Bob Dylan bites back at plagiarism claims

Bob Dylan has verbally attacked critics who claim he has plagiarised other artists and authors' material.

Bob Dylan has blasted critics who accused him of plagiarism.

The legendary musician was quick to defend himself about quoting other artists and authors' material in his own work, branding his critics "wussies and pussies" and saying they are the same kind of petty people who called him 'Judas' at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival for switching from an acoustic to an electric guitar.

He ranted to Rolling Stone magazine: "Judas, the most hated name in human history! If you think you've been called a bad name, try to work your way out from under that. Yeah, and for what? For playing an electric guitar?

"As if that is in some kind of way equitable to betraying our Lord and delivering him up to be crucified. All those evil motherf*****s can rot in hell."

When probed about not crediting his literary sources and 'quoting' 19th century poetry of Henry Timrod, Bob explained that he was the one who helped put the poet on the map.

He said: "As far as Henry Timrod is concerned, have you even heard of him? Who's been reading him lately?

"And who's pushed him to the forefront? Who's been making you read him?"

The 71-year-old singer insists that his raw musical talent has nothing to do with borrowing words from other people.

He added: "It's called songwriting. It has to do with melody and rhythm, and then after that, anything goes."

Bob is currently at Number Three in the Official UK Album Chart with 'Tempest'.