Bob Neuwirth was a folk music singer-songwriter and influential associate of Bob Dylan who wrote ‘Mercedes Benz’ with Janis Joplin.
- Died: Wednesday, May 18, 2022. (Who else died on May 18?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 82.
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Bob Dylan Sidekick
Bob Neuwirth was a folk singer-songwriter and artist who was part of the New York City folk music scene in the 1960s. He was a close influential collaborator with Bob Dylan and can be seen in the 1967 D.A. Pennebaker documentary film “Don’t Look Back,” a chronicle of Dylan’s 1965 tour of England. He appears with Allen Ginsberg in the video for Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” and helped assemble and was a member of Dylan’s backing band for the Rolling Thunder Revue tour in the 1970s. He and Janis Joplin wrote her iconic song ‘Mercedes Benz’, which was recorded shortly before she died. He collaborated with John Cale on the 1994 album ‘Last Day on Earth.’ Neuwirth released solo albums over the years and recently toured with his “Stories and Songs’ show.
Notable Quote
“It’s a campfire song, isn’t it?”“You don’t need any particular musical skill to sing it, and because it’s a cappella, everybody can tackle it in their own way. But I’m sure Janis would be shocked at the attention that that song has gotten over the years. She’d just be shaking her head in disbelief at it.” – 2013 interview with Variety talking about ‘Mercedes Benz’
Tributes to Bob Neuwirth
Full Obituary: Variety
