Bob Dylan snubs Irish fans for an autograph, 1966
Bob Dylan, known during the early days and onwards as being a somewhat cantankerous artist when approached by fans, has never been afraid to let his emotions unfold. This rare clip from 1966 shows Dylan meeting his match in Ireland as he is confronted by two typically bold autograph-hunters.
While Dylan was on one of his most seminal tours, he stopped at Dublin’s Adelphi Theatre in May of 1966. Having been through London, shared a very stoned taxi ride with John Lennon, and generally become accustomed to the Beatlemania-type fandom which was surrounding him, it appears he had become a little tough by the time he made it over to the Emerald Isle.
The tour of two halves, as some knew it, would see Dylan perform some of his classic songs with his acoustic and then, at the interval, would invite The Band to join him and perform the rest of the set with electric guitars. Clearly on a mission to debunk the mythical status which surrounded him at the time, Dylan is intent on removing his ‘Protest Poster Boy’ image and returning himself as a man of the people.
The clip below shows Dylan, who was only 24 at the time, having to verbally battle with two young autograph hunters, hands in the vehicle, who seemed determined to get their man. They mix wit with a bit of Irish charm and a lot of Dubliner derision to try and get Dylan to fork over the goods but to no avail. Bob responded: “You don’t need my autograph. If you needed it, I’d give it to you.” To which the man asks: “What’s wrong with him today, eh?!”
Watch the clip below and enjoy.
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