Did Bob Dylan and Joan Baez end up together? A Complete Unknown romance explained
A Complete Unknown is in cinemas now, but what really happened between Bob Dylan and Joan Baez?
The two folk icons are portrayed by Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro in the film, which finally hit UK cinemas on Friday (January 17). It tells the story of Dylan’s rise as a breakout star of Greenwich Village’s folk scene in the early 1960s to his controversial performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, where he performed live with electric instruments for the first time.
The Real-Life Romance between Bob Dylan and Joan Baez
Much of the film focuses on the budding romantic relationship between Dylan and Baez, which did begin shortly after the former’s arrival in New York City’s Greenwich Village in 1961.
They first met at Gerde’s Folk City in April that year, by which point Baez was already established as the ‘Queen of Folk’ after the release of her self-titled debut album the previous year. She was reportedly unimpressed with Dylan on first impressions, but she appreciated the track ‘Song To Woody’ – one of only two original compositions that would appear on his own self-titled debut in 1962.
The relationship lasted intermittently for the next three years, with Baez inviting Dylan to play with her at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival. That would mark the first of a string of high-profile duets between the two during that period.
By the time of Dylan’s UK tour in 1965, the relationship was starting to break down, as captured by D.A. Pennebaker’s acclaimed documentary film Don’t Look Back. Baez later described the abrupt end of the romance as “heartbreaking”.
After the Breakup
Despite the end of their relationship, the two continued to collaborate, including during Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1975-76, an excerpt of which was captured on video and later included on Martin Scorsese’s 2019 pseudo-documentary.
In a 2023 documentary, Baez referred to her romance with Dylan as “totally demoralising”, noting that although she had forgiven him, they were no longer in contact.
Conclusion
The film A Complete Unknown provides a glimpse into the tumultuous relationship between Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, a romance that would captivate the folk music scene in the early 1960s. While the film takes creative liberties, the real-life story of the two folk icons is a fascinating one, marked by both collaboration and heartbreak.
FAQs
Q: What is A Complete Unknown about?
A: The film is a biographical drama that tells the story of Bob Dylan’s rise as a breakout star of Greenwich Village’s folk scene in the early 1960s to his controversial performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.
Q: What is the real-life story of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez?
A: The two musicians had a romantic relationship that lasted intermittently for three years, from 1961 to 1965. They collaborated on music and performed together, but the relationship ended abruptly.
Q: Is the film accurate in its portrayal of the relationship?
A: The film takes creative liberties with the story, but the real-life events and characters are based on actual events and people. The film’s script was even reviewed and approved by Bob Dylan himself.