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notgettingenough 's Reviews > Once Upon a Time
Once Upon a Time
by
by
An evening out for Paul Bryant. Ian Bell was in town to open a display of his photography of rock musicians and I was lucky enough to get to talk to him.
Paul, I’m sure you are going to want to start with the bad news.
Me: Have you photographed Leonard Cohen?
Yes, a few times.
Me: And Bob Dylan?
Maybe half a dozen.
Me: What do you think of Dylan’s concerts?
Picture being at a Heston Blumenthal dinner. It’s cost you $500. The table is lovely, the view gorgeous, the menu looks fantastic. And then you get served up cheese sandwiches. Not even special cheese sandwiches. Bob Dylan’s like that. All the elements are there, but you get something else. For a while I kept going to them figuring that I’d go to the right one, but there isn’t a right one. Do you know his radio show?
Me: No
He had this radio show for a long time, it was in themes and it was witty, the guy’s got a great sense of humour. But he isn’t willing to bring any of it to the table when he’s performing. He almost died in a car crash at one point and started acting like maybe presenting his music in a concert wasn’t the worst thing in the world that could happen to him. But it didn’t last for long. Meeting him was no fun either.
Me: So who do you prefer out of Dylan and Leonard Cohen?
I’m Team Leonard. Dylan gives nothing at his concerts. Leonard gives everything. He’s respectful, he’s….
Paul, I will spare you the rave review of Leonard.
You will be pleased to hear that there is good news.
The Ian Bell I talked to was erudicate and entertaining and informative….and…
is considering writing a book one day.
It was THE WRONG IAN BELL.
So you can relax. Maybe Bob’s best after all.
Paul, I’m sure you are going to want to start with the bad news.
Me: Have you photographed Leonard Cohen?
Yes, a few times.
Me: And Bob Dylan?
Maybe half a dozen.
Me: What do you think of Dylan’s concerts?
Picture being at a Heston Blumenthal dinner. It’s cost you $500. The table is lovely, the view gorgeous, the menu looks fantastic. And then you get served up cheese sandwiches. Not even special cheese sandwiches. Bob Dylan’s like that. All the elements are there, but you get something else. For a while I kept going to them figuring that I’d go to the right one, but there isn’t a right one. Do you know his radio show?
Me: No
He had this radio show for a long time, it was in themes and it was witty, the guy’s got a great sense of humour. But he isn’t willing to bring any of it to the table when he’s performing. He almost died in a car crash at one point and started acting like maybe presenting his music in a concert wasn’t the worst thing in the world that could happen to him. But it didn’t last for long. Meeting him was no fun either.
Me: So who do you prefer out of Dylan and Leonard Cohen?
I’m Team Leonard. Dylan gives nothing at his concerts. Leonard gives everything. He’s respectful, he’s….
Paul, I will spare you the rave review of Leonard.
You will be pleased to hear that there is good news.
The Ian Bell I talked to was erudicate and entertaining and informative….and…
is considering writing a book one day.
It was THE WRONG IAN BELL.
So you can relax. Maybe Bob’s best after all.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
April 4, 2018
– Shelved
April 4, 2018
– Shelved as:
haven-t-read-but
April 4, 2018
– Shelved as:
pairs
Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)
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ahhhh, so this guy was a photographer and my guy is the author.... well well. Many years ago a colleague went to see Eddie Floyd, the great soul singer, at a club in Nottingham. Imagine his surprise when the mc announcedAnd here he is, Eddie Boyd!
Paul wrote: "ahhhh, so this guy was a photographer and my guy is the author.... well well. Many years ago a colleague went to see Eddie Floyd, the great soul singer, at a club in Nottingham. Imagine his surpris..."I think Boyd and Floyd would have been a class act.
Manny wrote: "That Bob Dylan is dead and buried."Actually one advantage Bob Dylan has over Leonard Cohen is that he's still alive.
Matt wrote: "Manny wrote: "That Bob Dylan is dead and buried."Actually one advantage Bob Dylan has over Leonard Cohen is that he's still alive."
There's always somebody who has to get technical.
"Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell
Hark I hear them, Ian Bell"