Joan Baez retired from touring in 2019, following one last round of dates on her aptly named Fare Thee Well trek.
Yet the longtime Bay Area singer-songwriter-guitarist — who ranks as one of the most important folk music artists of all time — pretty much hasn’t slowed down since.
Turning her focus toward other creative endeavors, Baez put much effort into her ongoing series of “Mischief Makers” paintings, documenting a wide range of subjects — from Patti Smith and Jackson Browne to Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi — who have fought to bring about social change.
She also released her first book of poetry, 2024’s “When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance,” and was the subject of the acclaimed documentary film “Joan Baez: I Am a Noise” in 2023.
And, of course, a whole new generation of music lovers were introduced to Baez — and her tempestuous relationship with Bob Dylan — through last year’s massively successful “A Complete Unknown.” (Monica Barbaro was nominated for a 2025 Oscar for supporting actress for her excellent portrayal of Baez in the Dylan biopic.)
For her latest trick, the 84-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is joining the cast of the Vau de Vire Society for “The Soiled Dove.” The circus-infused dinner-theater experience, which draws from the talents of 30-plus circus performers, dancers and other artists to transport viewers back to San Francisco’s Barbary Coast in the 1890s, runs Fridays and Saturdays Sept. 5-Nov. 1 at Radium Runway at Alameda Point. For tickets, visit www.thesoileddove.com.
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I recently had the chance to catch up with Baez, who was calling in from her longtime home in Woodside. Here’s our conversation.
Q: Hi, Joan. How’s Woodside today?
A: Oh, it’s absolutely beautiful. It pretends that there’s nothing else going on but itself.
Q: I’m not sure if you remember, but we’ve spoke various times over the years. The first time occurred way back in the summer of 1996 when you performing a benefit concert for the East Palo Alto-based Ecumenical Hunger Program.
A: And we’re still kicking.
Q: We were supposed to do an in-person interview that day, on-site at Mitchell Park in Palo Alto. But that Interview didn’t actually end up happening. But you did give me a hug.
A: Well, here’s another one over the phone.
Q: I appreciate it. Well, it’s nice to talk with you again. Hey, I thought things were supposed to slow down in retirement. But that certainly hasn’t been the case for you.
A: I guess I came out of the womb on output. And I’m still there. And it’s hard keeping up with what to do right now — for anybody. Hence the circus.
Q: Yes, tell me how you got involved with this Vau de Vire Society production.
A: The guy who worked with me at (circus-dinner-theater company) Teatro ZinZanni said, “We’re going to do this circus thing. Are you interested?” And I said yes. Bingo. And that was it. And I didn’t even know what I was getting into. It was just an instinct thing.
I have this great quote — hang on — from Mark Twain. And it is, “The human race only has one really effective weapon and that is laughter.” Isn’t that nice?
Q: That is very nice. What can you tell me about this performance group — the Vau de Vire Society?
A: I don’t know much about the company. They are very young. I mean, the people who are going to be hanging from the ceilings and stuff are going to be in their 30s — maximum. And it’s new to them.
For instance, they were choosing a wig for me. I’m Paloma Blanca — I’m the the queen of the gypsies. So, I was looking for whatever the wig was going to be. And they had this magnificent blonde thing with braids and curls. And I just loved it. Then I just realized, “This is made for a 30-year old.” And I’m saying, “Well, hang on a minute.” Then I realized they don’t understand about aging. I texted and said, “Come up with something a little more subtle or age-appropriate.” So, they found this wonderful, big, glorious wig.
About the clothing, they brought this fantastic wardrobe — these fantastic skirts that weigh about 20 pounds of material that you twirl in. I realized that I couldn’t walk in that and hold up 20 pounds with one hand. You know? So, anyway we’re working on all those changes.
(Pauses)
And I don’t know what your question is ….
Q: (Laughs) That’s OK. I have a new one and it’s way more important: So, wait, you’re not going to be hanging from the ceiling from the top of the tent?
A: I’m sorry to tell you, no.
Q: Is this straight acting or will we get to hear your singing voice in the production?
A: You get to hear my singing voice a couple of times. We’ve taken advantage of it. Two real songs. And then a lot of nonsense, which comes with the script.
Q: Nonsense can be fun.
A: It’s a lot of fun. The other thing was, before I said yes (to the project), I said, “Do I get to dance?” And he said yeah. Because dancing is so important to me and I’ve never really gotten to it onstage. I’ve been too — I don’t know — we’ve just never lightened up to that point. And there was nobody to dance with. So, I said I will dance my gypsy stuff and then give me a real dancer who can lead — because I don’t know what I’m doing.
That’s the only thing I follow in — dancing. Everything else I’m leading.
Q: Sounds fun and exciting. And different.
A: And irreverent. And bawdy. All of this stuff that I’m involved in has to be off-color and challenging. I think anything that the current — quote — administration would hate, I want to be involved in. And they hate it because they are all a bunch of pervs. But there they are and here we are.
Q: Do you think your irreverent and off-color side gets enough credit? I mean, do people know about that side of you?
A: Not at all. This will be a real eye opener for a lot of people. There’s this great guy, who was in a union on the East Coast, and he said that I’ve got the voice of an angel and the mouth of a dockworker. And I was so pleased with such a compliment. But, no, the public doesn’t know that.
Q: Oh, my goodness. That would be a great name for an album — “Voice of an Angel, Mouth of a Dockworker.” And it could be like you singing, in your prettiest voice, all these rough songs filled with four-letter words and all that.
A: That sounds like a really good idea. Because that’s probably all I have left in me as far as recording goes.
Q: There you go! I expect to be mentioned in the credits when that album comes out.
A: Good! You can be arrested with me.
Q: I’d stand by you, Joan! No question about it.
A: If I were you, I’d stand about 4 feet away. Then you’d be safe.
Q: But, then again, safety has never been your primary concern though, right?
A: I’ll tell you, being slightly more serious, it is not what it was in the ’60s and ’70s. When I went to jail for that brief period, we were still smiling to the policemen and singing on the way into the paddy wagon. And things have changed. I mean, I hesitate to tell a young person to get out there and demonstrate. And it was never in my program to hesitate — but to encourage people to speak up. And now it’s a serious question of how far you want to go with that — how far you suggest it to somebody else.
At the circus, they have a gallery and I am going to put my paintings — “The Mischief Makers” — on display there. I just try to find everything I can do at this point. And, until they catch up with me, I’ll go on doing it.
It’s also in the poetry I’ve been writing. I don’t want to self-censor. At the same time, I’m too (expletive) old to go to jail. At my age, you’ve got your medication. You’ve got this, that and the other. In the old days, you’d get your medication, your lawyer, your friendly visits. I’m assuming that that’s not what is happening today.
Q: Who would you still like to paint for your “Mischief Makers” portrait series?
A: Bruce Springsteen. I started. But other stuff got in the way and I couldn’t go at the usual speed. I have a bunch of entertainer types (paintings) that I’m going to show at the gallery (at the circus). I wanted Bruce to be among them, but I couldn’t quite get it done.
Q: Could I commission a Joan Baez portrait of myself?
A: Depends on what you look like. (Laughs) Depends on how long it would take me. And the answer is yes, you could.
Q: How much would that cost me?
A: Depends on how big it is. Isn’t that weird? It’s the size of the painting that they go by.
Q: Well, there you go. I didn’t even know that it was an option to commission a Joan Baez portrait of myself.
A: I didn’t either. But it is. So, if I do one the size of a postage stamp you’ll be OK.
Q: That might be all my music critic paycheck can handle. I could take you to Palo Alto Creamery for a milkshake.
A: That sounds perfect. Except, I’m lactose intolerant, so we’ll have to do something else. But, you know, a bunch of those places have fake ice cream. So, we can do that.
Q: Sounds great. That’s where we’ll hold our next interview. Hey, you’ve clearly got all this other stuff going on, but do you miss touring? I mean, it was such a big part of your life for so many decades.
A: Yeah, I didn’t know whether I would miss it or not. And I had to keep an open mind about it. And I do not miss it. I’m surprised that I don’t. I miss my pals on the bus. But I have no desire to go walk out on stage and do a concert.
When I got home — you know the expression “I hung up the guitar”? — I literally hung it up on the wall. And it’s come down about four times. I’ve done guest appearances, which I can still do. But I in no way want to go back on tour.
Q: I’m curious to know how you thought Mill Valley’s own Monica Barbaro did portraying you on the big screen in “A Complete Unknown.”
A: I thought she was really good. The singing voice is silly for someone to try and do that. That might have been a good place for A.I. — seriously. But, otherwise, I thought she was wonderful. She looked like me. She looked dejected like me.
Actually, I called (the filmmakers) and said, “Does anybody want to hear from the horse’s mouth?” And I got a call back from (Barbaro) and we had a good long chat. And then from Ed Norton (who portrayed Pete Seeger) — another good long chat. Just trying to give them whatever they may not know.
I thought Pete Seeger was brilliantly depicted. I thought Dylan was well-depicted — just a little too clean.
Q: So, all in all, two thumbs up for the movie?
A: Yeah, I say so. My friends started defending me, “Well, they didn’t show this …. ” But it’s a movie. It’s a good movie. It’s a fun movie.
Q: I liked the movie too. And I loved this conversation with you. Thanks for being so generous with your time today. I look forward to possibly seeing you out at the circus — and, if so, perhaps even collecting that hug in person.
A: That sounds like a very good idea. Thanks for the chat.