned to the city in 1984 for a gig at St James’ Park. Following a season that saw the Magpies earn promotion
Dylan’s visit to Newcastle, as part of his 1965 tour, is immortalised in Don’t Look Back
Carlos Santana in concert at St James Park on July 5, 1984, supporting Bob Dylan back to the top flight, 25,000 people gathered in the stadium to see the music legend play some of his best-known hits.
Supported by Santana and North-East favourites Lindisfarne, tickets for the show cost just £11, with touts forced to sell them at below face value to make a sale.
In more recent years, artwork produced by Dylan has gone on sale in Newcastle.
Castle Fine Art, on Grey Street, had eight limited edition prints from Dylan’s Drawn Blank Series for sale in 2014.
Priced from £1,750, the works were signed by Dylan himself and were based on drawings he made while touring between 1989 and 1992.
And if you fancy a drink following the screening of the film, Dylan is rumoured to have visited the Bridge Hotel, on Castle Square, in the early 1960s.