Howlin’ Wolf: the greatest live act, according to Bob Dylan
Folk music was Bob Dylan‘s first love, but his tireless exploration of music certainly did not stop there. From his very early days, the groundbreaking lyricist seemed to soak inspiration from virtually every corner of the musical landscape. Immersing himself in everything from old-school country music to the defiant rock ‘n’ roll of performers like Little Richard, Dylan was never prejudiced in his listening habits.
Particularly during his early years, after relocating to New York City in 1961 to establish himself as America’s bold new voice in folk, the songwriter had a natural affinity for the blues. This love of blues should come as no real surprise; after all, folk music and blues are closely related in their passed-down stories and rhythms. Dylan had such an appreciation for the blues that he recorded covers of some blues and gospel standards, like ‘Fixin’ to Die’ and ‘In My Time of Dyin’’, which both form highlights on that eponymous debut.
Although Dylan is often famed for his changing tastes over the years, embracing different genre styles at different points in his career, blues has seemingly been a constant in his life. Seemingly, his clear adoration for the timeless style is largely down to the influence of legendary Delta blues songwriter Howlin’ Wolf, who played a key role in electrifying the blues during the 1950s and 1960s.
Wolf—real name Chester Arthur Burnett—was among the most influential blues artists of the 20th century, playing a key role in the early days of The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and, of course, Bob Dylan. Not only was the blues musician adept at crafting trailblazing records and riffs, he was also one the greatest live performers the music industry has ever witnessed, and Dylan was a particular fan of those gigs.
Dylan’s own live shows have often been divisive, with the songwriter’s refusal to play many of his most beloved tracks and his tendency to rework the style of his songs, often drawing criticism from fans. Despite this, Dylan is a keen advocate for live music. When asked in 1987 for his favourite live performances, he told Rolling Stone, “I like Charles Aznavour a lot. I saw him in ’60-something at Carnegie Hall, and he just blew my brains out. I went there with somebody who was French, not knowing what I was getting myself into.”
Aznavour aside, there was one musician whose live shows stood out among all the rest in the eyes of Bob Dylan. “Howlin’ Wolf, to me, was the greatest live act,” he declared. “Because he did not have to move a finger when he performed—if that’s what you’d call it, ‘performing.’” The blues pioneer’s effortless approach to playing music captivated the young Bob Dylan, making all other movers and shakers seem superfluous in comparison.
“I don’t like people that jump around,” Dylan shared. “When people think about Elvis moving around—he didn’t jump around. He moved with grace.” Howlin’ Wolf seemed to move with grace, too – he was, after all, essential in inspiring artists like Elvis Presley to adapt blues into rock ‘n’ roll.
Although obviously Bob Dylan and Howlin’ Wolf occupy very different spaces within musical history, the folk singer’s outspoken appreciation of Wolf’s groundbreaking body of work speaks to his expansive tastes. Had Dylan exclusively dedicated himself to folk rather than taking on the blues influences provided to him by Howlin’ Wolf, the world might never have witnessed the revolutionary ‘electric Dylan’ period, and the songwriter could easily have fallen into obscurity like so many other now-forgotten folk stars.
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