Bob Dylan and Joan Baez Had a Bittersweet Romance — TheyGossip
Bob Dylan and Joan Baez’s relationship was something between “Hey, you’re gorgeous and talented and I love loving you,” and “You can’t be in love and wise at the same time.”
Bob Dylan isn’t just a music icon-his love life has also been legendary, and it’s back in the spotlight thanks to none other than Timothée Chalamet.
Yep, the internet’s favorite heartthrob is stepping into Dylan’s shoes for Complete Unknown, the highly-anticipated biopic directed by James Mangold, dropping later this year. And let’s just say, it’s about to get interesting!
In the film, we’ll dive deep into Dylan’s relationships with two of the most important women in his life. First up is the legendary Joan Baez, played by Monica Barbaro.
Their love story was as epic as it was complicated, and you’ll get a front-row seat to all the drama.
Then, there’s Sylvie Russo, who Dylan himself has credited with influencing his early music.
Her role in shaping his career is undeniable, and in Complete Unknown, you’ll get to see just how pivotal she was to his journey.
But what’s really got us buzzing? Reliving the complex, fiery relationship between Dylan and Baez, but through fresh faces.
If you know anything about these two, you know their love was as powerful as their music, theygossip.com reports.
Young Bob Dylan and Joan Baez
While we impatiently wait for the movie’s December premiere, let’s break down what really went down between Dylan and Baez-their highs, their lows, and everything in between.
Bob Dylan and Joan Baez’s Story
Their love story is not clear-cut!!
In the early ’60s, Dylan and Baez were a music power duo — they used their voice not only to entertain but also to speak out on political and social issues.
The two soon became folklore wonder kids, traveling the festival circuit, singing unforgettable duets, and getting closer and closer along the way.
What set them apart wasn’t just their undeniable chemistry on stage, but the way they fueled each other’s creativity.
The lines between love, admiration, and artistic partnership were often blurred, leaving fans (and even themselves) unsure of what they really were to each other.
How They Met
They met in 1961, after Joan was given the title of “Madonna” of the genre she made music for she took Dylan under her wing, inviting him to open for her on tour.
Night after night, Dylan would perform his own set before joining Baez for unforgettable duets.
That musical connection was just the beginning of a deep admiration and love for each other’s work.
Joan and Bob performing in 1984
These two are believed to have had a secret relationship for years but like most legendary duos, their romance was short-lived.
They Went From Performing Together To Drifting Apart
Bob Dylan’s breakup with Joan Baez was brutal. After dating her for years, he ended things in the coldest way possible-by dumping her and swiftly moving on to marry someone else just a few months later.
For Baez, this sudden and unexpected turn of events was devastating.
They had been a powerful duo in both music and activism, but when Dylan left her behind, it wasn’t just a personal betrayal-it felt like the end of an era.
Baez has openly reflected on how deeply Dylan broke her heart. A decade later, she turned that heartbreak into art, releasing one of her most iconic songs, Diamonds & Rust, in 1975.
The song beautifully captured the bittersweet emotions of their time together, with lyrics that reflected the pain and nostalgia of their love affair.
Baez once said of the track, “I wrote Diamonds & Rust about Bob Dylan… it’s about all those memories-the good, the bad, and everything in between.”
A Secret Marriage
Dylan shocked everyone when he secretly married Sara Lownds, who was already pregnant with their first child.
The marriage blindsided Joan Baez-not only because of their close connection but also because Dylan had always seemed indifferent to the idea of settling down.
What made the situation even more painful for Baez was that Dylan’s decision to marry Sara appeared to stem from a desire for control.
His tour manager, Victor Maymudes, once asked Dylan why he chose Sara over Joan.
Dylan’s reasoning was straightforward-Sara was someone who would always be there when he wanted her, while Joan, being her fiercely independent self, would never be that person for him.
It really feels like Dylan was way more committed to his music and creative grind than he ever was to his personal relationships.
Forgive and Forget
Even after all the heartbreak, it seemed like the story of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan wasn’t over.
In 1975, Baez joined Dylan for his Rolling Thunder Revue tour, fueling speculation that their friendship-and possibly even their romance-was reignited.
Dylan and Baez
Sharing the stage once again, they left fans wondering if their emotional bond had truly healed.
Baez has reflected on their whirlwind romance and the heartbreak Dylan caused when he abruptly ended things in 1965.
That heartache later became the foundation for one of her biggest hits, “Diamonds & Rust.”
In the documentary, Baez calls their relationship “totally demoralizing.” She admits that they were young and naive and that she carried the pain from their breakup for years before finally finding peace.
Her healing moment came when she painted a portrait of a young Dylan while listening to his music.
“I just dissolved into tears,” she recalls, explaining that by the time the painting was finished, all the bitterness had washed away.
Bob Dylan On His Love For Joan Baez
Bob Dylan has kept his comments about Joan Baez pretty low-key over the years, but whenever he opens up, it’s clear he still has mad respect for her.
Dylan had confessed he regretted how their romance ended. He owned up to the fact that the craziness of his career dragged Baez along, and he felt pretty bad about it.
Despite all the drama, he’s always held her in high regard, and he sees their time together-both personally and musically-as a serious privilege.
Originally published at https://theygossip.com on October 9, 2024.
