Such a cool interview. The mid-'80s were a strange time to be a new Dylan fan. I'm a bit younger than Nick and knew his name from reading liner notes so it was crazy to see him leap from post-punk to Bob.
Looking at your interviews about this period and seeing how he was really trying to reach out to my generation - with this artwork, when he worked with the Plugz, etc - has really enhanced my perspective of those times.
And I realize part of why I was drawn to Dylan was that he truly was a punk godfather.
Congratulations again Ray on another insightful series on our man Bob. Thank you for digging around in the weeds and pursuing these first-hand encounters.
P.S. There’s a beer waiting for you at Miller’s Pub next time through Chicago.
This was a fantastic interview. Biograph is what made me a lifelong Dylan fan and that cover is what made me buy that set in a used CD store. I owe Nick a debt of gratitude for opening up one the most important doors to art.
Great interview and great insights, Ray - I've really enjoyed your Burlesque Week! Sonic Youth did a pair of music videos with Nick in the early 90s (Sugar Kane and Youth Against Fascism), and I was by then super-into Bob - in fact, it was hearing the version of Visions of Johanna from a cassette of Biograph, that amazing live acoustic version, probably in '87 or '88 when SY was touring in Europe, that really sent me deeply into everything Dylan from that point on. I'd no idea Nick had worked with Bob - I'm sure I would have grilled him about that! Crazy Malcolm McLaren connection too! But - if you can get back to him - I'm still curious about one thing he didn't touch on: Ken Regan shot the cover photo, but he didn't mention that torn image on the back cover, of Dylan and the girl. Who is she? Who selected that photo and who took it??
I have loved reading every one of these interviews and this one especially hits home for my designer self. A POV story showing a successful working relationship, creative-to-creative building respect and trust.
That's great! I've always wondered what the deal was with the unique artwork for Empire Burlesque. It's very funny that Columbia insisted on that back over photo, lol. Also, I had no idea about the continuity between EB and Biograph - very neat!
Such a cool interview. The mid-'80s were a strange time to be a new Dylan fan. I'm a bit younger than Nick and knew his name from reading liner notes so it was crazy to see him leap from post-punk to Bob.
Looking at your interviews about this period and seeing how he was really trying to reach out to my generation - with this artwork, when he worked with the Plugz, etc - has really enhanced my perspective of those times.
And I realize part of why I was drawn to Dylan was that he truly was a punk godfather.
Great stuff the whole week- thank you so much.
Thanks for illuminating yet another dark corner of the Dylansphere with your revelatory interview.
Gerald Smith, DYLAN BOOKS
This is awesome. Love the art director's perspective.
We'll wait with bated breath for the Geoff Gans interview!
Congratulations again Ray on another insightful series on our man Bob. Thank you for digging around in the weeds and pursuing these first-hand encounters.
P.S. There’s a beer waiting for you at Miller’s Pub next time through Chicago.
This was a fantastic interview. Biograph is what made me a lifelong Dylan fan and that cover is what made me buy that set in a used CD store. I owe Nick a debt of gratitude for opening up one the most important doors to art.
This might be my favorite of all the interviews this week.
Really enjoyed all the interviews this week. Great stuff.
Great interview, Nick is terrific and wondered how he worked with Bob. Wish he could do another Lp cover for him.
Great interview and great insights, Ray - I've really enjoyed your Burlesque Week! Sonic Youth did a pair of music videos with Nick in the early 90s (Sugar Kane and Youth Against Fascism), and I was by then super-into Bob - in fact, it was hearing the version of Visions of Johanna from a cassette of Biograph, that amazing live acoustic version, probably in '87 or '88 when SY was touring in Europe, that really sent me deeply into everything Dylan from that point on. I'd no idea Nick had worked with Bob - I'm sure I would have grilled him about that! Crazy Malcolm McLaren connection too! But - if you can get back to him - I'm still curious about one thing he didn't touch on: Ken Regan shot the cover photo, but he didn't mention that torn image on the back cover, of Dylan and the girl. Who is she? Who selected that photo and who took it??
regards,
Lee
So good, Ray. Had no idea that Biograph and Drawn Blank were connected through Nick. Thanks for this!
I have loved reading every one of these interviews and this one especially hits home for my designer self. A POV story showing a successful working relationship, creative-to-creative building respect and trust.
Your interviews are always great but this is a brilliant. What an amazing insight into the man. That story of the record playback is a corker.
That's great! I've always wondered what the deal was with the unique artwork for Empire Burlesque. It's very funny that Columbia insisted on that back over photo, lol. Also, I had no idea about the continuity between EB and Biograph - very neat!