Badass Bob Dylan Stories

[@otisgibbs]

I put together this compilation of Bob Dylan stories from interviews I've done over the years. I'm hoping this will help people find these stories. If you watch all the way through, press the like button and leave your favorite emoji in the comments, it will help more people find this video in the future. Have you ever seen Bob live? Do you have a favorite era, album or song?

[@toddflowers8052]

Saw him at the Hulman Center in '78 or '79 ? while attending ISU. I like his early stuff the best like "Talkin' WWIII Blues" ,etc.

[@ClintonC.Caraway]

Definitely watching all the way through. These are some of the best sections of people's interviews.

[@melodymakermark]

I didn’t see Bob until a couple or three years ago…the Rough and Rowdy Ways tour, but it was a magical feeling just being in the same zip code with him. No classics played of course. The closest to that was Gotta Serve Somebody with a rocked up rhythm. I envy people who saw him play It’s Alright Ma or similar tunes. My favorite album? Hard to say, but I think the one that means the most to me is Blood on the Tracks because by that time I was of an age where I could really appreciate a new Dylan release.

[@andrewcairns8266]

Awesome. Seeing Dylan on Tuesday for the third time in a decade. Can't wait!

[@susmith7837]

Saw him at Blackbushe on the Rolling Thunder tour. When he spoke he sounded like a mafia hood from the movies. It was quite a shock as I worshipped him as the sensitive poet and genius.

[@vedantapdx]

A young kid I knew in high school in 1963 told me about this singer that he wanted me to hear, and that was Bob. He kinda painted a mental picture of a folk singer type who made songs that made him laugh and I liked the kid, he was from Syria, so much that the referral stuck in my brain and that became one of the reasons I searched for this music. There was obviously no Google back than, so when Bob's first records came out I hunted them down right away. The kid who had described Dylan's humor and fresh approach to performance was a unique person, so I always remembered his fascination of the unique folk singer. It led to me owning 3 record stores beginning in my University years. I'm 77 yrs old so I have been a long time Dylan fan.

[@transhumanisttv1771]

What happened to the Syrian guy?

[@robertrozier2940]

@@transhumanisttv1771that was my question!!! Yes, what happened to him? Dylan would also want to know this part of the story !

[@trinidiana]

What a great story

[@mickkollins]

I lived next door to Bob out on Pt Dume Malibu 86-'91.. There was a thick tree line so you couldn't see in but I used to sit on the back porch and listen to Tom and Bob rehearse.

[@richardpeterson8117]

that’s pretty rad ….great coastline down there

[@roberttaylor505]

Two hours of Bob Dylan stories? This might be your KZbin Magnum Opus Otis! 👍😊☮

[@otisgibbs]

❤

[@toddflowers8052]

Magnum Otis !!! 😊

[@jkarnes45]

We love you too Otis. Thank you for bringing us all these great stories about the artists that had such an influence on our lives.

[@sharontalley2155]

This is incredible! The first song that I heard that turned me on to Bob Dylan was Subterranean Homesick Blues. It just blew my mind and I fell in love with Bob. I still listen to his music today. This video brought back a lot of old memories. Thank you for posting this!

[@Bastikovski99]

That first story is hilarious! I can just imagine Bob sitting down and writing a 10 minute Hurricane-type song about the indignity of having paint thrown on your new cowboy boots. Love it 😂

[@taramilton8695]

My Bob Dylan anecdote: In 1995 my band The Nubiles featured on the same bill at a festival in Stratford Upon Avon, UK. While I was in the catering tent with a band mate, the great man entered alone, got himself a nice big slice of cake (chocolate I think?) and sat down at a table almost opposite to enjoy it. We were in awe just to see him eating cake! Not wishing to intrude upon the moment we maintained a respectable distance. I remember his warm demeanour with great affection!

[@robertrozier2940]

Bc he would want you to remember, he’s just another dude eating cake. 🍰

[@taramilton8695]

@@robertrozier2940 You nailed it !

[@joshuasmith9528]

I met Bob Dylan when I was 15. He was lifelong friends with my friend’s mom from the east coast. They had moved to Oklahoma, and when he came to play an okc show, he stopped in to say hi to my friends mom. I knew Like a Rolling Stone and that was about it at the time. He was super nice even though I didn’t become a fan until 10 years later. I had heard of him, but wasn’t impressed at the time.

[@billknudson7895]

Thank you, Otis, for filling my evening with great Dylan stories. After the drama that took place earlier this week, I needed to focus on my first love-music. This was the perfect salve. Much gratitude.

[@vecchiofalegname6149]

This was great, and thank you. And Dylan's a genius, but I'm with Peter Case: No need to meet him. Years ago (mid-70s) a couple we knew were living on Point Dume, and she got to know Dylan at their kids' soccer games. They'd jog together. Blew my mind that Dylan jogged (and that he wanted to hang out with this housewife). I'm guessing for him normal relationships are pretty rare. Through sheer coincidence, I got to watch him do an acoustic set of some of his great songs (Blowin', Tambourine Man, etc) from the wings at one concert, and I couldn't believe my luck. Never in my life thought I'd have an opportunity to see something like that. (Also coincidentally, Bob's mom was standing next to me.)

[@RayBoucher-q8c]

God damn Otis, yesterday I stumbled upon your awesome video with Billy Prine. Then today I happened upon this one. Ya know what Otis, I can’t wait til tomorrow! Thank you from the Great White North.

[@jamesrinaudo1013]

Some great Dylan stories packed in this, thanks dude!

[@marcob6880]

A very enjoyable 2 hours Otis, Lay Lady Lay was the real first time I peaked to Dylan. Id just turned 14 and there was just something about the guitars and Bobs voice that made that song bigger than anything I ever heard. I saved up and bought Nashville Skyline and Blonde on blonde. I listened to those 2 albums nonstop for the rest of the summer. My friend and I were just learning how to play guitar and started learning what we could, I already knew a few of Hank sr tunes and picked up Girl from the North Country by seeing Johnny Cash do it on TV. Bob certainly helped with my musical education. Ive seen him maybe a dozen times or more, i even brought my children to see him, my youngest who's 29 loves Bob, his brother likes Blood on the tracks and thats about where it ends. Thanks again Otis for all you do.

[@Calleisak]

Amazing! Your work is as important as John Lomax! These stories need to be preserved!!

[@GotDangJosh]

Otis this is a joy! Thank you brother!

[@bru64time]

Such wonderful "badass" stories. So enjoyable, I need to watch the video a couple more times. (thank you for posting!)

[@dixiefallas7799]

I’m going to see Bob on Friday in Nottingham. Brilliant Bob. Cheers for this🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@shaunacarpenter1320]

Peter Case: "He was the greatest teacher. . . From "The Times They Are A-Changin'" . . . "11 Outline Epigraphs" . . . a great resource . . . I wanted to understand the things he understood. " Amen.

[@TheEvanBennett]

Awesome man, what a cool time capsule of Bob stories lol.

[@patrickkearney6486]

JOB WELL DONE !!! I was on the edge of my chair thru-out this entire show. I am a BIG Dylan fan since I was a kid ND My older brother started bringing records into the house; he was SO cool and we would listen to music and talk for hours sometimes. Dylan used what he called " imagery" in all his lyrics. These were the best stories I have ever heard, told by the best choice of people in my opinion.....the ones who worked with him and got to talk with him as a person !!!

[@joeurbanowski321]

Thanks Otis..!! This is great..! ❤

[@nealgaydos8533]

I was on my knees rolling the cuffs of a pair of blue jeans to be altered for Bob Dylan (he was buying at Fred Segal). I looked up at him and said “you’re great”. He looked down at me and said “so are you”. He meant it. So did I. Neal Gaydos

[@jimmyjambon9206]

Thank you for putting these all together,

[@MellowWind]

Wow. Great stories. I will listen to this again. Thank you.

[@sspbrazil]

I love listening to Peter Case and Kenny Vaughn for different reasons, they are both so interesting.

[@kathrynnobbe]

Love you Peter Case. Your passion and intellect enliven the telling of Bob Dylan's storied history. This is especially cool, given that they are told by you, who not only revere Dylan's genius, but are in your own right such an exceptional, captivating artist.

[@turtlewoman1]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!!!

[@weehudyy]

To Kenny's yarn about seeing Van Morrison with Georgie Fame : A bass player friend of mine was supposed to do a European tour with Van . The band rehearsed for several weeks with the MD , but no actual physical presence of Van , because apparently Mr Morrison doesn't like rehearsal rooms ( or bands for that matter ) Anyhoo , shortly before they are supposed to head off , Van goes out to see Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames , sits in for the encore , has the time of his life , then hires the entire ensemble for his tour . My pal got paid for the rehearsals , but never once got to be in the same room as ' The Man ' .

[@lauraeliot7199]

Thank you for this! So much fun and now I know what Ray Padgett looks like!❤

[@JMacque]

Great mega Dylan post, Otis! I like the different personalities and their divergent, memorable impressions. Very cool. 😎

[@donny_doyle]

I am reading this book now- it's so good. Long live Bob Dylan!

[@aclark7599]

Which book?

[@philovance1940]

Back in ‘80 I bought 3 Dylan albums all on sale at a local record store. Hard Rain, Bringing it All Back Home, Times Are a Changin’. For $5.99 and $3.99. There were brand new albums. Those albums were very important to me as a budding guitar player/singer. Some of my proudest moments were learning Dylan tunes to play and sing.

[@njsongwriter]

I once had a brief conversation with Graham Parker who it seems opened for Bob Dylan at one time. He related an experience of a conversation he had with a member of Dylan's band and he asked him what Dylan was like ... The reply was, "I really don't know, I've never met him personally to have any conversation." He even said that Dylan didn't rehearse with his band at that time.

[@3dougj]

Thank you Otis for a great video. Happy new year to you and yours. 🤘👍❤️🙏

[@Nigel-y3g]

'Infidels' is a fine album under Mark Knopfhler's production, a very underrated album in my humble opinion.

[@robert-wr6md]

There was construction work going on in the alleyway in the original "Subterranian" film too. Thanks Otis what a great film you just made.

[@lauriemeegan2237]

Twenty years of schoolin’ and they put ya on the Day Shift…look out kid! They keep it all hid. Better jump down the alley , lookin for a new friend” favorite lines from Subterranean Homesick Blues that grabbed my attention. Heard it first on LP when I was about 13. Was amazed at the lyrics and way it was so alliterative and so hip. Saw the video many years later on KZbin.

[@billknudson7895]

I would like hear “Infidels” produced by a young Daniel Lanois. One thing I would not change would be Mick Taylor’s beautiful guitar solo during the outro of “Sweetheart Like You.”

[@MrMeriljean]

lovely, juat lovely little slice of music history

[@royjamescrossley3671]

I enjoyed reading Pledging My Time, I reread it often, but it was such a joy to see Ray Padgett talking. He is so knowledgable and has such a pleasant voice and demeanour, it was my favourite interview in this video.

[@jaybreen1010]

Hey, great work! I wanted to cite a couple reasonably recent examples of a live band at a large venue coming out ragged and hanging in there long enough for the music to take full flight. First I remember Willie Nelson's Family Band at the Meadowbrook venue in NH in 2014 (I think) - opening with Whiskey River. My friends and I looked at one another maybe 16 bars in like "oh, right, they are after all about 80 years old" but about a minute and a half into it they gelled and locked in for the whole set. Another is Dead and Co. in 2023 at Fenway. Very similar kind of thing.

[@drobinson8158]

My family is from Hibbing. I grew up in the cities, but over the years I've had the pleasure to hear a few stories about Dylan from "regular" folks there. I love, and tell them whenever possible.

[@tonyrobinson1636]

Otis, you are excellent at this work! A music fan in passing, Dylan, Vaughan, and others are entertaining without question! I can't hold a tune or play an instrument, but your content is fun!!!

[@bar9973]

I’m 80 and recall the local DJs referring to Bobby Vee as “The Fargo Flash” when he first arrived on the scene. I think he was born and raised in Fargo ND, not Hibbing MN as mentioned. Bob Dylan was born in Duluth MN however he did live in Hibbing from 1948 to 1959. I became aware of Dylan in 1964 when I overheard him singing “The Ballad of Hollis Brown” on a stereo system in the dorm room across the hall. My wife and I attended his 1978 concert at The St Paul Civic Center on Halloween night. Her wonderful father stood in line for hours to buy our tickets since we were both at work. As I recall some critics gave the concert a low rating but we thought it was terrific. In 1965, Dylan was loudly booed at the Minneapolis Auditorium for going electric in the concert's second half. Glad I wasn’t there to witness the disrespect they showed. By the way, I think Dylan’s voice and singing style were ideally suited for the songs he wrote before his singing voice began to falter about 30 years ago.

[@rogernetzer1054]

juist so great. Bless you.

[@avogadrosmole6934]

My mind is blown! The Xanthe Littlemore story was in Adelaide, South Australia 15 February 1986. I was front and centre to see Bob for the first time (and about 12 times since) and I remember her. Here we are almost 40 years later and I'm sure she said her name was Sandy, but there you go. Thanks Otis and thanks Ray for that little connection.

[@xanthel1634]

Hey there, it’s nice to find someone who was actually there at the gig the night I did that gig with Dylan. I have no photos or recordings of it, so I’d love to hear any recollections you have of it. Your memory appears to be excellent! And you’re right, I often say my name is Sandy when I just don’t want to spell Xanthe again! :)

[@xanthel1634]

KZbin is deleting my email address. I’ll have to try this: xanlev7

[@xanthel1634]

At gmail

[@xanthel1634]

dotcom

[@xanthel1634]

I hope you are well and happy.

[@chissumworthington]

SOOOOO enjoyable to listen to! Love your videos, Otis.

[@marcyfan-tz4wj]

my favorite of your always interesting guests is peter case! my 2nd favorite is the guy who wrote "way down" for elvis...thank you.

[@SamK2525]

One of my favorite videos was Lucinda doing Long for Your Kiss and blown away by the nerdy awkward kid playing great solo. Didnt realize this was Kenny V until watching the videos of him telling old stories.

[@satori21]

nice compilation of stories. I saw Dylan in Knoxville TN in the mid 90s at an intimate theater. In the middle of a powerful version of "Everything is Broken" a light fixture came crashing down right next to the bass player. the music halted for an instant as Dylan glanced back to make sure nobody in his band was dead then he looked back out at the audience and he belted out everything is broken and the band restarted. the audience went crazy and rushed to the front of the stage for the whole rest of the show.

[@JanineDavidson-e1t]

I saw that concert it was at the historic Tennessee Theatre as he said I. Knoxville, Tennessee I let out a little scream as did a lot of folks but Bob Dylan didn't even act as though he knew it happened. Very professional or very into his music nothing else existed Wow. This is the first time I've ever heard anyone else tell that story. Cool it happened in my home town . Janine Davidson

[@richierugs6544]

Dylan drove past me on San Vincente blvd in Hollywood in a really pathetically dented and rusted VW beetle, our eyes met for an instant like people do---i remember thinking wow, that was Bob Dylan in that crappy car!

[@enricoholley7658]

Wow. Was this recently

[@benallmark9671]

Lol , awesome !

[@TheWorldTeacher]

Robert Zimmerman. 🎄Merry Christmas!🎄

[@beesting26]

Subscribed. Thanks for this.

[@willpaine651]

Stumbled on this today. Excellent stuff. Not sure when you were at the Subterranean location, but I was there maybe 7-10 years ago and was thwarted by what seems like the same building-site fence. A recommended stop-off on the Zimmermann trail.

[@gambleriver]

wonderful stories brutha, much love and appreciation to ya

[@radiokajw]

Enjoyed this so much! I've seen a lot of it before, but some of them were new. Especially the Ray Padget interview which finally pushed me to buy the book. I wanted to chime in on Infidels - This was the record that turned me into the fanatic that I am today. Always love Dylan since my Dad played an 8-track of Greatest Hits Vol. 1 on a trip to the Grand Canyon when I was 8 years old. Moving forward, I was a huge Dire Straits fan in high school and it forced me to revisit Dylan right after graduation. I hear you regarding the 80's reverb, but the playing is fantastic and the hi-fi audiophile levels are in tact, the record sounds great loud. AND THE SONGS could be as good of a collection as ever. Licensed To Kill doesn't get enough credit in the catalog talk. Can't wait to eventually catch up to you down the road! Thanks for all the tip-top entertainment!

[@Fiddle_guy]

I was in for the whole banana. I cried when it was over. Much Love, back at yah❤

[@gingerroot8906]

When working in a retail catalog clothing call center I noticed that a customer calling in was from Hibbing. I had to ask her if she had any info about Dylan living there. She was quite cheerful and told me about Bob walking with her sister home from school in junior high school. He was around. She knew where his house was. He'd duck into a room and play the school piano. She said he was all about music.

[@SethSchwartz-j2w]

“Cousin” Kenny Vaughan mentions playing with Sweethearts of the Rodeo (the first time he met Dylan). I saw Sweethearts at the Lone Star Roadhouse in midtown Manhattan, and the opening act was Garth Brooks - his first NYC appearance!

[@CornboneStudios]

Thank You, Happy Birthday!

[@thesoundchekguy]

Thanks for posting this. I need a distraction from the event of two days ago. I need another Otis Gibbs Coffee Talk soon.

[@Joeyjojoshabbadoo]

You mean DT winning? Yeah, you're right, that was pretty traumatizing. I wonder who old boy voted for, eh? I hope he's still got his mind right. Don't forget where you came from, Bob Dylan.

[@thesoundchekguy]

@@Joeyjojoshabbadoo Yeah my heart is broken.

[@billknudson7895]

We all took one on the chin this week. Rest up, watch more Otis videos, then get strong.

[@matthewhanhauser5993]

Getting me through my work day, brother. Tha ks!

[@mattjohn4731]

Before playing for Dylan, Winston was briefly in the AZ band Giant Sand who I really like

[@Dylanheadful]

As a fellow poet I remember thinking the way Subterranean Homesick Blues was presented was so cool how the reader had single cards to see instead of a page of paper It was read quickly as he flipped the cards which I liked the tempo of that beat I was maybe 12 or 13 and he was the best musician and lyricist I ever heard So intriguing and now at 67 I still feel the same way about whatever he does musically and artistically 🌻🦋

[@MrEdWeirdoShow]

Bob was always one of those heroes I wanted to meet but never did. So of course I got to meet his longtime girlfriend Joan Baez. It was in 1974 at the old Chaplin/A&M studios in California. I went there to accompany a guy who was interviewing her for the alternative press. I kept super polite, babysat her son, and never mentioned Bob. Joan was wonderful.

[@bollox679]

Pretty sure him and Joan dated for about 2 years tops I'd say 62-64.

[@neenagill2299]

Thank you. I am far away in SE Asia. Feeling a bit confused about your country. But the music , particularly Bob's, gives me hope.

[@bw6994]

Many that live here are confused about our country too.

[@Garret00074]

Thank you my friend.

[@SKMikeMurphySJ]

Thank you, very entertaining.

[@lyndarosborough869]

Thank you ! 🎉

[@jamescassidy3995]

Ahh! Wish I’d known you were in my home town London - would have loved to buy you dinner or show you around as a thank you for all these wonderful clips! Reach out next time if you want to - it’d be an absolute pleasure! JC😅

[@briannacery9939]

"Don't Look Back?" I was giddy as school girl watching that whole film. Donovan, Baez and all the supporting actors made it happen. We are all actors on the stage of life!❤ "Gimmie grace in all my deeds. " Invocation to Tahuti.

[@caroldunlevy8033]

I’m convinced he came over to sign Chronicles in Lafayette, IN after a show because my then 14 year old son called him over. He was as sweet as he could be! I kissed his cheek with permission

[@otisgibbs]

That's tremendous, Carol! ❤

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

You know who has a great Bob Dylan story? GE Smith. I love his story about how they knew the song Peggy O. "Yeah, that's us. We're the guys who know Peggy O."

[@lukefish7562]

Very much appreciated sir. 🙏🏽 Hope you’re well.

[@OldHenryLee]

Awesome! Thanks for putting this together & to all else involved with the interviews. ... Looking forward to checking it on out. ... Even if I've probably already heard most of em 😂🤣😂. Thanks again Mr. Otis, and best wishes to you & yours

[@ninaromm5491]

What a treat to find 🎉🎉🎉 Delish for year's end !!!!!!!! Best wishes for Round th Bend 😂❤😂

[@JohnBurman-l2l]

Like Picasso who was once a rebel artist, and ended up on product packaging. Dylan has lived long enough to become mass consumer bubblegum.

[@misterjones2u]

Priceless! Wonderful stuff, thank you Otis

[@jedgould5531]

I don’t think the ‘little girl’ story is unusual, unless the band member thought it was inappropriate. Just a sweet guy.

[@christophermoon64]

Otis, pretty far-out at the Savoy with the Subterranean Homesick Blues vid. I first saw it and Don't Look Back at 13ish, and needless to say the film is ingrained into my mind. I first heard Blowing in the Wind and Talkin' New York oddly enough so I ran out and bought his 1st album & Bringing It All Back Home, and loved them both, so I rented a VHS 📼 🎶 😎 🤷 👌 of Don't Look Back which of course blew me away. And dug Donovan, too! Still dig him! But I'm still fairly young enough, but Bob Dylan has always been a treasure of Life. Looking back, (I know, don't! 😅) Elvis, Dylan & the Beats, Ginsberg Kerouac & the rest had tremendous impacts on me, and I remain impacted to this day, really. Thanks for the stories!

[@douglove2412]

Great compilation. Seen before, glad to see them together. Also, forehead-slap reminder to get the book!

[@bairdseymour]

Thanks for posting.

[@willpaine651]

Since you ask for our opinions of 'Infidels': I love it and was listening to it on a Walkman pretty continuously at one point back in the day, when I was travelling with minimum belongings. He checks all his usual boxes: melodies, lyrical originality, delivery.. Each of the two sides of the album had one track which I didn't much care for, although they also grew on me because of the words. When I perennially find myself explaining the stand-alone quality of Dylan to people, I often mention 'I and I' as containing the best-ever rhyming of the banal words 'walk' and 'talk' in the history of the music, standing out from the lazy dross that those two words usually trigger in un-blessed songwriters.

[@thor9563]

I saw Lucinda Williams' band up in Ninilchik Alaska in '14 - what a great performance!

[@GIBKEL]

The everyone of everywhere. Nice sleuthing. I was working at a record store/video store in the 80’s and getting educated by an older dude out of Minneapolis-former babysitter for Smoky Robinson. So, so cool and ahead of the time.

[@melodymakermark]

What a fantastic compilation. I’ve had to watch it in bits due to time constraints, but sooo enjoyable. Otis, could you do a similar video of Jerry Lee Lewis?

[@Caperhere]

💙💙💙💙💙💙 Kenny Vaughan!

[@johngordon2899]

My little brother was working at a large home in Houston twenty years ago helping deconstruct party furniture after a giant soiree at a society event. It was probably three or four in the morning. He casually tells me Bob Dylan was sitting in the garden by himself and they had a nice conversation about this and that. I believe he told me the owner of the house was Bob's long time friend from his early days in New York, maybe his first manager. He said Bob was a nice guy, inquisitive, congenial, interesting. My brother of all people!

[@bernadettemalec9472]

Bob is a really nice guy. Give him some space and he'll open up. Don't act like he's an icon, we know he is but Bob doesn't want to be told he is. 💜

[@bernadettemalec9472]

That's why I don't ever want to meet any of these guys

[@mtf347]

Cool shit Otis, thanks.

[@quitruiningtheplanet]

Thanks!

[@electrolinks]

This was incredible.

[@Daniel-x9n7c]

Love the whole video👍

[@grtpyrmd21]

Loving this.

[@opticscolossalandepicvideo4879]

Fantastic job Otis. Please interview Lee Harvey Oswald friend Ruth Paine to share her Dylan memories. She absolutely loved Bob as did Lee Harvey’s wife Marina and Ruth’s husband Michael.

[@nickhughes4800]

Tommy Stinsons story is really cool! Im a sucker for a Minneapolis connection.

[@ericastrom9191]

Thanx for some great stories ❤

[@tomcoy3565]

This Is Your Longest Vid for Bob Dylan or any other Music Artist in Your Pod Cast Otis….. for Me I Bought Highway 61 in the Late 60’s and One of The Reasons I’m still rehearsing and trying to get to The Grammys! But That Is A Great Compilation, Sir! “Keep The Music Pure”

[@Toobzilla]

@13:00. savoy hotel. that maybe where bob & co did some filming but, i do believe thats the same backdrop the beatles used for that photo session around the time of filming AHDN. its that shoot where they're sitting in baby "prams" or carriages if your on the other side of the atlantic.. not 100% but 75%.

[@100Equipoise]

Long Live Bob Dylan

[@joshuahuyser2441]

Hey there, Otis. Thanks for all of your videos! Fantastic collection of stories. Quick question for you. You ever come into contact with Bo Ramsey?

[@MikeTheEarGuy]

A longtime keys player in Nashville was on a couple of Van Morrisons albums. When we were talking I asked him what Van was like. “Honestly, Van Morrison is the single most miserable person I have known in a long career in the music industry. I dont think he has had a happy day in his whole life. He looks for things to be upset and depressed about”

[@Josephine_Mass]

The pure warmth, understanding and joy in some of his music paints a unique picture when considering your comment. It could've been a particular phase in which he was struggling with something, or with some many things, his outlook, a totality of what can be seen, etc. He may have been moved in and out of these kind of more pronounced pessimisms by just the course of his experiences. There had to have been times when the sun shown for long periods, indicating the source of that love in his music. Listening, I can tell he must've seen a lot in the world around him. When someone can, there's a lot of bad to see. It can seem like they're looking for it, and some people are, at times anyway, but others are just looking, and in seeing so much, a big portion of what they see isn't good. It's so often recommended that one choose to see things differently, but when you see a whole lot of bad stuff, well there it is. You saw it. You noticed. People say that it's what you do with what happens that can change things for you, and there's obviously truth to that. You still saw it though. The observant are subject to being overwhelmed for a while, some of them a long while. There's a looming heap of nasty to be noticed, everywhere. Serotonin is involved, and so is love. For someone like that, the good is hard to overlook. He has some beautiful songs.

[@MikeTheEarGuy]

@ please understand that I am a HUGE Van Fan. To the point that I had a series of recurring Van Morrison dreams over a decade or so, once a year maybe. One I remember that I can share - I’m walking down the street and a town car rolls up. Driver gets out and opens the door. “Mr Morrison wants to see you. Please get in and I will take you to his hotel” I have worked with many sports and music industry folks solving hearing issues so this wasnt too “out there” but anyway… I get to his hotel suite and its dimly lit and he is standing with his back to me in front of a large aquarium. I enter and walk up and stand silently next to him. A few minutes pass in silence as he stands observing the fish. Then he says “Michael, a great aquarium doesnt just happen. It takes the right combination of species, in just the right amount to make one thats special, one that everyone who sees it enjoys and remembers. Thats how it is with a band as well. Watch how each fish comes forward and presents itself, and after our attention is centered on it, we enjoy it until it moves away and another takes its place. They dont all come front and center, others are only noticed when we seek them out and focus on them. But they are all important to the health and appearance of what we get to enjoy. A great band, they are a community and interact just like these fish, and finding the right combination, thats so important.” It was a super vivid dream. And one I remember 30 years later! What Dream Van said, its 100% accurate. But I guess it was really my subconcious talking to me, while wearing a Van suit, eh?