January 19, 2013 11:37

Bob Dylan to play tribute show to poet Dylan Thomas in Wales?

'Mr. Dylan is thinking very positively about the idea,' says MP for West Swansea

Photo Gallery: Bob Dylan
Photo: PA

Bob Dylan could play a tribute show for late poet Dylan Thomas in Wales, according to a Welsh MP.

Reuters reports that Dylan is mulling over an offer to play a gig to mark the 100th birthday of Thomas, with MP for West Swansea Geraint Davies revealing that he has been in touch with the singer to convince him to play the concert.

There have often been theories that Dylan, who was born Robert Zimmerman, took his adopted name from the Welsh poet and he is a self-confessed fan of Thomas' work, although there have also been suggestions that his moniker was inspired by a character from US TV Western Gunsmoke called Marshal Matt Dillon.

Davies, however, is hopeful that the link between Dylan and the deceased poet will convince him to visit Swansea as part of a series of commemorative events next year. "Bob Dylan named himself after Dylan Thomas," he said. "I have asked Bob Dylan whether he would be prepared to give a centenary concert in Swansea, in order that he could blend his music with Dylan Thomas's poetry."

He added:

Sony Music has come back and said that Mr. Dylan is thinking very positively about the idea.

Dylan released his 35th studio album, 'Tempest', last year. It contains a total of 10 tracks and was produced by Dylan himself, although, as with his recent studio albums, the producer was named as 'Jack Frost'. The album includes a special tribute to John Lennon named 'Roll On John' and a 14-minute epic inspired by the Titanic called 'Tempest'.

The singer subsequently responded angrily to accusations that he plagiarised other artists and authors' material, claiming that "wussies and pussies complain about that stuff". He also likened the detractors to the ame kind of people who branded him 'Judas' for switching from an acoustic to an electric guitar in 1965 at the Newport Folk Festival and insisted that "all those evil motherfuckers can rot in hell".

The world's greatest music magazine is now available as a digital edition! For exclusive content you won't find on NME.COM, download here on your iPad/iPhone and here on your Kindle Fire or Nook.

Share on Facebook