A new biopic, “A Complete Unknown,” tells the story of Bob Dylan’s rise to fame in the 1960s New York City folk music scene. The film focuses on the period between 1961 and 1965, when Dylan first became a big star.
According to experts, Dylan got his big break by being “in the right place at the right time.” He played gigs in clubs where musicians could play for free, and Robert Shelton’s glowing review of his performance helped him land a record deal with Columbia Records. However, not all fans were supportive – Johnny Cash, one of Dylan’s biggest supporters, defended his early album despite its commercial failure.
The biopic also explores the influence of the 1960s civil rights movement on Dylan’s music. Some of his songs, such as “Blowin’ in the Wind,” are directly influenced by the movement, and he became a symbol for young people trying to figure out their place in the huge social change happening at the time.
The film culminates with the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, where Dylan gets booed by the audience after playing electric instead of acoustic guitar. However, this controversy only added to his legend and cemented his status as a pioneering artist.
Overall, “A Complete Unknown” offers a fresh perspective on Bob Dylan’s rise to fame and provides insight into the cultural and historical context that shaped his music.
Source: https://time.com/7202668/a-complete-unknown-true-story-bob-dylan