Within the unusual and outlandish world of rock & roll, sure backstage legends refuse to die: The band that solely wished sure coloured M&Ms or particular sorts of tea of their dressing rooms. Or eight packs of “sugar-free gum” (we’re taking a look at you, Killers).
Alas, a kind of myths, which bemuse these of us who chronicle such issues, might have simply been dispelled: the artist who calls for that nobody look instantly at her or him in any backstage capability.
That order was largely related to Prince, whose former associates would usually verify it. (Based on one story, a crew member was fired for daring to take action.) However this legend has additionally been hooked up for many years to Bob Dylan. And, it seems, it is probably not totally true, a minimum of in line with the Bard himself.
On Wednesday, Dylan, who’s all of a sudden within the operating to interchange the late David Crosby because the chattiest classic-rock social media dude of his era, posted about seeing a Nick Cave present in Paris. In response, Cheryl Henry, an astrologer who has additionally labored as an actress, standup comedian, and mannequin, replied to his submit with a narrative about having “my pleasure taken away” when she was employed as one of many backup dancers for Dylan’s efficiency of “Lovesick” on the 1998 Grammys (also called the “Soy Bomb Incident” after the man who crashed the stage). Henry wrote that she handed Dylan backstage and he mentioned to her, “Now don’t you go reducing that lengthy purple hair of yours earlier than tomorrow night time.” However, in line with Henry, she was then advised “to not return” to that space by her boss, who “advised us all earlier than NOT to make eye contact with you!”
Below something resembling regular circumstances, even on this more and more irregular world, Dylan wouldn’t have taken the time to answer. However in a submit verified by his camp to Rolling Stone, Dylan determined to fact-check Henry’s account together with his personal X response: “Noticed your reply. Simply need you to know I’ve by no means advised anyone to not make eye contact with me. That’s simply ridiculous. And the following time you see me please look straight into my eyes.” (“I knew it wasn’t coming from you!” Henry replied. “I look ahead to it! XXX OOOO.”)
It must be famous that this delusion has already been dispelled a minimum of as soon as. In 2014, Jeff Tweedy recounted to Esquire that he had heard the identical story after which discovered himself in the identical backstage space when Wilco opened a present for Dylan. Tweedy mentioned he “figured I used to be simply purported to avert my eyes” however as a substitute heard Dylan say, “Hey, Jeff, how’s it going, man?”
So, the ethical of the story: Subsequent time you Dylan on the road or as he’s strolling from his bus to the stage, really feel completely free to strategy him and chat him up. He’d love it.
Properly, possibly.
