DESCRIPTION:
Jacques Levy was a theatre director and lyricist who in the mid-1970s co-wrote a number of songs with Bob Dylan, including the classic track 'Hurricane', and directed Dylan's famed US concert tour, the 'Rolling Thunder Revue'. This interview took place in May 2004 - sadly Jacques passed away the following September.

In 1965, Levy first made his name on the New York theatre circuit when he directed Sam Shepard's play 'Red Cross'. In 1969, he directed the off-Broadway erotic revue 'Oh! Calcutta!', afterwards approaching Roger McGuinn of The Byrds to collaborate on a project inspired by Henrik Ibsen's 'Peer Gynt'. The musical stalled, but one song, "Chestnut Mare," co-written by McGuinn and Levy, became the single released from the album (Untitled) in 1970. Many further Levy-McGuinn songs appeared on Byrds and McGuinn albums during the 1970s.

In the mid-seventies, Levy met Bob Dylan through McGuinn. Shortly after, the two collaborated on "Isis" and another six songs which appeared on Dylan's 1976 album 'Desire' - these included "Hurricane" about imprisoned boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, and "Joey" about the mafia gangster and hit man, Joe Gallo. To promote the album Dylan undertook a substantial concert tour, 'The Rolling Thunder Revue', which featured a travelling band of musicians including Joan Baez, Roger McGuinn, T-Bone Burnett and David Bowie's guitarist Mick Ronson. Levy directed the shows.