New interview with Dave Stewart in American Songwriter – Dave Stewart Revisits a Lifetime of Bob Dylan Songs on New Album

Dave Stewart’s new album Dave Does Dylan is more than a tribute—it’s the culmination of a lifelong musical connection that began in his early teens. In a recent feature by American Songwriter, Dave reflects on first discovering Bob Dylan through his older brother’s record collection, and how Dylan’s songwriting immediately struck a chord with him.

As a teenager in Sunderland, Dave was drawn to the local folk scene but was often turned away from clubs for looking too young. Eventually, he was given a chance to perform Dylan’s “To Ramona” at the George and Dragon pub, a formative moment that deepened his bond with Dylan’s music. He describes the experience as stepping into a sacred space where visionaries and rebels converged.

The Dave Does Dylan album revisits the songs that have followed him since those early days. Recorded in hotel rooms and studios during the Eurythmics Songbook Tour in 2024, the tracks were captured in the moment, with no added production—just Dave playing them as he did in folk clubs or at home. His versions are raw, personal, and true to the spirit of how he first connected with Dylan’s work.

“I’ve always had this ongoing passion for his songwriting,” Dave says. “He was always musically and lyrically mind-blowing. I love words, and I love the way that they tumble out of Dylan’s mouth.”