Bob Dylan has spoken out about the homicide of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, which has sparked a wave of global Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality and racial injustice.

The musician has often been outspoken on political and social injustice, and remarked that watching the video of Floyd's death - caused by a police officer leaning on his neck - was "beyond ugly".

"It sickened me to no end to see George tortured to death like that. Let's hope that justice comes swift for the Floyd family and for the nation."

Discussing his upcoming album Rough and Rowdy Ways, which is scheduled for release on June 19, the singer said "I think about the death of the human race".

He discussed his song 'I Contain Multitudes', which features the lyrics, "I sleep with life and death in the same bed."

"The long strange trip of the naked ape. Not to be light on it, but everybody's life is so transient," he said, "Every human being, no matter how strong or mighty, is frail when it comes to death. I think about it in general terms, not in a personal way."

Speaking to American author and historian Douglas Brinkley, Dylan also discussed his fears about technology and hyper-industrialisation.

"There’s definitely a lot more anxiety and nervousness around now than there used to be. But that only applies to people of a certain age like me."

"We have a tendency to live in the past, but that's only us," he said.

Dylan also talked about the recent deaths of Little Richard and John Prine.

"Both of those guys were triumphant in their work," he said. "They don't need anybody doing tributes."

Rough and Rowdy Ways will be released on the Columbia label on June 19, 2020.