Published October 17, 2004 in the Hibbing Daily Tribune
Hibbing’s most famous son just released an autobiography. It was big news – on the cover of Newsweek, touted in Rolling Stone. These are national magazines. Near as I can tell, only a couple dozen copies of his book were sold in our town. This column is the first time Dylan’s “Chronicles, Vol. 1” has been mentioned in this, our hometown newspaper. The book came out 12 days ago.
Such is the quirky mystique of Bob Dylan in Hibbing.
In the interest of proper disclosure, I serve on the Hibbing Dylan Days committee and co-organize the Dylan Days Writing Contest and Literary Night. Like many people involved in special projects, the amount of attention paid to the special project is never enough. (As a newspaper editor, I once received a press packet touting “National Chicken Month.” A few weeks later, I received one for “National Egg Month” I suppose that answers that question). But in the case of Dylan in Hibbing, the lack of attention seems perplexing.
I talked to Mary Keyes, who co-owns Howard Street Booksellers downtown. They sold all seven copies of their supply of Dylan books on the first day and several more the following week when they received more from the publisher. “That’s a rush for us,” she said. Still, Keyes said the Dylan “rush” only beat the rush for Bill Clinton’s recent memoir by a few copies, and Bubba’s not a Bluejacket. Keyes said they weren’t sure if how locals would react to the Dylan book, since so few overtly display affection for our Iron Range folk troubadour.
Meanwhile, our local Wal-Mart didn’t carry copies of the book. Perhaps someone at the regional distribution center failed to realize that Store #2937 is near the boyhood home of Bob Dylan. Many of the Dylan fans I spoke to ordered copies online.
As much as we Hibbingites try to get attention for our high-quality, industrially-zoned real estate at affordable prices, we’ve actually had far better success in getting our name in front of about a hundred million people as the home of Dylan.
Over the past couple years, I’ve watched as articles about Dylan and Hibbing appeared in some of the largest, most-read, most-respected publications in the world, ranging from National Geographic to the New York Times. Sure, some get all riled up because the articles aren’t puff pieces. To the writers, our town appeared to be a rough-and-tumble Iron Range city with population decline and a streaky economy. Of course, we know the truth is that we also have two Hardees. Oh, wait. Never mind.
I have to keep things in perspective. What if Bob Dylan decided to buy a house out on 25th Street and move back to his hometown? What if he spent the rest of his days sitting out front in one of those collapsible lawn chairs, playing his guitar and answering questions for anyone who bothers to ask? What if he wore an “I (heart) Hibbing” t-shirt at all times? Somehow, that wouldn’t seem quite right either.
So, if you’re so inclined, check out Bobby Zimmerman’s new book. There should be more copies in by the time you read this, and I’m sure if you’re willing to wait a few weeks, you can always read it at the library.
Even if a majority of Hibbing residents never get excited over the fact that one of the most influential musicians in the last 50 years got his start right here, there’s got to be a few who, like me, find some sense of hope in that.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist for the Hibbing Daily Tribune.