Caropop

Part 2 of our conversation with guitarist-songwriter-singer-storyteller Dave Alvin begins with him discussing musical biopics and the one that put him off the genre for good. (Hint: He was in it.) Has he seen A Complete Unknown? How did he wind up actually recording with Bob Dylan? Will any of these recordings ever come out? Alvin also revisits his early songwriting efforts, including the first song he ever wrote and “Marie Marie,” which he wrote for the Blasters and became an international hit for Welsh rocker Shakin’ Stevens. More recently, Alvin had to overcome neuropathy from his chemotherapy treatments to resume playing guitar. How much of his focus now is on being a musician, as opposed to writing songs? What’s next? And what was it like when he left the Blasters and realized that not all bands fight? (Photo by Leslie Campbell.)