Don't look at Bob Dylan

[snopes]

Q: Have you heard the urban legend that you're not allowed to look at Dylan if you're backstage with him at a show?

A: I've heard that about Diana Ross; I haven't heard that about Bob. I bet there have been times of his life where that was true and times it wasn't. More often than not you hear that he can be the nicest, easiest person to be with, and then again, you'll hear a story that makes you want to go, "Oh my God, how did you survive that moment? It sounds so cruel!"

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/280444

[putitinwriting]

My dad hung out with him last year, with one other person there, one night after a show. They talked music (dad was invited along by a guy who's played with Dylan on a few recent albums). Dad said he was fairly friendly and engaged, though he seemed a little tired. But then, that wasn't a case of strangers being asked not to look at him "backstage".

[Ramblin' Dave]

People who do know him personally (fellow musicians primarily) have said he can be very nice and then turn around and, in his own words, act like they never have met. I've never heard anything about not being allowed to look at him, though. I certainly do believe it's true of Diana Ross as the OP says. Absolutely nothing I've ever heard about her has been the least bit positive, unless it was about her ability to sing.

If you are backstage to meet any musician how are you NOT supposed to look at them when you are talking to them?

[putitinwriting]

Originally Posted by Ezri

If you are backstage to meet any musician how are you NOT supposed to look at them when you are talking to them?

Well, meeting the headliner isn't the only reason to be backstage by a long shot. Roadies, techs, caterers, friends and family of the other performers, and so on are all back there somewhere.

[MapleLeaf]

Originally Posted by putitinwriting

Well, meeting the headliner isn't the only reason to be backstage by a long shot. Roadies, techs, caterers, friends and family of the other performers, and so on are all back there somewhere.

Yeah, but if the specific reason you were back stage is to meet him, and he agrees to talk to you so long as you don't look at him, that's a pretty asshatted thing to do. Even if you're not meeting him, demanding that someone not look at you is rather conceited. Just as much so as demanding that they do.

If he just doesn't want to talk to you at all, that's a bit different.

[TrishDaDish]

My brother used to work at the Orange County Convention Center in Florida and could tell you some great stories about wonderful celebrities and celebrities whose minds are beyond the realm of normalicy. I wish he had a Dylan story, but he's never said as such. Now, Diana Ross, heck yeah, she is Ego On A Stick. Surprised they didn't have to knock a wall down so her ego could fit through.

Steve was doing coordinating for her event (setting up chairs/movable walls/setting up her private room/etc), but even though he was a higher up, he always worked along with the regular guys, since he used to do it and wanted his workers to have faith in him ("If the boss can do it, so can we" kind of bonding). And Diana Ross was the Queen of demands. The main one he talks about was the "No one can look at her" clause. So they're setting up the place, and guys about the size of tanks announce Miss Ross is coming through the hall, and to trun around and face the wall and not look at her, which everyone thinks is complete bollocks, until her bodyguards repeat it. Everyone actually had to turn around and face the wall while she walked down the hall. Someone turned around to look, and Miss Ross acted like she was going to be molested, screaming, raising hell and siccing the guard on the guy. (The bodyguard didn't do anything but tell the worker to turn around and stop looking at Miss Ross, but not in a pleasant way.)

Nicest entertainer to appear there was Barry Manilow. He was doing a Christmas show and Steve and the coordinators couldn't find him anywhere. Someone called Steve on the walkie talkie, said Mr. Manilow was at the entrance giving bagels to the people waiting to get in. They figure that means he ordered a delivery to the entrance, so they go to check it out and give it the ok. Turns out that Mr. Manilow was actually at the entrance of the convention center, personally giving people waiting in line bagels. Steve thought the funny part was a good portion of the people coming in to see the show didn't even recognise that it was Barry Manilow himself asking if anyone wanted a bagel while waiting outside.

Barry Manilow is teh coolest, for that alone.

Maybe the OP was confusing Bob Dylan with Nigel Tufnel from Spinal Tap.....

Nigel Tufnel: Look... still has the old tag on, never even played it.
Marty DiBergi: [points his finger] You've never played...?
Nigel Tufnel: Don't touch it!
Marty DiBergi: We'll I wasn't going to touch it, I was just pointing at it.
Nigel Tufnel: Well... don't point! It can't be played.
Marty DiBergi: Don't point, okay. Can I look at it?
Nigel Tufnel: No. no. That's it, you've seen enough of that one.

Link to the video if you don't believe me....

[DesertRat]

Barry Manilow is teh coolest, for that alone.

That is pretty cool. I can't stand his music, but I find myself liking the guy a little just because of that.

I haven't met many (hardly any, in fact) celebrities, but of the very few I've shared the same general proximity with, Churck Norris was by far the nicest--in fact, he really came off like a hell of a good guy.

[rangerdog]

Chuck Norris could look at Diana Ross......

[rockstar1976]

Originally Posted by rangerdog

Chuck Norris could look at Diana Ross......

That made my night. Seriously.