6Apr/101
UPDATE: Dylan in China
James Fallows also picks up on the Bob Dylan in China story and now has an interesting rejoinder provided by Zachary Mexico, the former Kunming laowai whose book China Underground I reviewed in this space last July:
I have it on good authority that the Chinese government did not deny Bob Dylan permission to play in China. It was the Taiwanese promoter's outlandish financial requests that made the tour unrealistic.
If there's anyone I know of who would be in position to know this thing, it's Zach, so this could well be the case. If so, I'd like to issue a hearty apology to the culture warriors at Zhongnanhai for my insinuation that they were behind this travesty. Who knows? Maybe Hu Jintao was more of a Beatles guy than a Dylan fan.
October 31st, 2010 - 16:37
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has been a major figure in music for five decades ~