After having received this book as a gift, one wonders how much griping is allowable. Nonetheless, after having skimmed through the book and after having read the entry on Bob Dylan, it gave me good pause. Since there were multiple errors on Dylan's one page, it naturally made me ask the question, "How many other errors might abound?" I am not proposing that the book should be error-free (no book is), but after having read some of the reviews, it's clear that someone should take the responsibility (Guy Oseary? or maybe his editor or researcher? or maybe the publisher?) for the many errors that fill its pages.I'll simply point out the errors on the Dylan page. The singer did not graduate from the University of Minnesota in 1959 (nor any other university). He graduated from his high school, Hibbing High, in 1959, and then merely attended the Univ. of Minn. for a few semesters. And Dylan's second album, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" didn't come out in 1962 (it was 1963). Additionally, to say Dylan's songs "extolled the use of certain drugs" and to use "Rainy Day Women #12&35" as an example ("everybody must get stoned"), oversimplifies things; the lyrics to this song are actually quite rich (despite them being made almost cliche because of radio overplay and overplay in concert) but Dylan has denied--on more than one occasion--writing "drug songs." In one interview he mentioned it was hard enough to write songs without making it harder [through drugs].
After referencing the 1966 era, we're then told that Dylan "toured and recorded tirelessly" for the next 30 years. Really? Most fans will vividly recall when Dylan did not embark on a single tour from 1967-1973; he also abstained from touring in 1977, 1982-1983 and 1985.
And the "Never-Ending Tour" is listed as "1988-1996" which is odd. Dylan's touring didn't stop in 1996 (this book was published in 2001), it has continued to this day, i.e., "1988-2002."
As for the book's statement that "Bob took his adopted name from poet Dylan Thomas," this too isn't factual. Dylan has denied this on a number of occasions and others close to Dylan have corroborated his denial although the exact origins of the name are not entirely clear (typical Dylan).
We are also informed that Dylan was involved with the Lubavitch movement in Jerusalem in 1984. But this is the wrong location, and year. He studied with the Lubavitchers in Brooklyn in 1983.
And then there's the matter-of-fact statement that Dylan "explored various religions outside of Judaism, to which he ultimately returned." In 1979-1981, Dylan did more than "explore" Jesus (and he still sings about Jesus, for whatever reason, to this day). He also has never announced his departure from or return to Judaism. In typical contrarion fashion, Dylan quoted a biblical passage from the Hebrew Scriptures on his 1980 album, "Saved." And then in 1984, the year after he studied with the Lubavitchers, Dylan was asked if he thought the Old and New Testaments were equally valid. He replied, "To me." (Rolling Stone interview with Kurt Loder). Dylan has participated in the Lubavitchers' Chabad telethons (1986, 1989 & 1991) but has also continued to sing songs from the "Slow Train/Saved."
Even with all the religion hububb aside, it seems that for all I've pointed out it could've been a case of my having scoured through a full-length book...but it was, again, only a one-page entry on Dylan! And there were many errors, so buyer beware.
Maybe one day we'll have an updated, mostly corrected edition and some quotes from the artists on the significance of their rich cultural heritage.
