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Bob Dylan is one of the most important figures in all of rock music. And now, over 60 years into his career, he’s the subject of the new biopic A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet.
Timothée’s performance is already getting buzz, and it seems likely that the movie will be a hit! The James Mangold-directed film is set in the first half of the 60s, chronicling Bob’s arrival in New York up until his 1965 Newport Folk Festival appearance.
The movie is set to hit theaters on Christmas Day 2024, and critics are already starting to praise Timothée’s portrayal of Bob. The trailer for the film gave fans a sneak peak in October 2024.
Before going to see Timothée bring Bob’s early days to the big screen, there are lots of things to know about the Blonde on Blonde singer. Keep reading to learn more about Bob.
His Real Name Isn’t Bob Dylan
It may come as a surprise to some, but Bob Dylan’s real name is not “Bob Dylan.” Bob was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Minnesota in 1941.
As to why Bob chose “Dylan” for his surname, the most common legend refers to him borrowing it from the poet Dylan Thomas, who was shouted out on Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department.
Despite this being the most common claim, the man himself actually denied those rumors in a 1961 New York Times interview. “I did not take my name from Dylan Thomas,” he said, via WMGK. “Dylan Thomas’ poetry is for people that aren’t really satisfied in their bed – for people who dig masculine romance.”
He did explain that he always intended on changing his name in his memoir Chronicles: Volume 1. He didn’t explain if there was a deeper meaning to choosing “Dylan” as his last name.
“The first time I was asked my name in the Twin Cities, I instinctively and automatically, without thinking, simply said: ‘Bob Dylan,’” he wrote.
“What I was going to do as soon as I left home was just called myself Robert Allen. As far as I was concerned, that was who I was – that’s what my parents named me. It sounded like the name of a Scottish king, and I liked it. There was little of my identity that wasn’t in it.”
Bob Dylan Has Released 40 Albums
Bob has a massive discography. When you’ve been making music for over 60 years, you’ve had a lot of time to make some albums, and there’s plenty of Dylan material for new fans to dive into.
Bob’s first album was 1962’s self-titled record, and his most recent was 2023’s Shadow Kingdom. Over the past 60 years, Bob has released tons of classics like Highway 61 Revisited, Blood on the Tracks, and many more.
Many of Bob’s early hits weren’t for his own performances. Songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind”, “The Times They Are A-Changing”, and “Mr. Tambourine Man” were all covered by other musicians. Artists like Nina Simone, The Byrds, and Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded their own versions of Bob’s songs.
Aside from the studio albums, Bob has countless live records, bootlegs, compilations, and writing credits for other hits.
He Participated In The Civil Rights Movement
Bob was a major figure in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Many of his songs were considered protest anthems, and they spoke about the civil rights that people were fighting for.
Songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changing” both expressed ideas about the civil rights movement and the fight against racism. Bob’s song “Only a Pawn in Their Game” is about the 1963 assassination of civil rights activist Medgar Evers.
Perhaps most notably, Bob also performed at the 1963 March on Washington. He and fellow folk singer Joan Baez were both slated performers, per Rolling Stone. Bob’s four song set is not as well known as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, which he delivered that day.
Bob Dylan Going Electric Stirred Up Controversy
