Publication Date: 11-02-2004
Purdue anticipates performance by legendary rocker Bob Dylan
By Ben Steckler
Executive Reporter
He’s one of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest songwriters and a legend in the music industry.
When Bob Dylan takes the stage at 8p.m Wednesday at Elliott Hall of Music he’ll play songs that have changed history.
Dylan has enjoyed a career that’s spanned the last five decades. He’s received both critical and commercial success, winning numerous awards and influencing countless musicians. Ever since his debut album was released Dylan has been the measuring stick that all other singer-songwriters are compared with.
His songs have been covered countless times, most notably giving Jimi Hendrix his biggest hit, "All Along the Watchtower."
While Dylan has taken criticism throughout his career for the quality of his voice, few songwriters can rival his lyrical ability. His songs have proven powerful enough to generate buzz about Dylan being awarded a Nobel Prize for Literature. The only obstacle remaining is if songs can be considered literature.
"He worked with words and lyrics in such an imaginative, inventive, constructive way," said Michael Morrison, associate professor of history. "Isn’t that what literature is?"
Morrison has taught a course titled "The Social and Cultural History of Rock and Roll," and stresses how important Dylan’s career has been not only to the modern evolution of music but to the culture and society of America.
"He pioneered the genre of folk rock," said Morrison, describing the genre as musical protest since its beginnings.
Folk rock has lasted as an outlet for younger people to express their political viewpoints. In the ’60s Dylan played an important role in the development of student activism.
"Dylan was overtly political," said Morrison. "And he was someone that not only talked the talk, he walked the walk."
It was this contribution to society that Morrison said is the most important aspect of Dylan’s career.
He sees Dylan as an influence to politically aware music like U2 and the Vote for Change tour. The tour featured artists like Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and the Dave Matthews Band that united to cover the swing states and get voters for Sen. John Kerry.
It was Dylan’s immersion in the struggles of the ’60s that has made his work inseparable from the culture of the times. In Morrison’s history courses he includes Dylan in lectures about student activism and the civil rights movement.
Associate history professor Nancy Gabin also uses Dylan throughout her America in the ‘60s course.
"I include him from the beginning when I start talking about civil rights," said Gabin.
During her course Gabin looks at the lyrics to many of Dylan’s songs to show how instrumental he was to the student activism of the time.
"He issued a call to arms for the movement," said Gabin.
She credits Dylan as an important figure also because of his influence on Jimi Hendrix and The Doors, which kept him relevant in the music scene of the late ’60s.
Tickets are still available through Purdue Convocations at 1 (800) 914-Show, Ticketmaster outlets and Purdue box offices. Tickets are $37.50 and $27.50 with an additional $2 facility charge.
