AUGUST 27, 1969, BOB DYLAN GAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE HALLAND HOTEL SEAVIEW HOTEL DURING THE ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL IN ENGLAND. , In response to pressure from the media, Dylan agrees to a press conference, which is staged at the Halland Hotel on the Wednesday afternoon. The conference receives extensive coverage on BBC news programs, although Dylan gives little away. Ar one point he claims his 1966 stage act “was all for publicity …. I don’t do that kind of thing anymore.” After the conference, which is shorter than expected (Dylan curtailing it with, “I think I’ve answered enough questions”), there is a brief photo session on the seafront, before Dylan is whisked back to Forelands Farm. ~Clinton Heylin (Bob Dylan: A Life in Stolen Moments Day by Day 1941-1995)Bob Dylan & Julian Beck (The actor-director, poet, painter, (co-founder of “The Living Theater”) , Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden, New York City, May 9th, 1974 Julian Beck, Judith Malina – The Living Theatre May 17, 1975 video clip of the only existing videotape of Julian Beck, Judith Malina and the Living Theatre performing “Turning the Earth – A Legacy of Cain” which I videotaped on May 17, 1975 using a B&W open reel Sony PortaPack on Pittsburgh’s NorthsideYet the tape is really awful for other reasons as well. Dylan joins Danko and Helm for five songs. It seems perfectly clear that none of these were rehearsed, or, indeed, even discussed beforehand. They start with “Your Cheatin’ Heart”, which actually sounds mostly like the crowd is singing along to because none of the three of them will take the lead on it. After some more screaming from the crowd they start “Willie and the Hand Jive”. This is a mistake, because it is a request from the crowd and that only emboldens the crowd, who now start yelling out the name of every song The Band ever performed, and many others besides. “Blues Stay Away from Me” is then given the same butcher’s treatment. I’m not one hundred per cent convinced all three of them are playing in the same key, but it hardly matters.Bob Dylan St James Park Newcastle 1984 Support from Santana and Lindisfarne Dylan was back in the UK in 1984 for a couple of concerts, one at Wembley Stadium and this time he also visited the North East for a massive gig at St James Park, with support from Santana and local heroes Lindisfarne. I went along with a group of friends. I remember Lindisfarne going down well with the crowd (well they would, wouldn’t they!). I can’t remember a lot about Santana, to be honest. Dylan played a set of classics and got a good reception from the Toon crowd. He was sporting a strong band with Mick Taylor on guitar, and Ian McLagen on keyboards. I think Carlos Santana also joined the band on guitar. Looking back on those shows, we didn’t know how lucky we were at the time. Dylan was singing well, and performing long sets which covered his entire back catalogue.For the record, the final song is “Going Down”. From the photos it looks like everyone had a good time. I’m sure that there are people who were there who still tell the story about that epic night in 1983 when Bob Dylan walked onstage at a small bar in New York, and they’ve convinced their friends and neighbours that it was a highlight of their lives. They’re all lying. It was a crap set. And the people who try to tell you otherwise are probably the same ones who spent the whole time screaming “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down!”I think this is Dylan’s greatest concert. That’s a pretty audacious thing to say, considering the vast body of live work that Dylan has presented to us throughout the years, but I really hear something special and truly magnificient in this, his first concert to feature a full electric set. It’s a shame that there isn’t a better tape of this event, but until an as yet undiscovered PA tape comes to light, this will have to do. This show is legendary, and for anyone who doubts that 1965 audiences heaped great scorn on Bob Dylan and his electric crew, all they need to do is listen to this tape to hear the audience’s point of view. There is so much hostility directed toward the stage that it’s frightening. Coming as it does after the shocking Newport appearance with members of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the audience for the Forest Hills show pretty much knew what to expect, and the majority showed extreme displeasure during the electric half. But first we have the acoustic set, which was very well received. The crowd was quiet and respectful for the 45 minute opening set, which followed a typical top-40 disk jockey introduction more appropriate for a Dave Clark Five concert than a Bob Dylan concert. This show featured the debut of “Desolation Row”, from the Highway 61 album which was yet to be released (only a few days away, in fact). It’s a great performance and it went over very well with the crowd, who laughed appreciatively at the lyrics. It must have been amazing to sit there and hear a brand new masterpiece like “Desolation Row”.AUGUST 28, 1965, BOB DYLAN WAS AT THE FOREST HILLS TENNIS STADIUM LOCATED IN NEW YORK, NY. Setlist: She Belongs to Me To Ramona Gates of Eden Love Minus Zero/No Limit Desolation Row It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue Mr. Tambourine Man Tombstone Blues I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) From a Buick 6 Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues Maggie’s Farm It Ain’t Me, Babe Ballad of a Thin Man Like a Rolling StoneBob Dylan Friend from the Band Levon helm playing ping pong. Barry Feinstein photographInside the museums, Infinity goes up on trial/Voices echo this is what salvation must be like after a while/But Mona Lisa must’ve had the highway blues/You can tell by the way she smiles
Ugur is an editor and writer at Need Some Fun (NSF News), covering world news, history, archaeology, cultural heritage, science, entertainment, travel, animals, health, and games. He delivers well-researched and credible stories to inform and entertain readers worldwide. Contact: [email protected]
