Bob Dylan will be performing 15 shows in Australia beginning August 13 in Perth, Australia. He’ll also be in Melbourne, and Sydney.

So today you can check out some past performances and interviews Dylan did in Australia.

Dylan said some interesting things during the following 1986 press conference.

Journalist: What does Bob Dylan think of Bob Dylan?

Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan doesn’t ever think about Bob Dylan

Journalist: Are you shy man?

Bob Dylan: Yeah, most of the time.

Journalist: Because of being shy, is it a burden being Bob Dylan?

Bob Dylan: Who’s Bob Dylan?

[laughter]

Bob Dylan: I’m only Bob Dylan when I have to be Bob Dylan. Most of the time I can just be myself.

And later in response to a question about the past, Dylan says this:

Dylan: We live here in the present time. You get up and have to deal with today. Yesterday’s gone, tomorrow’s not promised. So this is all we have, really.

Dylan press conference, 1986, Brett Whiteley Studio, Sydney

This was shot at a Dylan press conference in 1986. There’s 18 minutes of the press conference.

“Rollin’ and Tumblin’,” Byron Bay Bluesfest April 26, 2011:

“Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum,” Byron Bay Bluesfest April 26, 2011:

“Cold Irons Bound,” Byron Bay Bluesfest April 26, 2011:

“Tangled Up In Blue,” Byron Bay Bluesfest April 26, 2011:

“Highway 61 Revisited” / “Ballad of a Thin Man,” Byron Bay Bluesfest April 26, 2011:

“Like A Rolling Stone,” Byron Bay Bluesfest April 26, 2011:

Bob Dylan radio interview, Adelaide, Australia 1966:

“Ballad Of A Thin Man,” Sydney, April 13, 1966:

“It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,” Sydney, April 13, 1966:

“Positively Fourth Street,” Sydney, April 13, 1966:

“Visions Of Johanna,” Melbourne, April 20, 1966:

“She Belongs To Me,” Melbourne, April 20, 1966:

“Baby, Let Me Follow You Down,” Melbourne, April 20, 1966:

“Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues,” Melbourne, April 20, 1966:

[I just published my rock ‘n’ roll/ coming-of-age novel, “True Love Scars,” which features a narrator who is obsessed with Bob Dylan. To read the first chapter, head here.

Or watch an arty video with audio of me reading from the novel here.

Of just buy the damn thing:

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