Bob Frídl: The 1970s idol nicknamed the Czech Bob Dylan

Exactly 85 years ago, on May 24, one of the most famous American singer-songwriters, Bob Dylan, is born. A few years later and several thousand kilometres further east, another baby sees the light of day for the first time – Jozef Frídl, who would later be nicknamed “Czech Bob Dylan.” 

Jozef “Bob” Frídl’s singing career began in 1967 with the group Green Spiders. Inspired by Bob Dylan, he played guitar and harmonica and even adopted his artistic first name from him. His other musical influences included Donovan, Leonard Cohen, Bulat Okudzhava and Simon & Garfunkel.

Bob Frídl’s musical career rose rapidly during the 1970s. He attracted attention with his unconventional style, lyrical tenor voice and striking appearance – at the time, his posters could be found in many teenage girls’ rooms. The 1970s were also the peak of his fame. Later, he performed solo or as a guest with various folk groups, but his star slowly began to fade. In the mid-1980s, he emigrated to Greece, where he worked in tourism. He started a family there, raised children, and after the breakup of his marriage, he returned permanently to Moravia in 2000.

On February 26, 2013, in the early morning hours, the life journey of Bob Frídl came to an end. He was 65 years old. The news of his passing affected fans and colleagues alike – a man whose songs had accompanied entire generations had gone.