On This Day in 1966, Bob Dylan Nearly Died in a Motorcycle Accident

In the timeline of Bob Dylan’s career, numerous events mark major milestones: his debut self-titled album, his electric performance at the Newport Folk Festival, and countless others. However, one of the more transformative moments in Dylan’s storied career was when he danced with death in a 1966 motorcycle accident.

On July 29, 1966, Dylan took a casual ride on his Triumph, resulting in a crashed bike and injured Dylan, as the artist broke several vertebrae in his neck. Despite Dylan never being picked up by an ambulance or being hospitalized, the event seemingly took quite a toll.

Before The Crash

The crash seemed to be an exclamation point on the recent events of his career. Dylan had just finished a tour in England and was already gearing up for the next. He was also tasked with numerous other creative endeavors that were either overdue or beyond his capabilities.

Additionally, this had been the point in Dylan’s career where the pills were flowing. The artist has openly spoken about his troubles with amphetamines, often referencing this period of life as the height of it. Needless to say, going home did not entail the rest the artist needed. Especially with what followed.

The Day Of

Like any catastrophic event, it is hard to foresee. The same applies to Dylan, as the artist was taking his bike in for repairs with his wife at the time, Sara Dylan, following behind. Subsequently, Dylan crashed, Sarah put him in the car and drove to a nearby friend’s house for help.

Where the story starts transforming from an average accident to a folkloric Dylan tail is how the artist left no record of the incident. No police report, no ambulance was called, and Dylan was never admitted to a hospital. It’s as if it never happened. Regardless, Dylan and friends have stated that he suffered vertebrae injuries and underwent extensive physical therapy.

Dylan’s Resurgence

It was near the end of the ’60s. The taste of music Dylan had been known for was falling out of style. It was the turn of the decade, and Dylan needed to acknowledge it. So, what a perfect opportunity for the artist to exile and contemplate his next move. And he did just that.

Following the crash, Dylan pushed the boundaries of his musical catalog, releasing The Basement Tapes and John Wesley Harding. Both albums did not perform at the level in which they were anticipated. However, it was the event that marked the second act of Dylan’s career and made the music folks never thought he was capable of making.

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