Not yet knockin’ on heaven’s door

Bob Dylan is one of those iconic figures with a name that’s become more iconic than his music.

With smashing success in the 60s and a lengthy silence from Dylan himself, his name has become associated with the past; yet, people haven’t forgotten him or his legacy. It’s difficult to forget a person who has received an Oscar and a Golden Globe, as well as a Pulitzer Prize and 11 Grammys.

Last month Dylan released the new album Tempest with 10 new songs. The release received extreme positivity from both fans and the media. Media titans like Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Time, and Rolling Stone were generous with compliments without scrambling for praises.

Tempest was quickly titled the best Dylan album yet. To celebrate the launch of the new album, special pop-up stores were opened throughout the states. On opening day, large gatherings of people were blocking the streets around the world, in places where Bob Dylan Tempest: The Store, a pop-up shop, opened. Fans spent quite some time in lines to get their copies of Tempest and special album-related merchandise, like vinyl editions and
T-shirts.

The media attention for Dylan wasn’t limited to raving over the Tempest. Rolling Stone magazine ran a cover story with an extended interview with the master himself. Dylan voiced opinions on a variety of subjects from his career, to his colleagues, to his dark and mysterious beliefs. He was very straightforward on some spicier topics, like allegations of plagiarism. Dylan didn’t shy away from a stronger lexicon and sharper opinions, which he can afford not to do.

In May of this year, Dylan was awarded the Medal of Freedom, presented by President Obama at the White House. This is the highest civilian honor for an active role in different noteworthy accomplishments.

Dylan is also scheduled through the end of the year with a North American tour with special guest Mark Knopfler. As a part of the tour, Dylan will perform two concerts in Broomfield, Colorado on October 29th and 30th, taking the stage at the 1stBank Center. A North American tour was inspired by a tour of South and Central America and Mexico, and a remarkable European tour last year.

Dylan, now in his 70s, is one of the few heroes of the 20th century still standing. It is inspirational to see that the artist can stay strong for so many decades, and that the younger generations, despite all the criticism of forgetfulness, remember the past. The way Tempest was received by younger generations serves as proof that they appreciate true talents and worthy contributions to the arts.