In 1953, Bob Dylan he attended a summer season camp in Wisconsin the place he made one in every of his longest enduring friendships. louis kemp was one other camper who remained near Dylan within the years after his fame. After years of friendship, Kemp determined to write down a e book about Dylan. Nevertheless, he dropped a publishing deal when Kemp was requested to incorporate extra particulars about Dylan’s personal life.
Bob Dylan met his previous pal Louis Kemp at a summer season camp
In 1953, Dylan, born in Minnesota, attended a summer season camp in Wisconsin. Right here he met Kemp and one other shut pal, Larry Kegan. Kemp stated they initially joined as a result of he and Kegan had been a few of the solely campers who believed Dylan when he stated he would turn into a well-known musician.
“I used to be twelve years previous and I had a guitar,” Kemp wrote in his e book Dylan and Me: 50 Years of Adventures. “She was going round telling everybody that she was going to be a rock and roll star. I used to be eleven years previous and I believed him. Even at that tender age, I might see that a lot of the different youngsters did not actually consider it. None of them would say it to his face, however I might see them making feedback and laughing behind his again, and it bothered me. Why did not they see what I noticed?
In fact, Kemp’s religion in Dylan was properly based, even at that younger age. Lower than ten years later, Dylan had moved to New York and was starting his fast rise to fame.
Bob Dylan’s pal didn’t wish to share personal particulars of the musician’s life
After many years of friendship with the musician, Kemp stated he had been approached by many publishers about writing a e book. He turned folks away for years.
“I had it at the back of my thoughts that sooner or later I might write my very own e book sharing all these tales that had been so attention-grabbing and significant to me,” she stated. Rolling Stone in 2019. “However I all the time put it off.”
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Ultimately one other pal satisfied him to write down the e book. He agreed, however declined to incorporate any private particulars about Dylan’s life. The musician is notoriously reserved, and Kemp wished to respect that. He even let a publishing deal fall via once they pushed for extra intimate tales.
“They saved asking me to write down about issues I did not assume had been related,” he defined. “All of the tales I’m keen to share on this e book are tales that don’t violate our friendship. They’re tales that present the human aspect of Bob. They make him appear to be one of many guys, which he all the time was to me.”
The 2 pals are now not in shut contact.
Dylan and Kemp had been shut for many years, however had a combat after Kegan’s demise in 2001. Kemp acknowledges that they do not talk usually anymore, however he would not like to speak about why.
“We’re nonetheless pals, however we’re not in contact like we was,” he stated. “Greater than 10 years have handed [since I’ve seen him in person]. [What happened] It is not one thing I might speak to anybody about. That is between me and Bob.”