Bob Dylan’s early drafts of ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ lyrics auctioned for $500K
Fans of Bob Dylan gathered from across the globe this past weekend to spend a total of $1.5 million on unique memorabilia linked to the iconic musician.
A Nashville auction featured an initial draft of the 1965 classic “Mr. Tambourine Man” that sold for a remarkable $508,000, as reported by Julien’s Auctions in a release on Saturday.
The vintage paper included “authorial typescript lyrics featuring three evolving drafts of ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ with Bob Dylan’s handwritten notes on the third draft,” according to the auction house. This third draft included lyrics that closely resemble the final version of the song.
Titled “Celebrating Bob Dylan: The Aronowitz Archive, T Bone Burnett, & More,” the auction held on Saturday showcased 60 items that belonged to the 83-year-old music icon, predominantly sourced from the collection of the late rock journalist Al Aronowitz, known for his Pop Scene column in the New York Post, who passed away in 2005.
Among the notable items sold in the auction was an original oil painting by Dylan from 1968, which went for $260,000. A 1983 Fender Telecaster, custom-made for Dylan, sold for $222,250, and signed handwritten lyrics for “Blowin’ In The Wind” brought in $44,450.
Myles Aronowitz, son of Al Aronowitz, was responsible for bringing these items to Julien’s, expressing his excitement about the auction in the press release.
“These pieces are a testament to the special and personal role my father played in musical and cultural history with his close friend Bob Dylan and other legendary artists of his time,” he remarked.
The Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” featuring Timothée Chalamet as a young Dylan, premiered in December, receiving support from the reclusive star himself.
“Bob reviewed the script and we held four or five meetings; he was always available when I needed him,” James Mangold shared with YSL News.
“I have to say he was incredibly gracious, charming, and open,” he continued. “Perhaps it was because I wasn’t writing a book or article, but rather just collaborating as a fellow artist—at least I like to think so. He recognized I didn’t have any agenda and was portraying all the characters with respect, which he appreciated.”