As depicted in the new Dylan biopic starring Timotheé Chalamet, A Complete Unknown, when Bob Dylan met Joan Baez in 1960, Baez was by far the bigger star. Impressed by the young singer, Baez was among his most vocal champions in the folk scene and frequently brought him on stage during her own concerts. The pair began a relationship but as Dylan began to distance himself from the folk scene that had nurtured him they drifted apart. Not depicted on screen, but captured in D.A. Pennebaker's groundbreaking concert film Don’t Look Back, Dylan invited Baez on his 1965 tour of England, where, rather than repay the favour, he froze her out.
“I just sort of trotted around, wondering why Bob wouldn’t invite me onstage, feeling very sorry for myself, getting very neurotic and not having the brains to leave and go home,” Baez later recalled.
Yet a mutual artistic respect between the two remained. Baez continued to perform and record Dylan’s songs (1968’s Any Day Now consisted entirely of Bob Dylan compositions) and Dylan invited Baez to join his all-star live jamboree the Rolling Thunder Review between 1975 and 1976
In 2019, Baez spoke to MOJO’s Michael Simmons about reuniting with Dylan on stage, appearing alongside his then wife Sara in 1978 film Renaldo And Claro, their tour of England ten years’ previously and why there was “nothing negative left at all” in her current feelings towards Bob…
The first Rolling Thunder tour in 1975 was the first time you’d sung with Dylan in a decade. Was it fun?
The first Rolling Thunder was absolutely fun – and beautiful. There were scarves and flowers – a delight really. My strongest memory is that I went out every night to watch Bob’s set – it was wonderful. On the second [leg], I don’t know what was going on. The flowers had gone away and the scarves had disappeared and there were headwraps and it just wasn’t as glorious.
In [DA Pennabaker’s tour documentary] Dont Look Back, shot in 1965, he was aloof towards you…
(laughs) To put it mildly!
Did you have misgivings about doing Rolling Thunder because of that?
I probably did at the time, but it just sounded too exciting. I thought I’ll put the misgivings aside and it went really well.
You’re a key character in [1978 Dylan-directed film] Renaldo And Clara in the triangle between you, Bob and Sara. Was that uncomfortable?
Not at all – I got along really well with Sara. We’d hang out and she knew I could do an imitation of her and Bob (laughs).
Have you seen Renaldo And Clara?
Yeah – I thought it was a terrible movie! It’s like a boy scout wandering around with a camera, shooting whatever they felt like shooting.
How was Dylan to work with by ’75? Was he friendly?
He was friendlier – and fun. He was self-absorbed, but that’s his nature. I’m always somewhat on the outside because I don’t do drugs. That was the big problem in England [in ’65] – everybody was out there. It wasn’t as severe a problem on Rolling Thunder. I was compatible with it, even though I never did any of it.
How do you look back on Rolling Thunder now?
I think, “Oh gosh, I got to be there!” There’s Woodstock, there’s the March On Washington in ’63. It’s the same: I got to be there.
Joan Baez and Bob Dylan at the March On Washington, August 1963 (Credit: Alamy)
What did you think of [2016 covers album, featuring Frank Sinatra standards] Fallen Angels?
(laughs) Please. I listened to two and I really couldn’t go on after that. [But] I appreciate that he doesn’t give a fuck [taking] that on with barely a voice. On the other hand, I love his Christmas album. And it’s close to the same voice.
How have your feelings toward Dylan evolved over the years?
I have a very simple answer to that and it came, oh, eight months ago when I was doing a commission of Bob, painting him. Go to my website so you’ll know what I’m talking about. I put his music on and any remaining resentment literally evaporated like a gift from heaven. It was only then that I could only be grateful for having been his friend, for having had access to his music, for having been a part of those wild years. And so that is exactly how I am right now. There is nothing negative left at all. He gave us the absolute best.
This article originally appeared in MOJO 307.
Picture: Alamy Stock Photo