The author of ‘Misery’ and ‘The Shinning’ says he was “over the moon” when he heard Bob Dylan was to receive the prestigious accolade. "I read it over my breakfast. It's like remembering where you were when Kennedy was shot,” he says.
The king of horror points out that he never met Bob Dylan, but has been a huge fan of his music and, in particular his lyrics, ever since he first went to one of his gigs back in 1975 while writing his first major blockbuster ‘Carrie’ .
Asked for his thoughts about the criticism directed at the iconic singer-songwriter being awarded the Nobel Prize, King tells Rolling Stones magazine: “People complaining about his Nobel either don't understand or it's just a plain old case of sour grapes.
"I've seen several literary writers who have turned their noses up at the Dylan thing, like Gary Shteyngart. Well, I've got news for you, Gary: There are a lot of deserving writers who have never gotten the Nobel Prize. And Gary Shteyngart will probably be one of them. That's no reflection on his work. You have to rise to the level of a Faulkner if you're an American.
“My kids listen to Dylan, and so do my grandkids. That's three generations. That's real longevity and quality. Most people in pop music are like moths around a bug light; they circle for a while and then there's a bright flash and they're gone. Not Dylan,” he concludes.