1- 1 iw, - . -0. -- - --- Ah A& i w .w a Dylan again atop rock n' roll world 0 The Micht Daily Weekend Magazine Thursday, October 22, *8-- 44 University Alumni Association courts larger classes By Ryan Malkin Daily Arts Writer Bob Dylan rolls into the Palace of Auburn Hills Oct. 28 with folk legend Joni Mitchell at yet another pinnacle of his career. His music has spanned over three decades, 43 albums, 21 films and he has toured to almost every country in the world. Yet, from the moment he began his crusade on rock music he has struggled - riding out as many pit falls as periods of wild success. He can't sing. He can't play, critics charged from the get-go, even going so far as to question Dylan's song-writing talents But the poet proved them wrong, with a Princeton University Honorary Doctrine of Music, a Commandeur Des Arts Et Des Lettres Award (the highest cultural award in France a foreigner can receive) the Founders Award of the American Society of Composers and, most recently, a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 20th Grammy Awards, to name just a few. It all started in Greenwich Village in 1961, when New York Times critic Robert Shelton said the twangy folk singer was, "bursting at the seams with talent." Dylan's days of playing after-midnight sets at camped village joints for $5 a day ended with a deal with Columbia Records. The result: his first album, "Bob Dylan" was released in 1962. While the album was well-received by a spattering of New York folk purists, no one was prepared for what was to become one of the most famous songs ever written - "Blowin' in the Wind." The release of the album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan,' allowed the raspy-voiced nobody from Minnesota to firmly establish a foot-hold as one of the nation's up-and-coming musical talents and allowed him to begin his ascentsto the top. Folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary's cover of "Blowin' in the Wind" went to No. 2 on the pop charts. Dylan's next major albums wielded some of the most famous rock songs of the era, such as "The Times They Are-A- Changin," "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Subterranean Homesick Blues." But the world proved still unready for Dylan's next wave of success. With the release of the longest song ever recorded on a 45 LP, "Like a Rolling Stone,' - which reached no. 2 on the Billboard sin- gles chart-- Dylan now had a larger fol- lowing than ever. Thus far, Dylan had been playing solo acoustic guitar both on records and in concert. But in 1965 that changed. Dylan appeared at the Newport Folk Festival with an electric guitar in hand and per- formed the first electric set ever heard at the Folk Fest. As he changed rock histo- ry, the audience booed and hissed. After the world had grown accus- tomed to Dylan's new passion for elec- tric, however, Dylan quickly became a folk/rock hero. With the release of the critically adored smash album "Blonde on Blonde" came the politically incorrect "Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35." The song's chorus "everybody must get stoned," besides forever assuring Dylan a place in the heart of all stoners, was met with sharp criticism from conservative music critics, parents' and religious orga- nizations. In response, and rather ironi- cally, Dylan was quoted as saying "I never have and never will write a drug song," in reference to "Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35." As controversy brewed, Dylan was touring the world with his backing band, The Hawks, today known simply as The Band. On May 17, 1966 the contingent played the now legendary performance at The Royal Albert Hall in England. Due to a serious motorcycle accident, howev- er, this was Dylan's last live performance for more than five years. Instead of the non-stop touring sched- ule which he had endured for almost a decade, Dylan retreated with the Band to a compound in Woodstock, NY, to recov- er from his accident. Dylan's work during his recovery period has recently been released in the scratchy and melancholy yet brilliant album the "Basement Tapes." Before resuming their lives on the road, Dylan and the band finished "Planet Waves" Dylan's first album to hit No. I on the charts. When Dylan and The Band went back on the road in 1972, after an almost seven-year layover from any full-scale touring, the event's promoter, Bill Graham, said, "There were over 12 mil- lion requests for tickets, while only seats for 40 shows were available." Dylan's career was booming once again, but his personal life was falling to pieces. During the next year, 1975, Dylan separated from his wife, Sara, and wrote mature emotional classics like "Tangled Up In Blue," "Idiot Wind" and "Shelter From the Storm." These songs were released on Dylan's second no. 1 album, "Blood On The Tracks." Dylan's next record, "Desire" again topped the pop charts, this time riding the momentum of the politically charged "Hurricane." But Dylan's personal life continued to come apart at the seams as divorce proceedings were finalized with his estranged wife. The breakup left Dylan emotionally distraught. In his time of need he turned to God. Dylan, born Robert Zimerman, had grown up a non-practicing Jew. In the early '80s Dylan publicly converted to Christianity and began stunning sold- out crowds with new spiritual religious rock rather than their old favorites. Dylan's Christian fervor produced such forgettable '80s albums as "Street Legal" and "Slow Train Coming" It was not until 1993, when his "30th Anniversary Concert Celebration" was released, that his fans began to regain optimism. Yet even with the help of Tom Petty, Eric Clapton and Neil Young, this album did not win Dylan many new fans. A performance on "MTV's Unplugged" led to another album and a new song "Dignity" but failed to make a big splash. Critics complained his voice was not as clear as it once was and that he had not put out any classic songs in years. Dylan seemed to lack the excitement he had always shown for studio and live per- forming, but he surprised everybody in 1997 with the release of "Time Out Of Mind." fans and critics alike. "Time Out Of Mind" immediately gained critical acclaim, but Dylan was almost not around to enjoy it. Before the album hit stories, Dylan was hospitalized in June 1997 for histoplasmosis - an infection that creates a sac surrounding the heart. As always, Dylan bounced back. He was back on the road to com- plete a European tour, including a perfor- mance in Rome at the behest of Pope See DYLAN, Page 16B By Carly Blatt For the Daily A graying fan who goes to football games in a camper, wears yellow pants and- other University apparel bought at the nearest mall. What immediately comes to mind? A stereotypical average alumnus may conjure such an image, says Steve Grafton, executive director of the University's Alumni Association. The Alumni Association is taking steps to change this image to provide more appeal for students and young alumni. "This is not just your father's alumni association anymore," said Grafton. "We are becoming much closer to stu- dent life." Boasting 105,000 members, Grafton said the association provides a myriad of benefits for both alumni and stu- dents. It offers graduates a way to stay involved and connected with the University. Several thousand current students also reap the advantages of member- ship. The special $10 student member- ship includes "discounts, free meals during finals, a T-shirt, and a chance to be matched up with an alumni to learn about their job," said Kenneth Blochowski, manager of Student and Young Alumni Programs. Gerald Sigler, the programs execu- tive director, agreed. "We want to play a tangible role in creating positive experiences while (students) are on campus," Sigler said . As for recent graduates, Grafton notes that "in the past we have had a problem getting younger alumni involved, but that's changing." For one, the introduction of a young alumni e- mail chat group has become popular. Recent graduates discuss campus and political issues, such as the changes to the stadium, issues surrounding Clinton, and excitement about the Bowl games. New graduates may benefit from the networking the association provides. "It is a liaison to a wealth of resources for career services," Grafton said. The association also offers educational pro- grams, including seminars on how to buy a first home. It purchases blocks of season tickets and splits the packages into pairs of sin- gle game tickets to sell to alumni. Grafton said this year 3,000 single game pairs were sold and 5,000 people requested tickets. Members also move up a little higher on the list of people waiting to purchase season tickets, said Blochowski. Younger alumni may be particularly interested in a new development - a lifetime e-mail address. "We're plan- ning to organize a way to have an e-mail address for life. People would send mail to your (current University) address and it would be forwarded to your other e- mail addresses," Grafton said. Members would receive the service at no cost. It should be available in November, Sigler said. E-mail and the Internet have also played a role in the Association's com- munication with members. "We have 15,000 alumni e-mail addresses, which gives us the opportu- nity to quickly and inexpensively keep in contact with them," Sigler said. "We can quickly promote different programs at the last minute." Blochowski said the information superhighway has expanded the associ- ation's horizons in every sense of the word. "People have thought of us as an Ann Arbor or Michigan contact, but with the World Wide Web, we can be much more in touch with alumni who are distant," Blochowski said. It has also accelerated information becoming available. Last year, 7,400 alumni and students went to the Rose Bowl through the alumni asso- ciation. As soon as the Ohio State game was over, the association was able to immediately post informa- tion regarding the Bowl and allow people to print out the application and fax it in, Grafton said. Bowl games are not the only travel in which the association is involved. Roughly 1,300 people participate in the 40-50 travel programs offered a year, ADRiaNA YUGOVICH/Daily Chris Holbrook and Michelle Henry work to prepare for Homecoming. The Alumni Association works throughout the year to keep graduates informed of University events. including a trip to Hawaii for the foot- ball game this year and adventures to Europe. Alumni can also attend activi- ties at the association's Michigania camp located in northern Michigan, Grafton said. New graduates may enjoy all of these benefits at no cost for the first year. Seniors may sign up for their free membership during Senior Days, at the graduation fair or through an invitation placed in their diploma. Some 5,000to 8,000 people take advantage of free membership, according to Sigler. Annual dues are $40 after the first year. Recent alumni also have the opportunity to join an Alumni Club. "Clubs are basically an extension of the Alumni Association. They help us serve alumni outside of the area," Sigler said. The clubs in each area have their own officers and dues separate to those of the Alumni Association. Alumni can choose to be a member of the associa- tion and not a club, or vice versa. Approximately 70 percent are members of both, Grafton said. Clubs may help provide an emotion- al connection as well. "(Clubs) are the best way to stay in touch with the feel- ing of being in Ann Arbor," enthused Andy Hwang, a 1995 graduate and member of the Alumni Club of Los Angeles. Social and networking benefits are another reason to consider joining a club, said Hilary Packer, a 1991 gradu- ate and vice president of the alumni club of New York. They "give you a great way to meet new people. The clubs offer networking opportunities, a chance to get involved with community service and an oppor- tunity to meet a great group of people that you might not have already met on campus" Packer said. Karen Kim, another member of the Alumni Association of New York, said the organization even brings University-style entertainment to mem- bers nationwide. "We have gone swing dancing, to wine tastings, and on a cruise around Manhattan with several other alumni clubs," said Kim said. "We saw the Friars perform in New York, and we watch football games togeth- er." There are 120 official alumni clubs based in a variety of locations. The fur- thest location, however, is on the moon. Three University alumni from the Apollo 15 mission planted a flag on the moon and the University of Michgan Club of the Moon was established. Grafton notes a final interesting tidbit: the video on MTV showinga flag being planted on the moon is a variation on the video of the astronauts planting the Michigan flag. Students can check out the alumni association online at http://www.umich.edu/~vmalumni. Ann Arbor Plymouth 241 E. Liberty 447 Forest Ann Arbor (Behind the Mayflower Hotel) 998-0008 459-3332 Fax 998-0303 Fax 459-3113 Mon.-Sat. 11-12 AM Mon.-Sat 11 AM-11 PM Sun. 12 noon- 10 PM Sun. 12 noon-10 PM 1) Value Meals Only 399 Soup or Cold Drink, Egg Roll, Entree & Fried Rice Lunch only 2) Buy one dinner entree and get a second at half price 3) $2 off for purchase of $10 or more 1 I 4) $5 off for purchase of $25 or more Limit one offer per visit. Coupon must be presented' at time of purchase, expiration 11130/98 LYMOU j I - - ------ -- o- Ib ®We pay up tof$6QOa I for your CDs ! ?IA' 1g1A'I 1203 S. Usniverty * c- between Church and S. 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