Bob Dylan is one of the most well-regarded musicians of all time. Though Dylan is now 74 years old, he is still going strong. There are some things about this superstar that many people don’t know, and we’re here to change that! Here, we present 15 things you didn’t know about Bob Dylan, which we bring to you in two parts. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: He Is a Man of Many Names. Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman, and most people know that he changed his name to Bob Dylan. However, before he was Bob Dylan, he briefly went by Elston Gunn.
Number Fourteen: His Father Had Polio. Dylan’s father, whose name was Abe Zimmerman, contracted polio when he was in his early 20s. However, before he contracted polio, he was a semi-professional baseball player.
Number Thirteen: He Introduced The Beatles to Drugs. According to the author of The Beatles: The Biography, Bob Spitz, Bob Dylan was the person who first introduced The Beatles to marijuana. We wonder if he knew what he was getting himself into with that one.
Number Twelve: He Had a Well-Connected Family Growing Up. Dylan didn’t pay to attend a single movie when he was growing up. This was because his family – specifically his great-grandfather and uncles – owned the largest movie theaters in Hibbing, Minnesota, where he grew up. Talk about a childhood dream!
Number Eleven: He Was Obsessed With James Dean. Dylan apparently became platonically enamored with James Dean after seeing Rebel Without a Cause. This would undoubtedly go on to influence the content and lyrics of his music.
Number Ten: He Was Known as a Scammer in College. According to Dylans’ friends in college, he was well-known as a scammer. He would apparently try to scam strangers and friends alike out of cigarettes and clothing on a regular basis.
Number Nine: He Loved to Play Chess. When Dylan lived near Greenwich Village in the 1960s, he became very interested in chess. He would often go to the parks to play. Stay tuned for part two, coming soon!