Bob Dylan has apologized for using a book-signing machine, the e-edition of Britain’s Guardian reported. The musician admitted that he used the device to sign books and works.
Dylan, who is 81, explained that he had to use the autograph machine because he had been suffering from vertigo for the past few years.
Dylan’s statement comes after his fans compared their signed copies and discovered the autographs were exactly the same. Bob Dylan’s new book was advertised as “hand signed”. The musician said he regretted his misjudgment of him.
The book “The Philosophy of Modern Song” is a commentary on other artists’ songs and was released in early November. There are only 900 “hand signed” limited copies and each costs $599. Each piece in the limited series is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from the publisher Simon & Schuster.
When buyers received their copies, many shared photos of their books online. Thus it became clear that the signatures are completely identical.
In his statement, 81-year-old Bob Dylan, who rarely speaks in public, said all other signatures in his career were handwritten. According to him, in 2019 he started suffering from vertigo and his complaints continued during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a device was one way to be able to sign books.
The idea of using an autograph machine was all about timing, Dylan said in a statement.
Simon & Schuster issued an apology last week and offered refunds to unhappy buyers.
The validity of Dylan’s “handwritten signature” has also been questioned in relation to his paintings. Art dealer Castle Fine Art, which sells works said to be signed by Dylan, said he had no knowledge of the device being used. According to the company that performed the verification, only two of Dylan’s works sold this year were signed with a device. Castle Fine Art has offered refunds to interested buyers.
In 2011, Barack Obama became the first US president to use a signature device. Earlier this year, fans accused Dolly Parton of using a device to sign her latest book. Sinead O’Connor also admitted to using a device to sign her memoir.
