Product Review

Reclusive star Bob Dylan had been holed up in the artist-town of Woodstock for more than three years, following a serious motorcycle accident. He toyed with playing the Woodstock festival brought to his own front door but it was the Foulk brothers who succeeded where all others failed, luring Dylan 3,000 miles away from home to their Island, to create a Woodstock of his own. Landing the music biz coup of the decade, the three Foulk brothers – a printer, an estate agent and an art student – became pioneers in pop promotion by signing for the world exclusive appearance of the reluctant ‘voice of his generation’. For the organisers, short on experience, resources and time, the ensuing public response was almost overwhelming, and the challenge of delivering the most eagerly-awaited musical event of the era daunting. The world’s media covered the phenomena, gave the event global coverage and marked it as a suitable climax as the swinging sixties drew to a close. The 1969 Isle of Wight Festival was Bob Dylan’s one and only full concert appearance in seven-and-a-half years and played its part in a highly transformative period of the artist’s life. Stealing Dylan from Woodstock tells, from a unique perspective, of an extraordinary event which seismically altered the lives of the author, his family, all those involved with it and many of those who attended.

REVIEWS

"The book includes a potted account of Dylan’s life and work, and some fantastic unseen photographs. . .But it’s the human stories that compel. As well as the colourful cavalcade of performers – including Joe Cocker, Richie Havens and The Band – there’s a stellar supporting cast of English eccentrics."

- Graeme Thomson, Daily Mail

"Beyond merely being a book about a festival, Foulk does a masterful job in telling the true story of what it took to get Dylan on the bill and what it all meant for all involved. The text is accompanied by photographs of the various artists on stage and in attendance as well as many fascinating behind the scenes pictures."

- The Rock and Roll Chemist

One of the fantastic things about exploring Dylan’s pre-and post-festival reclusiveness in part one, Stealing Dylan from Woodstock, is that we see how this historic Isle of Wight event locates within the star’s own story, and maybe even how the festival affected his subsequent career.

- The Big Issue