BobDylan:TheNeverEndingStar

BobDylan’scontributiontopopularmusicisimmeasurable.Veneratedasrock’sonetruegenius,Dylanisconsideredresponsibleforintroducinganewrangeoftopicsandnewlyricalcomplexityintopopularmusic.WithoutBobDylan,rockcriticDaveMarshonceclaimed,therewouldbenopopularmusicasweunderstandittoday.Assuchanexaltedfigure,Dylanhasbeenthesubjectofcountlessbooksandintricatescholarshipconsideringvariousdimensionsofboththemanandhismusic.ThisbookplacesnewemphasisonDylanasarockstar.WhateverelseDylanis,heisastar–iconic,charismatic,legendary,enigmatic.Nooneelseinpopularmusichasmaintainedsuchstarstatusforsolongaperiodoftime.ShowinghowtheoriesofstardomcanhelpusunderstandbothBobDylanandthehistoryofrockmusic,LeeMarshallprovidesnewinsightintohowDylan’ssongsacquiremeaningandaffectshisrelationshipwithhisfans,hiscriticsandtherecordingindustry.MarshalldiscussesDylan’semergenceasastarinthefolkrevival(the“spokesmanforageneration”)andtheformativerolethatDylanplaysincreatinganewtypeofmusic–rock–andanewtypeofstar.Bringingthebookrightuptodate,healsoshedsnewlightonhowDylan’slatercareerhasbeenshapedbyhisearlierstarimageandhowDylanrepeatedlytriedtothrowoffthelimitationsandresponsibilitiesofhisstardom.ThebookconcludesbyconsideringtherevivalofDylanoverthepasttenyearsandhowDylan’sstardomhasdevelopedinawaythatcontains,butisnotovershadowedby,hisachievementsinthe1960s.