Bob Dylan has angrily responded to charges he plagiarized some of his lyrics, calling critics “wussies and pussies” and saying musical appropriation is “part of the folk tradition.”
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine for its Friday edition, the influential singer-songwriter made his first public comments on the accusations, saying that in folk and jazz music “quotation is a rich and enriching tradition.”
“Everyone else can do it but not me,” he complained. “There are different rules for me.”
Another key line: “I’m working within my art form. It’s that simple. … It’s called songwriting. It has to do with melody and rhythm, and then after that, anything goes. You make everything yours. We all do it.” Our question: How does this make Jonah Lehrer feel?
I’m going to have embarrassing moments, and that won’t be fun. But that’s part of what talking to you is about – is hoping people will understand, and hoping they’ll be fairly kind.Against Me! lead singer Tom Gabel • Discussing the decision to begin living as a woman, to start taking hormone treatments and eventually transition to the name Laura Jane Grace. For Gabel, who says she dealt with gender dysphoria privately for years, the scariest part was revealing the decision to her wife. “But she’s been super-amazing and understanding,” she says. Gabel’s story will be discussed in-depth in the latest issue of Rolling Stone.
Well, I mean, to break it down, the surgery I want to have, I’d like to have the testicular implants and all of that, and I’d like to be able to urinate through it. I mean, it’s not that big a deal to sit down, but some of the toilet seats in men’s rooms are disgusting. The doctor I want to use is in Belgrade. It’s going to be a little cheaper there. Probably $25,000, maybe $45,000, I really don’t know.Chaz Bono: I’m Saving to Buy a Penis - Rolling Stone (via brooklynmutt)
People don’t want handouts. It’s not a class uprising and they don’t want civil war — they want just the opposite. They want everyone to live in the same country, and live by the same rules. It’s amazing that some people think that that’s asking a lot.
Read the whole thing. It’s a really well-argued piece, and one that’s pretty solid all around. Must hand it to Rolling Stone. Their political coverage is solid these days. (thanks brazenwussy, who wrote a bunch of thoughts on the piece over here)
Rolling Stone vs. the Pentagon: A Pentagon inquiry into the Rolling Stone article “The Runaway General,” which was written by Michael Hastings and basically got Stanley McChrystal fired, has by their claims vindicated the former General. They said they were unable to verify the accuracy of the events detailed, and that in many areas they could find no witnesses to corroborate the claims. Hastings and his editors aren’t having it, however; they stand behind the accuracy of the piece, making this something of a murky, “my word versus yours” scenario. Said Rolling Stone Executive Editor Eric Bates: “It’s accurate in every detail.” source
Earlier this year I was cleaning up to find some files in the recesses of my closet when I came across two cassette tapes marked ‘John Lennon, December 5th, 1980.’ It had been 30 years since I listened to them, and when I put them on this totally alive, uplifting voice started speaking on this magical strip of magnetic tape.Rolling Stone writer Jonathan Cott • On rediscovering the audio tapes made from the interview he did with John Lennon – the last print interview he did before his death, one which was never fully transcribed as a result. Considering today is the 30th anniversary of the iconic Beatle’s murder, it only makes sense that Rolling Stone would pull it out today. Still though, it’s a pretty cool document of rock history. source (via • follow)
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