Bob Dylan, one of the most influential songwriters of all time, was detained by police in Long Branch, New Jersey last month when local homeowners mistook him for a hobo. The reclusive musician was found wandering a local neighbourhood in the pouring rain, miles away from his convoy of tour buses.
US ABC News reports that Long Branch police officer Kristie Buble responded to a call from the owners of a property for sale, saying they had seen an “eccentric-looking old man” wandering around their yard. When Buble pulled up alongside Dylan, he identified himself but the officer was unconvinced.
“Now, I’ve seen pictures of Bob Dylan from a long time ago and he didn’t look like Bob Dylan to me at all” Buble said. “He was wearing black sweatpants tucked into black rain boots, and two raincoats with the hood pulled down over his head.”
In traditional frontier poet style, Dylan had no identification with him at the time so the officer suggested they drive to the hotel where he was supposed to be staying. Buble’s sergeant, who was waiting in the hotel car park, took a quick look in the young officer’s cruiser and agreed with her, stating flatly: “That’s not Bob Dylan.”
Deciding to approach the convoy of tour buses parked nearby, officer Buble finally managed to convince Dylan’s tour manager to produce his passport and the matter was laid to rest. Officer Buble even complied with Dylan’s request to be driven back to the street where he was picked up. Apparently he was genuinely interested in purchasing the property for sale.
It just goes to show you that even legendary fame and fortune still won’t stop some people thinking you’re a derelict, homeless low life…
