The Blues Road: Highway 61 Revisited

The end of the road at Zimmy's

I have called this posting after Bob’s great masterpiece “Highway 61 Revisited” Today marks the official end to our journey with our last trip to Hibbing, Bobs home for 12 years before he left for the University of Minnesota, St Paul Minneapolis.

Dawn over Lake Superior. Its so cold that there is ice on the lake this morning!

Iron Ore Carrier, Duluth

Mr D, at what used to be Cripper’s Music Shop told us that he had worked for Mr Cripper at the music shop during the sixties but after Bob left the town. He didn’t know Bob but as he said “I knew the man who sold him his first guitar” Mr D is of Welsh extraction and he tells a tale about 4 friends driving back to Hibbing from the University at the end of the semester. They were discussing what they would do over the vacation. One said he wanted to marry his girlfriend Angel and go work in the mines, which he did. The second wanted to work in the mines and the third wanted to stay in Hibbing too and joint the bank. The fourth, a scrawny young guy called Robert Zimmerman said he wanted to go to New York and become a famous musician! They all laughed at him. The rest is history but as Mr D says he was a very mediocre musician at the time and its seemed well neigh impossible.

Bob's Highschool Hibbing

Hibbing has done more to celebrate its most famous former resident. 7^th Avenue where Bob lived has been named Bob Dylan Avenue, there is a small display in the town library and they hold a successful annual festival despite the fact that they haven’t persuaded Bob to play there as yet.

Hibbing has a great restaurant called Zimmy’s, which is full of Dylan memorabilia. It also features information on Echo Helstrom, Bobs first major love in Hibbing. Echo is believed to be the muse for “Girl from the North Country” We choose this as a fitting place to have our final picture taken. See above.

Bob's House on 2425 7th Avenue East

The side of Bob's House. The the garage door (Blood on the Tracks)

Bob Dylan Drive (7th Avenue)

The site of Bob's Father's shop Zimmerman Electric Bob also worked here

The music shop which was know as Crippers. This is where Bob bought records and his first guitar

Mr D and his colleague at the music shop

The Androy Hotel where Bob had his Bar Mitzvah

Main Street, Hibbing

Thanks to the ladies at the Library for making us so welcome. The Dylan Exhibition

The Bob Dylan Star on the sidewalk

Its time to start reflecting on our journey and what we have seen and I will post these reflections over the next few days. Tim and I mused over the Dylan exhibition at the Library. Bob was certainly in the right place at the right time. He arrived in New York just when the student protest movement was beginning to start and in the next 9 years saw the civil rights movement, the assassination of the Kennedys and Dr King, the start and finish of the Vietnam War and the awakening and expression of a whole generation. This amazingly mirrored our journey through adolescence to adulthood. We talked of key times when we heard certain songs and the many changes of direction that Bob took. Tim remembered that Lay Lady Lay coincided with us both going to medical school, Woodstock and the Moon landings. Quite a lot to happen in one year. We needed beacons such as Bob, Dylan, John Lennon and their like to guide us through those difficult times.

I looked at those awful pictures of the Duluth lynchings last night and I must admit that despite the gloom that pervades the world at the moment we have progressed as a race with the emancipation of women, blacks and minorities. I do believe that the world is a farer place than it used to be. An awful lot to happen in one lifetime. I don’t think that Bob really was a protest singer but a singer with a great sense of right and wrong who riled against injustice.