85 Unknown Facts About Bob Dylan for His 84th Birthday

May 24, 2025

From Hibbing to Highway 61, from folk clubs to Nobel lectures, Bob Dylan has never stopped moving, questioning, or reinventing what a songwriter—and a song—can be. Whether you came for the protest anthems, the cowboy hats, or the Christmas album (!), there’s always another Dylan phase to discover.

Bob Dylan’s original stage name was Elston Gunnn—with three n’s.
He once played piano for Bobby Vee—twice—in 1959.
Dylan wrote his first original song, “Song to Woody,” as a tribute to his idol, Woody Guthrie.
His high school yearbook predicted he’d join Little Richard.
He claims the only person he ever wanted to meet in life was Elvis Presley.
The Beatles first heard The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan in Paris and wore the record out.
He changed his name legally to Bob Dylan in 1962—his father signed the paperwork.
He nearly joined the Army just to get a free haircut.
He introduced the Beatles to marijuana in 1964.
He was the first rock artist to win a Pulitzer Prize (special citation, 2008).
Dylan didn’t speak for an entire week after JFK was assassinated.
He was once booed at the Newport Folk Festival—for playing electric guitar.
“Like a Rolling Stone” was rejected by Columbia Records’ execs for being “too long.”
Jimi Hendrix’s version of “All Along the Watchtower” made Dylan say, “That’s how it’s supposed to sound.”
His 1966 motorcycle crash might not have even happened—no ambulance, no hospital report.
He’s been on what’s called the “Never Ending Tour” since 1988.
He once released a 17-minute song about the JFK assassination…in 2020.
Dylan only made one Super Bowl ad—in 2014, for Chrysler.
He drew the original sketch for his Self Portrait album cover.
He learned to write songs by copying Hank Williams lyrics by hand.
He secretly married Carolyn Dennis in the 1980s and kept it quiet for over a decade.
He wrote “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” for a Western movie starring Kris Kristofferson.
Dylan turned down appearing at Woodstock.
He’s painted more than he’s released albums—his art has been shown in major galleries.
In 1965, he played nine songs in a row using the same four chords—and no one complained.
He once said he found religion through a song, not a preacher.
Dylan’s handwritten lyrics have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction.
He recorded a Christmas album in 2009 and donated all profits to charity.
He’s had the same bassist, Tony Garnier, for over 30 years.
Johnny Cash sent a letter to Broadside magazine defending Dylan before they even met.
Dylan once said his favorite rapper was…Eminem.
He’s covered Sinatra songs more than any other artist since 2015.
In his Nobel lecture, he cited Moby-Dick and All Quiet on the Western Front as literary influences.
He co-wrote songs with George Harrison that were never released.
His backup singers in the ’70s included Luther Vandross.
One of his biggest early gigs? A short scene on a BBC TV drama.
“Mr. Tambourine Man” was inspired by a real-life tambourine man named Bruce Langhorne.
He once called U2’s Bono “the voice of this generation—mine’s a bit more hoarse.”
His biggest hit in the 2000s? “Make You Feel My Love,” via Adele, Garth Brooks, and Billy Joel.
He once played harmonica on a Ramblin’ Jack Elliott album while eating a sandwich.
His memoir Chronicles: Volume One skips the ’60s almost entirely.
He was mistaken for homeless in Long Branch, NJ in 2009 and questioned by police.
Dylan said he doesn’t believe in following news but still reads The Economist.
He was the subject of Martin Scorsese documentaries twice.
Dylan reportedly doesn’t own a cellphone.
He once made a rap cameo on a Kurtis Blow album.
He used to mime along to Little Richard records in front of a mirror as a kid.
Dylan’s son Jakob Dylan is the lead singer of The Wallflowers.
His 1970 album Self Portrait was critically trashed—so he named his next album New Morning.
He wrote “Forever Young” as a lullaby for his son.
His biggest concert? Over 600,000 fans in Rio de Janeiro, 1990.
He was nominated for an Emmy for his song in Ted Lasso.
He once wrote a song with Sam Shepard.
He’s played over 3,000 shows on the Never Ending Tour.
He owns a whiskey brand—Heaven’s Door.
The “Judas!” heckle in Manchester was immortalized on tape… and Dylan shouted back.
He toured with the Grateful Dead and Tom Petty in the ’80s.
He once painted 32 iron gates and called it “visual music.”
He wrote 30 songs for a Broadway musical with the director of Girl from the North Country.
He said the one thing he regrets is… not learning piano properly.
Dylan’s childhood home in Hibbing, MN, still has its original mailbox.
He wrote “Tangled Up in Blue” while living in the Minnesota woods.
He’s been known to test his band with new arrangements—during the show.
He prefers to tour small venues instead of stadiums.
He wrote “Blowin’ in the Wind” in under 10 minutes.
He was awarded France’s Legion of Honour—after initial pushback from officials.
He owns thousands of vinyl records—and still prefers analog.
He once turned down a chance to join Paul Simon’s tour just to “stay home and cook.”
He appeared on MTV Unplugged—against his label’s advice.
The most covered Dylan song? “Blowin’ in the Wind,” with over 375 versions.
He told 60 Minutes he made a deal “with the chief commander… of this earth and the world we can’t see.”
Dylan’s handwriting is nearly illegible—his publishers often require a translator.
He wrote “Visions of Johanna” in a freezing hotel room with no heat.
He got married in secret—twice.
He once sent a thank-you note to a fan who returned a lost harmonica.
He never attended his Nobel Prize ceremony—but he sent Patti Smith.
Dylan says he never listens to his own albums after release.
He once wrote a song called “Wiggle Wiggle.” Critics did not love it.
His music has appeared in over 100 film soundtracks.
Dylan was once asked to write a James Bond theme. He politely declined.
His latest single hit #1 on the Billboard Rock chart—at age 79.
He says he writes best at 3 a.m.
Dylan has performed with everyone from The Band to Stevie Wonder to Norah Jones.
He’s the only songwriter to win an Oscar, Pulitzer, and Nobel Prize.
And finally… when asked if he’d ever retire, Bob Dylan said: “I’ll let you know when I get there.”

So happy 84th to the artist who made poetry sing and made pop music think. Here’s to the stories behind the songs, the secrets inside the bootlegs, and the magic of a career that keeps unfolding like a scroll from another time.

Keep it surreal, Bob. We’ll keep listening.