Bob Dylan is widely recognized as a musical genius who is able to weave captivating stories into his songs. His unique talent has earned him numerous accolades, including the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature.
Despite the fact that the Nobel committee deemed Dylan’s work to be poetry and true art, some people find it challenging to appreciate his music. With a vast catalog to choose from, it can be difficult for newcomers to know where to begin, and some critics argue that Dylan’s music lacks the refined musicality of his peers. Additionally, many of his fellow artists, including David Crosby and Kurt Vonnegut, have expressed outright animosity towards Dylan’s work.
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, despite being compared to Bob Dylan for her acoustic music and emotional lyrics, vehemently refuted any similarities between the two. She accused Dylan of being inauthentic, a plagiarist with a fake name and voice, and lacking musical talent.
David Crosby
David Crosby, who owes his career to Dylan’s influence on rock folk, expressed frustration with Dylan’s rude and standoffish behavior. Crosby claimed that Dylan does not let anyone in and keeps his guard up, making it difficult to get to know him.
Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher, known for his outspoken opinions, expressed his dislike for Dylan, calling him a “miserable cunt” and claiming that he does not do it for him. While Gallagher admitted to liking “Lay Lady Lay,” he did not go as far as to say he was a fan of Dylan’s.
Chris Frantz
Chris Frantz, the drummer for Talking Heads, took issue with Dylan’s claim that Elvis Costello and the Attractions were better than any of their contemporaries. Frantz told Dylan to “suck a dick” and disagreed with his statement, arguing that Dylan was wrong.
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut, the author of Slaughterhouse-Five, had no kind words to say about Dylan’s music. Vonnegut claimed that Dylan was the worst poet alive and could only manage to write one good line in a song, leaving the rest as gibberish.