Bob Dylan Launches Bizarre Patreon: Faux Letters and Essays Baffle Fans

Over the past few years, Bob Dylan has embraced the digital world in unexpected and peculiar ways.

His official Twitter account has been used for birthday greetings to mysterious figures and mentions of specific places, while his Instagram page showcases a mix of vintage video clips. Now, Dylan has taken his eccentricity to a new level with an official Patreon account. He offers his fans a "living archive of lectures from the grave, letters never sent, and original short stories curated by Bob Dylan" for $5.00 a month.

The initial offering includes a "letter never sent" between Mark Twain and silent film star Rudolph Valentino, supposedly penned by "Herbert Foster".

The letter begins in a peculiar tone, playing with the idea of death and history. Also included is a seven-page short story entitled "Bull Rider", supposedly written by "Marty Lombard". In addition, audio essays such as "Last Testament of Frank James" and "Aaron Burr: On the Art of Survival" are offered, which appear to have been generated by AI.

Numerous questions arise about this project: What exactly does "curated by Bob Dylan" mean? Is Dylan both Marty Lombard and Herbert Foster? Is there really an audience for a nearly hour-long audio essay in the voice of Wild Bill Hickok? Was AI used to write any of this text? Who are his collaborators on this project? Why isn't his official website linking to this?

Meanwhile, Dylan is in the midst of an extensive U.S. tour, where the early shows were marred by audio problems, but which appear to have been resolved. The setlist focuses on songs from his 2020 album, Rough and Rowdy Ways.

Dylan's tour continues, and the setlist includes surprises such as the 1989 song "Man in the Long Black Coat" and Eddie Cochran's 1958 classic, "Nervous Breakdown".

There is not a single song in the setlist that predates Dylan's motorcycle accident in 1966, although he does perform "All Along The Watchtower". The show continues at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois. Perhaps, during his free time, Dylan will be inspired and offer us another "unsent letter" between two historical figures who never met.

The launch of Bob Dylan's Patreon has generated a mixture of curiosity and confusion among his followers.

The decision to offer such unusual content, such as fake letters and AI-generated essays, raises questions about the authenticity of the project and the real interest of the fans in this type of material. While Dylan continues with his tour, many wonder if this new digital venture is an artistic experiment or a deviation from his musical legacy.