Bob Dylan: The Never Ending Star

by Lee Marshall

Bob Dylan’s contribution to popular music is immeasurable. Venerated as rock’s one true genius, Dylan is considered responsible for introducing a new range of topics and new lyrical complexity into popular music. Without Bob Dylan, rock critic Dave Marsh once claimed, there would be no popular music as we understand it today. As such an exalted figure, Dylan has been the subject of countless books and intricate scholarship considering various dimensions of both the man and his music. This book places new emphasis on Dylan as a rock star. Whatever else Dylan is, he is a star – iconic, charismatic, legendary, enigmatic. No one else in popular music has maintained such star status for so long a period of time. Showing how theories of stardom can help us understand both Bob Dylan and the history of rock music, Lee Marshall provides new insight into how Dylan’s songs acquire meaning and affects his relationship with his fans, his critics and the recording industry. Marshall discusses Dylan’s emergence as a star in the folk revival (the “spokesman for a generation”) and the formative role that Dylan plays in creating a new type of music – rock – and a new type of star. Bringing the book right up to date, he also sheds new light on how Dylan’s later career has been shaped by his earlier star image and how Dylan repeatedly tried to throw off the limitations and responsibilities of his stardom.
The book concludes by considering the revival of Dylan over the past ten years and how Dylan’s stardom has developed in a way that contains, but is not overshadowed by, his achievements in the 1960s.

Genres: Music

300 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2007

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating (if dense and at times overly theoretical) reading of Dylan's "star image." This book offers a new way of understanding this most fascinating of careers, as well as intriguing ways of viewing the very concepts of "rock", "tradition" and "stardom". I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in Bob, or any of these topics.

[Érsek Máté · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptionally well researched, passionately yet objectively written analysis of what it means to be a star, and what implications his status meant for Bob Dylan. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about his career approached from a sociological point of view. The book intertwines general examination with detailed biographical studies, resulting in a work that managed to satisfy both my thirst for Dylan-centric content and the contextualization of his oeuvre within music culture. A highly recommended read!

[Marcus Marsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a ton of Dylan books but this is definitely one of the top 2-3 that look at the man, as opposed to his music. It takes an intelligent look at what it means to be famous/a star and how Bob has tried to get out from underneath the weight of the impossibly heavy image assigned to him.

[Wes F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your typical, run-of-the-mill Dylan book. This approaches Bob Dylan from a sociological perspective--with quite intricately laid analysis of what has made & kept Dylan a "star" for so many years. It particularly focuses on what Marshall thinks is the crucial post 60's turning point in Dylan's long career--1997 and the release of his highly acclaimed "Time our of Mind" recording (along with several other happenings). Around that time, Dylan also began what he called his "Never-ending Tour"--playing for smaller audiences, in more intimate settings, with a much more varied & interesting playlist (thanks to inspiration from Jerry Garcia & his earlier stint on tour with the Grateful Dead).

[Ned · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting analysis of the stardom of Dylan, while shining a light on fame in the age of media technology. I found this to be much more fascinating and engaging than I expected it to be. I trust Marshall's insight and believe in his love for Dylan as a musician.

[Mattc · Rating 4 out of 5]

tough for the first 100 pages as he lays out his argument. then the rest is exciting and insightful.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's because I was a Soc. major that I liked it so much......