As reported earlier today, Feb. 8, Bob Dylan received the MusicCares Person of the Year Award Saturday night, Feb. 7, an honor that included musical tributes from Bruce Springsteen, Jack White and several others. But instead of focusing on the positive things in his speech, Dylan decided to take some shots at various music legends. Among those with shade thrown their direction was Merle Haggard, who responded on Twitter.
"Merle Haggard didn't even think much of my songs. I know he didn't. He didn't say that to me, but I know way back when, he didn't," Dylan said, via the Los Angeles Times and The Boot. "Buck Owens did, and he recorded some of my early songs ... And that trumps anything else out of Bakersfield. Buck Owens or Merle Haggard? If you had to have somebody's blessing, you can figure it out."
That is pretty salty, no? The statement is especially weird, given that Dylan and Haggard toured together with Willie Nelson in 2005. Oh, and the fact that Haggard apparently harbors no ill will toward Dylan whatsoever.
Bob Dylan I've admired your songs since 1964. "Don't Think Twice" Bob, Willie and I just recorded it on our new album.
— Merle Haggard (@merlehaggard) February 7, 2015
Haggard was not alone, though. Dylan spent much of the second half of his speech lashing out against critics.
"Critics have been giving me a hard time since Day 1," Dylan said. "Critics say I can't sing. I croak. Sound like a frog. Why don't critics say that same thing about Tom Waits? Critics say my voice is shot. That I have no voice. What don't they say those things about Leonard Cohen? Why do I get special treatment? Critics say I can't carry a tune and I talk my way through a song. Really? I've never heard that said about Lou Reed. Why does he get to go scot-free?"
It sounds like Bob might have enough motivation for another record or two ... or 17.
