from a 12 year old gypsy boy from the Isle of Wight in 1969 who grew up to be a criminal. One of the most moving things I've ever read. Truly evocative as to the stunning importance of music in our lives.

As it happens (most summers actually) I'm going through a Dylan phase and am completely hooked by the Lyrics of Visions of Johanna.

love Dylan and I do the same..he goes in and out of fashion with me..

Visions of Johanna is one of the great examples of his brilliant prose.

In fact I saved his life once.

(he was in Sydney about 4 years ago and staying at the hotel where Michael Hutchence killed himself. I was going up to see a friend and we both got in the lift..didn't recognise him at first as he is so tiny. Couldn't get the lift to work and he was stabbing the buttons..'you know how this works man'..he said. I said 'swipe your room card'..and it worked..he said..'ya saved my life man' )

ps: got in a lift with Perez Hilton once and he had terrible BO..a story for another day

I read this as well and thought it very interesting. At the time (1969) Dylan was being pestered constantly by fans and was reacting by becoming very reclusive and hostile. Yet he was clearly capable of great kindness towards this boy who didn't know who he was. Interesting as well that in the midst of his 'Nashville Skyline' country music phase he chose to play the kid 'North Country Blues' and give him a copy of 'The Times They Are-A Changin' LP.

On another note there is a mention of Dylan at around the same time (Isle of Wight 1969) in your nemesis Waxi Maxi's ghost-written autobiography. He depicts Dylan in a negative light and calls him 'a legend in his own mind'.

Perez Hilton actually looks like a person with terrible B.O. if that is possible.