Dylan press conference, 1986, Brett Whiteley Studio, Sydney 

For once I'd like an interview with Dylan to begin. I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank you Mr. Dylan for all the years of hard work.

Bob dylan is a shy introvert. He is also very smart and well spoken. People dont realize the stress he endured in the 60s and with his divorce. He is a deep person

Oh my gosh ... I can't imagine having to do this ... it would be beyond mind-numbing! He's a musician, a poet, a philosopher ... a thinker, not a talker. Seriously, his eyes look glazed over most of the times.

What a great gift to dylanlovers. He's so unique...i love it when he talks. The little dylan accent combined with the quick shy dylan grins...lovin' it

I've recently listened to as many Bob D. interviews as I can find. He can be very funny at times (in addition to his general wisdom about life). One takeaway from many of the interviews is how the reporters often don't let him finish his thought after they ask a question. It is like Bob. D. only begins to answer a question and boom, someone else asks another question. It is as if they keep trying to crack the riddle of Bob. D. and really understand the phenomenon, but they cut him off before he can give deeper and more thoughtful answers. Crazy. Makes me wonder what he would have said if they could just listen for a minute...

Someday this clip will be in a museum so people can see what an honest and direct person spoke like.

Bob Dylan is so bloody exciting! I just love that he is truly an extension of a Traveling Poet from yesteryear!

"Yesterday's gone, tomorrow's not promised." Bob Dylan 1986

fun to see Dylan actually answering questions....now, if we could have heard the questions, it would be very cool

The greatest songwriter who will ever live.

Saw Dylan in Perth in West Australia in 1966 on his famous world tour, with what would become the Band. As a 16 year old it was a life changing concert. Dylan playing piano on Ballad of a Thin Man and sliding off the stool. Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat, Like a Rolling Stone. Visions of Johanna played acoustically. None of these songs had even been released yet in Australia. The best.

"i am only bob dylan when I have to be. the rest of the time I am just myself" Jesus, that is beautiful and thoughtful. It seems flippant at first, but kind of explains Bob's view on himself perfectly

"If you don't have the experience You're disposable" relavant more than ever here in 2020

I always thought he had such a cuteness behind his stern look. I really think there is a sweet person in there.😘

Bob put so much on the table with his particular form of art that there was something for so many of us. What amazes me is that Dylan's songs worked for me as a 12 year old in 1967 and despite years of change and I mean real change Dylan's body of work still does the job now. The Master of riddles (we could ponder and ponder some more as we got older) - empathy and contrived authenticity, he knows how to make us all feel validated through glimpses that are sometimes gentle, sometimes strong and complete enough to strike a familiar chord, one that shares a sacred secret moment or something from the universal archetype that resonates with a generation, a truly rare gift "....they [the songs] can get into peoples' subconscious minds, maybe in a round about way and they do make people feel better, they feel that maybe sometimes what they are thinking and feeling they can hear it articulated in a song..... I'm not so crazy to feel that way" In a little hilltop village they gambled for my clothes I bargained for salvation and they gave me a lethal dose I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn "Come in" she said "I'll give you shelter from the storm".

One of the biggest musical and lyricist talents ever 😊

I'd love to sit in the same room with Bob Dylan and feel that special aura he seems to exude

One of the most charismatic persons ever to walk the earth

Bob is relaxed but very intellectually nimble here. He sort of shadow boxes with the questions, if he is not interested he may just agree or disagree right away, like taking glancing blows. Or there is the classic punctuated comedic retort, "I said that?!". But he is sincere here, and you see how he is very intently listening and we all know how that ability translates into the quality of his body of work. He remains honest and that is consistent with what makes his songs so compelling.

This is such a uniquely authentic interview! I saw Bob in 1986, and I loved Brett Whitely and his art since 1980, when I first saw it. Was lucky enough to meet Brett at a party in North Sydney in November 1981. Brett also loved and revered Dylan since the sixties. There was a natural connection between Brett and Bob. I'm so thankful for this video!

Omg he stared into my soul was not expecting that lol. He truly is fascinating. Strangely beautiful, too.

I hope he lives a long time and is happy.

Bob Dylan extremely dedicated after years of performing and they keep asking him 20 year old questions. I believe word was out that he had writers block at this time in his career. But all through the changes that music endured Bobby is still writing good stuff. Thank God for his talent and sense of humor still intact. Peace, Michael Angelo

Thank you, this is a great view of Bob. What a face.

wow - I went to this press conference, it was Monday Feb 10th 1986 I believe, the day of the first Sydney show. We pinched Bob's Perrier water glass afterwards as a momento. Went to all 6 Sydney shows as well. Thanks for posting FilmStretch

"I don't look for things to write about. They just happen to me, you know." OMG!

Such GENUINE RESPONSES from Beloved BOB!

I like when he forgets about being "Bob Dylan" and just acts like himself. This is nice.

It's love it when he quotes a song that he's yet to write i.e. "Most of the Time" and "Things Have Changed".

I notice in this 1986 press conference he uses both the phrases "Most Of The Time" and "Things Have Changed."

What a Scoop! This is golden. Thanks for uploading. "That's too much to lay on anybody";the responsibility of a better world.

Thanks for restoring this so that we can see this side of Bob Dylan down under. =>

People are looking for a guru. Bobby is so patient, kind and loving. I know I can never know what this man is thinking at any given time. That being said, they could let him finish his thought when he is speaking. May the Lord of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless this man eternally. He said, "It all comes from God." No question. No hesitation.

Imagine what it’s like to be asked the same damn questions for years and years and years..

I love his eyes and his talent too! Darn those eyes and curls

How much shit they ask to Bob Dylan an he still has the patience to answer.

One of the best interviews I’ve had the great pleasure to watch.

a genious : great poet, great singer, great musician, a big man

Tight connection to my heart video was actually fantastic. Love Dylan in the 80s.

Many thanks for sharing Bob's interview.

Bob Dylan" Well... if you've got a few minutes after I could show ya." Awesome interview and great insight to the mind of Bob Dylan. He is very funny to. Thank You FilmStretchAustralia for posting this!!

Absolutely wonderful ..thankyou for posting this...x

Can’t believe the way they interrogate him about his creative process Interested by how he withdraws from the melee clearly reflecting on some personal realisations If ever there was better explanation of how & why he is a worthy winner of Nobel Prize . . . . Poet!

79 now....one of my heroes, my virtual dream lover, since 1965,,66...This guy, and Leonard Cohen🙏❤️

It's like he's up on trial with all those questions .Bob handles it like a star though

It's fun to watch every single interview and every step of his life. The guy is something else. Study study

Sometimes I get the strange feeling that Bob is really a thousand different people all wrapped up in one body.He is literally the "everyman". I see him at times as a kind of unfortunate-a person with an amazing gift who at the same time yearns for the anonymity of being a normal unknown guy.

I am so happy to have seen this amazing interview.Wow Dylan will always be relevant.Amazing

He has the kindest eyes for such a hard case

THANK YOU for sharing!

cool, thanks I have other footage of some of these questions shot at a different angle. Nice of you to share this.

This seems like torture for the guy. Lots of people seem to want him to explain himself. Just listen to his music if you understand it good ... if you don't that's ok too.

Fine to have this possibility to hear this back... from long ago! 🌺❤️🌹👌

I found myself rocking in my seat as I watched this. I like noticing that Bob has that habit too. Someone once acted like it was a weird thing to do, but I hope no one ever made Bob feel bad about it. It's cute

Thanks for putting this up

Thank you very much for this!

Wonderful footage - thanks for sharing !

He still has "Minnesota nice" in him, very respectful to the reporters.

This is the most coherent I've ever seen Bob. Either he was high a lot, ADD, or bipolar.

Now what! This is why I started following you. I am a Reiki Master. Rocking back and forth. Like a boat on a restless sea. Restlessly mesmerizing me.

the only artist I would ever want to meet...would love to have him over for dinner!

Johnny cash bob dylon aren't trying to change the world. they are only expressing the way they view it. every thing else is up to you.

I love how he basically gets silenced. the moment the topic becomes the media itself, the camera starts skipping and eventually stops.

Thanks for sharing. This is great.

Cant hear the questions but great answers. That was great. Thanks.

Best statement: "i don't consider myself as having christian fans or unchristian fans. I don't deal with any kind of people at that level." (no peace💘)

Have you every watched an interview where you only hear 2/8ths of the questions, but the interviewee is so fascinating you watch anyway? I just did. He is so grounded and balanced, I love the patience he shows and the way he respects every question (person), no matter the question and despite how long he has been doing the same (at the time of this interview). Even though he says artists (poets) take time to fully develop, without the experience etc etc. However from his first interviews (60's) he seemed to arrive the same fully formed humanist artist - and we are all the better for it.

Not seen this. Thankyou. Some of the questions are so dumb. All of Bobs answers are perfect.

I love that you finally shared this. But this is a very disturbing interview in that these people are mostly putting Bob on the defense. Why do you do this? Why do you do that? Do you consider yourself to be blah blah blah? No wonder he disliked interviews. I seen thousands of interviews.

Thanks a lot .Really worthwhile.

Very interesting- thanks for the upload

Thank you for the gift!

#kevin of parker, I so glad you caught that line Bob said. And to the others who can see he's doing the best he can with his deep love of music. Glad he's around that's my main point.

"They don't keep the commodities going..." Brilliant.

'bob dylan doesn't ever think about bob dylan'-well, not me....i'm thinking about him! what a charismatic son of a b@!?h. Man, he is cute during interviews...spilling his words of wisdom, while covering his face and being all sweet and shy. He's so unique...luv it!

I love how it mysteriously gets interfered when he says people are trying to take over the world

thanx for sharing this.

Wonderful, thanks very much!

Hey, so glad I came across this old footage. Excellent interview in the Bob wasn't quite as playful with words & a little more direct than in his mid60's interviews.(live the San Francisco press conference in 12/65. Still love having a stroll around Brett Whiteley park in Surry hills not far from Albion st when in Sydney. My mother owned a house on South Doweling st & at another time my ex wife & I lived on the Surry Hills side of South Doweling st up a bit further towards Oxford st. Remember those days fondly & am a little nostalgic after that interview. I haven't seen or walked through Brett Whiteley park since 2007 & it was since the mid90's that I had before that 6months back in Sydney. Up Nimbin way most of the time now ;) Take care & will try & see if the Nimbin culture film I was mentioned B4 has been uploaded yet. Great shame about the Nimbin fire, ex Nimbinites were upset all over Australia over that one. Take care :)

Thanks for posting. It was good seeing Bob trying to be cooperative for a change. I couldn't hear many of the questions asked. I'd love to see a transcript.

Bob in "86" too awesome!

Ah, Dylan’s favorite thing about being famous - the press conference.

"We live here in the day, in the present time. Yesterdays gone, Tomorrows not promised so this is all we have !" profundity right there. those are lyrics for a song he just whipped off the top of his head ! brilliant !

this interview just helped me with a problem i been having.... thanks for posting very enlightening interview.. thought id learned everything from him (including the books) but wow - just one interview like this was amazing. :)

amazing he mentioned yevtushenko...(sp?) he actually came my my small town...--knew someone here...he read....but asked students to read first......He sot of got mad and said ;WHERE THE GUTS!!!!!!? ' LOL..WELL IT AIN'T EASY TO BE A successful world level poet.writer. anything.....we went out with a few...and got drunk on vodka! fun...amazing as he talked and was just a person..but had charisma and intelligence.....

I just LOVE how it cuts out right when Bob is starting to talk about the people who are trying to rule the entire world...but I don't care now.

This is such a Christmas present for all the hardcore Dylan fans.

Great Post!!! I am w0ondering How many Shots he has Today

Too bad most of the questioners' could not be heard.......still, wonderful to see Dylan in a good mood with the "press"............ (I wish I had sub-title app still on YT! ) Many thanks to poster................cheers

Movement... It's what I perceive & witness. Rocking to stay in play. To be comfortable. Tired and exposed to pursue and yet give into media for your band to preform for the public. To continue. Just continue... Spider John, "Continue."

Wonderful material!!!

Thank you!

Wish the questions were more clearly audible but I always love a Dylan interview and this was no exception.

‘He’s got a vision in mind...’ I like the ominousness to this

You know i never rated Bob Dylan before, never even listened much to what he sung about. Then Rab, my husband who is a huge fan of his educated me in his music and more to the point his wonderfully interesting lyrics! so much so i was taken then by his songs, i recorded a few and changed them into a more country feel to suit my style.. this is a music video we made on a very cold day in Glencoe Scotland...a Bob Dylan classic " Senor " Bob Dylan " Senor " by janey kirk. filmed in Glencoe Scotland

Quite different from other interviews in the U S, maybe he did not feel attacked and bullied by the inteviewers....much more relaxed and laid back.

Wow ... he says if musicians don't do anything with gospel music he doesn't really trust those musicians!

That’s too much to lay on anybody. That was never my intention to be responsible or an example for anybody.

Amazes me how he is shy but on stage, hes another person. Seen him 3 times live.

You are a very honest man