18 LIFE BOB DYLAN
term meteoric really does apply.
To read Dylan’s own memoir, Chronicles: Volume One,
and other books dealing with the times as they were
a-changing, life was exciting on a daily basis among the
young and footloose in the early 1960s. Sure, they were upset
about civil rights issues, inequalities and, soon enough, the
masters of war. But they were free and easy, they were on
their own, and for those of them like Dylan, who commu-
nicated from the stage, applause was a nightly guarantee.DYLAN HAD HOPED LIFE IN THE BIG CITY
would treat him kindly, but this is ridiculous.
He suddenly has all these new, talented
friends. Below he performs with the
Greenbriar Boys, Ralph Rinzler (left) and
John Herald, at the Gaslight Cafe in 1962.
At bottom, he is with Ramblin’ Jack Elliott,
who would remain a constant buddy, joining
Dylan more than 10 years later on the Rolling
Thunder Revue tour. At right, he and Dave
Van Ronk are escorts on the happy streets of
the Village. The young woman at Dylan’s side
is Suze Rotolo, and she is important. On the
pages following, we learn more about her.JOHN COHEN/GETTY
DOUGLAS R. GILBERT
© JIM MARSHALL PHOTOGR APHY LLC
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