Dave Stewart was playing Dylan songs as a teen. Now he's made an album of them
He's also well-regarded for his production and writing with Mick Jagger, Tom Petty, Jon Bon Jovi and Ringo Starr, and for crafting the music for Broadway's 'Ghost the Musical' and 'The Time Traveller's Wife.'
But Stewart's 40-year friendship and collaborative relationship with Bob Dylan is a revelation for most.
Then again, this is the guy who, at 72, cheerfully reminds you that he's 'always working on about five different things at once. If you've got the greatest job in the world, why stop? It's not like I'm going to retire from having a good time.'
Stewart's affection for Dylan's lauded catalog is etched in his new 'Dave Does Dylan' album. Originally released in April exclusively for Record Store Day, the 14 tracks blend well-worn classics ('Lay, Lady, Lay,' 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door') with deep cuts ('To Ramona,' an album track on 1964's 'Another Side of Bob Dylan').
The Stewart-Dylan connection is perhaps deepest on 'Emotionally Yours,' a 1985 cut from Dylan's 'Empire Burlesque' album featuring a video shot by Stewart as Dylan wandered Camden High Street in North London.
The charmingly chatty Stewart spoke last spring, and hadn't yet seen 'A Complete Unknown,' the fictionalized take on a portion of Dylan's career. But he shares plenty about his time with the bard.
More: Lady Gaga thrills at theatrical Mayhem Ball tour kickoff: Review
Question: You've known Dylan since 1985, so is this an album you've wanted to do for a long time, but your schedule interfered?
Dave Stewart: Over the last year for fun I was putting my iPhone on a stick and singing a Dylan song (for social media). People were saying how much they loved them, so after doing about 24 videos, I thought, "Why not just do 14 songs that are exactly what you see on Instagram?" The iPhone was filming it and the mic was picking up what I was singing. I didn't think I was making an album, but I was!
You mention that Dylan's lyrics and melodies have kept you company through the best and worst of times. How did you determine which songs fall in those categories?
I could have made another album with all of the songs I left off. I was making it more for the people buying the vinyl album and how the songs flowed. When I was 15 I'd get into a folk club and sing "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" and it would shock people because it was 1960s England and they were singing coal miner songs. Then I'd buy Dylan albums and lay on the floor stoned, listening to all four sides of "Blonde on Blonde."
And then years later you heard from the man himself.
I got a real shock in 1980something when the phone rang in the studio and the receptionist said, "Bob Dylan is on the phone." The minute he started speaking I knew it was real because it was impossible to imitate that voice. From then on we became friends.
The back cover of your album is a photo of you shooting Dylan for the 'Emotionally Yours' video. It seems as if you have an easy rapport with the notoriously shy guy.
When I'm with him, we just talk like two people talking. Bob talked in a '60 Minutes' interview that he knew something was different about him when he was a kid and then he realized it was a special thing. I know what he means when people ask me, "How did you write this or that song?" It's not that you don't want to explain, it's just some kind of feeling, and I understand that.
More: Robert Plant announces fall 2025 US tour with Saving Grace: Cities, dates, tickets
Back to your previous life, do you think you and Eurythmics partner Annie Lennox will ever do anything together again?
We haven't toured since 1999, and we were offered touring. Annie says she can do some songs for other people (she performed for Joni Mitchell and Elton John at their respective Gershwin Prize for Popular Song concerts) but doesn't want to tour. Basically she's like, Eurythmics was then. But the songs live on, so I like playing Eurythmics songs. I think Annie is happy doing her own thing.
But you, of course, are always working on something.
I'm not a person who wants to control stuff. I like to relinquish control and let stuff happen. That could be chaotic to the people living it, but it's a fun thing that happens. When I look back at my life with things like the Traveling Wilburys recording in my back garden (Stewart lent George Harrison his California home and the supergroup with Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Harrison was formed around his kitchen table), you have to let things just happen. It's a way of allowing your mind to actually be open to endless possibilities and not go bonkers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
5 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Colbert, Trump, Epstein and the art of capitulation
A suggested title for any upcoming films, books or TV series that are set in the dog days of 2025? 'The Summer I Learned to Capitulate.' July is shaping up to be a bend-the-knee month like no other, and that's quite an achievement given the record number of universities, law firms, TV networks and news outlets that have settled lawsuits, shuttered programs, curtailed coverage and perhaps even canceled a top-rated late-night show in the hopes of appeasing President Trump. 'The Daily Show's' Jon Stewart summed it up on the show Monday when the host who gave Colbert his start as a 'Daily Show' correspondent ripped into Paramount Global, CBS' parent company, for its announcement Friday that it was canceling 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.' Paramount is in the process of an acquisition by Skydance Media that will require approval from the Federal Communications Commission, run by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee. CBS said its choice was 'purely a financial decision.' Paramount recently paid Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit the president filed against '60 Minutes' for a Kamala Harris interview he said was 'deceitfully edited.' Stewart pointed out that, yes, talk shows are a dying art, likening the format to a Blockbuster kiosk inside a Tower Records, but he defended what he and his fellow 'Daily Show' hosts and brethren like Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers do on a nightly basis. 'Believe me, this is not a 'We speak truth to power.' We don't. We speak opinions to television cameras, but we try. We f—ing try every night. If you believe, as corporations or as networks, you can make yourselves so innocuous that you can serve a gruel so flavorless that you will never again be on the Boy King's radar … you are f—ing wrong.' Stewart, whose show airs on Paramount-owned Comedy Central, proclaimed, 'I'm not giving in! I'm not going anywhere! … I think.' L.A. Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong was Stewart's guest and announced that The Times would be going public over the next year. Stewart skirted questions about the role of the newspaper in an era where journalists and outlets are censoring their work under threat of repercussions from the White House and instead focused on his guest's cancer research, pharmaceutical knowledge and reason for getting into publishing. Colbert also took on CBS' explanation for his firing on his show Monday night, saying, 'How can it purely be a financial decision if the show is No. 1 in the ratings? It's confusing. A lot of folks are asking that question, mainly my staff's parents and spouses.' But no one person or body folded faster or in greater numbers over the last 24 hours than GOP House members. They've had plenty of practice, of course. Tuesday, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced that the GOP-controlled House was cutting short its final workweek before taking a month-long summer recess. The goal was to thwart an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender, financier and former friend of Trump, and slow the bipartisan push for legislation that's aimed at forcing the release of more documents. Johnson said he wanted to give the White House 'space' to release the Epstein information on its own. The Trump administration did release something Monday — 240,000 pages of records related to the FBI's surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr. before his 1968 assassination. Curiously, the information totally unrelated to Epstein didn't stop MAGA supporters, some congressional Republicans and Democrats who have seized the moment from demanding answers. The Justice Department tried to quell some of the fervor when it announced Tuesday that Deputy Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche is set to meet with convicted Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell — at some point. Trump and his base have pushed accusations about the convicted sex offender, insisting the 'deep state' was protecting liberal elites that were Epstein's clients. Now the conspiracy has come home to roost, and Trump's usual scare tactics and legal maneuvering used to silence and destroy critics has not worked. Recent reporting in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal provided more red meat for the feeding frenzy around Trump's involvement with Epstein and the women allegedly trafficked by the late convicted felon. The Journal reported that in 2003, Trump sent Epstein a birthday card for his 50th birthday, replete with doodles of women's breasts, pubic hair and clandestine wordage: 'May every day be another wonderful secret.' Even against a powerful conspiracy theory, the Great Fold of 2025 may continue to protect whatever secrets lurk beneath the bad poetry.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sick of online dating, NYC singles are looking for love via PowerPoint presentations
They've got some hot pitches At the buzzy new dating event Pitch and Pair, Gothamites try to sell the audience on their single friends with three-to-five minute PowerPoint presentations. 'I have a lot of shy friends who are single who are really great catches, and they kind of don't flourish in the typical dating apps or speed dating because they're introverted,' said the event's founder, Joe Teblum, a 33-year-old who lives in Chelsea and works in tech marketing. 'I also saw that there was this trend of people wanting to meet in person especially after Covid.' At an event last week at Slate in the Flatiron District, 16 locals gave presentations to a few hundred in the audience. There were bullet points, short videos and tickers. 'He can explain things without making you fall asleep,' Kedar Venkataramani's cousin told the audience of the 30-year-old, 5-foot-8 intellectual property lawyer who lives in NYC. 'He has a sharp mind, a sharp suit, and zero ego.' The cousin also praised Venkataramani as a soccer enthusiast and tasting menu aficionado. 'He will take you to a Broadway show including 'Hamilton' or 'Book of Mormon',' she said. 'He also Citi Bikes everywhere like it's his personal Tour de France.' The crowd was especially excited about the presentation for Chris Puch, a 33-year-old firefighter who lives in Staten Island and is a pseudo-celebrity on Tik Tok for being a hunky public servant. 'He will cook healthy for you even though I've seen him eat $50 worth of Taco Bell in one sitting, so you don't have to worry about him being too healthy,' said his matchmaker friend, laughing. 'If you guys like to travel, he loves it. He's a world traveler, and he's been all over the world, and he's looking for someone to go with besides himself.' Anand Tamirisa, a 33-year-old who lives in Chelsea and works in investment banking, was another one of the singles on offer. He admitted that he had authored much of the presentation himself, even though it was given by a dating guru buddy. 'I'm working in PowerPoint all day so it's easy for me,' he said. 'I made it in two hours. I even have a ticker on the top and stuff.' His deck included information such as 'Moved to NYC in 2018 after being inspired by Jay-Z,' 'Works in investment banking but doesn't wear a vest,' and, 'Has performed stand-up comedy at world-class dive bars.' It proved effective. By the time he walked off stage, Tamirisa had five new 'follow' requests on Instagram. (At the end of each presentation the matchmaker friend tells the crowd how to reach the single, whether it's via Instagram, email or text.) 'If I end up with one of them it would be a really good story,' Tamirisa said. Pitch & Pair takes place twice a month at venues round town, including City Winery in the Meatpacking District and Second City in Brooklyn. It costs $40 to $60 pitch — with two tickets to the event included — and $15 to $25 to sit in the audience. The next event is August 4th at Caveat on the Lower East Side. Events regularly sell out shortly after being announced — in as little as 34 hours. When Teblum first came up with the idea about a year ago, interest was limited. 'Only one person wanted to do a presentation,' he said of the first event, which was held at Kilo Bravo bar in Williamsburg and only attracted a few people beyond his friends. ts some early iterations, people tended to roast their friends in an attempt to be funny. Audiences sometimes erupted into 'boos.' Now, Teblum tells participants to keep it positive. 'The crowd gets so into it,' he said. 'Like the matchmaker shows a picture of someone's dog or hobby and everyone breaks out cheering.' Still, Sophia Demetriou, who was the first single presented at last week's event, said the experience was slightly uncomfortable. Her former roommate extolled her virtues, including the fact that she has never lost a game of backgammon, can 'serve looks' and is a Pizza Hut connoisseur. 'It was terrifying,' said Demetriou, a 26-year-old fashion designer. 'But I do think this is how people are going to date in the future. It just makes sense.' Solve the daily Crossword
Buzz Feed
7 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
People Are Sharing Interesting Celebrity Encounters And Secrets They Discovered After Being Face-To-Face With Hollywood Stars
Earlier this month, a Redditor asked the community, "People who've been around celebrities for work, what are some behind-the-scenes truths?" And the stories did not disappoint! 1. Pedro Pascal "Ahh, finally my time to shine: My sister has worked on all the seasons of The Mandalorian show so far and is also helping with the movie. Pedro got to befriend her, and ONE DAY, while I'm on the damn toilet in the morning, I get a FaceTime call from her. I answer going, 'Heeeyyyy bitch!' And what do I get in return? A very classy, VERY sweet, 'HEEEEYYYY BIIIITTTCHH!' from fucking PEDRO PASCAL! We talked for 15 mins and he was super fucking nice, man. He complimented my sister, we talked about his time on GoT, and then he peaced out to shoot some scenes." — u/Duvoziir 2. Jamie Lee Curtis "Jamie Lee Curtis asks crew members to wear name tags so she can greet and thank everyone by name." — u/PerspectiveNo1313 3. Henry Winkler "When my wife and I were in New York, we were standing outside waiting for a Broadway show, and Henry Winkler walked by. We waved and said hi, and he stopped and started talking to us. My wife was pregnant with our twins at the time, and we told him he was the first person we were telling, besides our parents, who already knew. He was so genuinely excited for us and stood there and spoke with us for another five minutes before he headed home. We got our picture with him, and then something else happened. About 5-6 weeks later, he was doing TV interviews at local stations. I work at a local TV station, and when I popped into the green room, I said, 'You aren't going to remember this, but a few weeks ago, my wife and I saw you, and she was pregnant...' He stops me and says, 'You're having twins, I remember!' It was one of the most incredible moments I've had with a celebrity, and I've had a few working in this industry." —Anonymous BuzzFeed Community Member 4. Megan Fox Jerod Harris / Getty Images for Uber "Megan Fox always had great breath, like, notably minty fresh, 100% of the time." — u/lmNotaWitchImUrWife 5. Jay-Z "Jay Z has incredibly soft hands, softer than you're than a very soft child. His hands are almost unnervingly soft." — u/Original_Campaign 6. Amanda Joy "AJ" Michalka from Aly & AJ "I once got into an argument with AJ from Aly & AJ. This was in 2017 so some of the details are a bit fuzzy lmfao. Someone who clearly didn't like her gave her a fake dictionary book that was used to store money as a birthday gift. She came into my store begging to return it. I told her she couldn't return it without a receipt, and she said, 'I'll take cash, thanks.' I repeated the policy, thinking maybe she didn't hear me the first time, and that's when she threw a full-on white girl fit. The item cost like $20, yet she was acting like it was draining her bank account. It got so heated that I had to walk out of the room. AJ's old ass boyfriend had to step in to calm her lmfao. She was incredibly rude and condescending. I let my manager deal with her snarky attitude while I was trying to decompress in the backroom. At one point, my manager came to get me because AJ wanted me back on the register just so she could put me in my place. She never got a refund. Instead, we just exchanged the item and gave her another one of those dumb fake dictionary books. I went from fan to hater overnight. 7. Paul Rudd Kyle Rivas / Getty Images "Paul Rudd makes sustained eye contact in a way that makes you feel like you're the only person in the room. But everyone in the room feels that way. The charisma just drips off of this man, it's wild." — u/lmNotaWitchImUrWife 8. Bebe Rexha Dave Benett /for The Gentleman's Journal "I knew Bebe Rexha before she got famous. I really don't have any dirt because she was always super nice to everyone. I was friendly with her at school and let her cheat off me in English. We snuck off a few times and she showed me songs she was writing. She always liked my music. She used to work at the MAC store, and I'll never forget one day she sat behind me in English and just went, 'Your skin is so emollient,' and I was like, 'I don't know what that means, lmao.' But it was a good thing; she was always complimenting other people. I never saw her have a diva moment or anything even close to that. I really have no notes. We weren't besties, but we had a lot of classes together and sat in chorus together. We were both sopranos. Wish she'd throw me a bone, but that's probably selfish and unrealistic. But girl, you cheated off me! Let me cheat off you! I'm just real." — u/parasyte_steve 9. Jesse McCartney Michael Buckner / WWD via Getty Images "Another celebrity I met back in 2017 was Jesse McCartney. He grabbed a few clothing items and politely asked to be let into the fitting room. He was super nice. I helped hang his clothes in the fitting room and closed the door behind him. Then a coworker walked up to me and said, ' Did you see Jesse McCartney? Damn, he got fat. He really let himself go.' I just stood there, frozen, mouthing, ' He's in there!' (Fucking embarrassing!). He definitely heard the entire conversation. I'll never forget the way Jesse came out of that fitting room, his shoulders slumped, and his whole demeanor had shifted. I walked him over to the register. He ended up leaving almost all the clothes behind and just bought a hat and a couple of shirts. Then, when it came time to pay, he pulled out loose bills and coins from his wallet. He looked at me and said quietly, 'I don't have enough,' and started putting items back. I could tell he was going through it financially. I told him, 'Don't worry about it, I'll give you a discount,' and he looked so relieved. It was honestly really sad. I could just tell he was hurting, and that moment stuck with me. Fame comes at you fast. I hope he's doing better." — u/Eventherich 10. Ariana Grande ROBYN BECK / AFP via Getty Images 11. Daniel Radcliffe Bruce Glikas / FilmMagic "Daniel Radcliffe hides at comic cons in full costumes. While he handed me his ID, I thought it was a Spencer's prop. He was dressed in a Spider-Man costume." — u/x65kos 12. Gwyneth Paltrow Ivan Romano / Getty Images "Gwyneth Paltrow brings her food pre-prepared most places in really nice glass containers. She then leaves the containers wherever she ate them and walks away. I had a set of her containers for a while, but I left them at my parents' house." — u/woolfonmynoggin 13. Jason Momoa Samir Hussein / Samir Hussein/WireImage "Met him at a [Comic] Con, in the elevator. I was in a wheelchair and looked up at him. My face must've done something amusing, because he looked down at me and deadpanned, 'I'm not that guy, I'm just a really good cosplayer.' He held it for a minute and then laughed really hard. He was a total sweetheart, and when my floor came up, he insisted on taking me out of the elevator, even though that meant he'd end up on a floor that wasn't his and having to wait for another elevator to come up. I squeaked out a request for a pic, and he happily complied. Nicest guy ever." —Anonymous BuzzFeed Community Member 14. Gisele Bündchen Harold Cunningham / Getty Images for IWC Schaffhausen "I worked in a garden connected to a property that had a ton of McMansions, and Gisele Bündchen had a home there, and her family would stay at it occasionally. I was alone and closing for the day, and suddenly she and her posse and children showed up right at closing time. I knew who she was instantly, but wasn't about to give her special treatment for it lol. So, as I'd do with any other visitor, I went over and kindly greeted them and let them know I'd be closing up in a few minutes. She pushed past the rest of her posse and loudly announced who she was, as if it were the secret password to letting her do whatever she wanted. Her kids then proceeded to go crazy in the chicken coops, breaking eggs and trying to grab chickens. While she had an impromptu social media photoshoot with an onion, she pretended to harvest it. She stayed a while after closing time, but I ended up not minding too much, as it was honestly hilarious to witness. No joke, it was one of the most comical experiences dealing with a 'celeb' I've had.' — u/hands_in_soil 15. Coolio Greg Doherty / Getty Images "Coolio (RIP) let me drink on his tab for knowing the lyrics to 'Gangsta's Paradise.' He told my boss to give me a raise. Also, he was rocking the same hairstyle as the music video, and that was impressive dedication." — u/thin_white_dutchess 16. Lastly, Donald Trump Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images "My father was a limo driver in the late '80s/early '90s. He drove talent for NBC and CBS. Donald Trump wasn't the insufferable a-hole he is now and offered my father a job chauffeuring his kids around. My father turned it down." — u/Soinclined2think Did any of these surprise you? Or do you have an interesting celebrity encounter that you want to share? Let me know all about it in the comments or in our anonymous Google Form.
