Bob Dylan Claimed He Survived A Near-Lethal Motorcycle Crash, But Then Authorities Got Suspicious

You can't believe everything Bob Dylan says. The classic songwriter loves to embellish his own legend and pull pranks on unsuspecting fans, but surely he wouldn't invent a potentially life-changing event, right? Well, some experts have begun raising questions about his infamous 1966 motorcycle crash. Some of the facts don't quite add up.

A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall

In July of 1966, many music fans were shocked as they read the morning paper. Reports indicated that Bob Dylan had suffered a horrendous motorcycle accident, and there were no guarantees that he would pull through. It was hard to believe; the folk titan seemed almost invincible at the time.

Flower Power

In just a few years, Bob Dylan had become a countercultural icon. His beautiful lyrics about “danc[ing] beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free” and “ain’t it just like the night to play tricks when you’re tryin’ to be so quiet?” spoke to a generation obsessed with maintaining a peaceful existence. At the same time, Dylan had a dangerous streak.

Working Man

Bob was prolific in multiple ways. In just a year-and-a-half he released three albums: Highway 61 Revisited, Bringing It All Back Home, and Blonde on Blonde. He also embarked on a massive global tour, which brought his fame to new heights. Trying to stick to a tight schedule, the musician became accustomed to zipping around America's highways while on various substances.

Riding his Motorcycle

Bob’s world tour ended on May 27, 1966, but barely two months later, his career suffered a major setback. He was riding on his 1964 Triumph T100 motorcycle on the Woodstock, New York, on the way back from his manager Albert Grossman's home in West Saugerties. According to the official story, the trip soon got dicey.