The importance of identifying Bob Dylan as a performing artist, as distinct from the popular perception that he’s a songwriter and recording artist, is immediately clear when one has a chance to hear his fall 1979 concerts. “What Can I Do for You?,” “Solid Rock,” “Saving Grace,” “Covenant Woman” and “In the Garden” as performed at these shows are some of the finest works in Dylan’s oeuvre, but you’d never know that from listening to Saved, the 1980 studio album that features these compositions.
-Paul Williams (Bob Dylan: Performing Artist, Vol 2: The Middle Years 1974-1986)
Bob Dylan only played 26 concerts in 1979. 14 of them were @ Fox Warfield Theatre (San Francisco, California) from November 1 – 16.
We’re playing over here with a lot of pride, it’s a big honor to play in this country, Great Britain. When I grew up, they used to tell me about the Battle of Britain, RAF, Winston Churchill, all that stuff. Now, we all know that Britain stood alone and without any allies; and that always meant a lot to me and everybody that I grew up With.
-Bob Dylan (Onstage, Wembley Arena, London, 5th October 2000)
Never Ending Tour 2000
Start date
March 10, 2000
End date
November 19, 2000
Legs
5
No. of shows
75 in North America
37 in Europe 112 in Total
The year 2000 is regarded by many bobcats to be among the best N.E.T. years.
I´v chosen 5 of my many favourite performances in 2000, 4 of them from the second “Europe” leg (September 13 – October 6). This leg seems to be the favourite leg (in 2000) to many fans (performances from this leg are quite easy to find on youtube, different forums, bootleg blogs, etc..). Please use the Comments section to post your personal favourites from 2000.
The year kicked-off with 2 great shows @ Anaheim, California on March 10. The early show featured 2 live debuts; Tell Me That It Isn’t True and Things Have Changed.
I’ve found a different audience. I’m not good at reading how old people are, but my audience seems to be livelier than they were 10 years ago. They react immediately to what I do, and they don’t come with a lot of preconceived ideas about who they would like me to be, or who they think/ am.
– Bob Dylan (Murray Engleheart Interview for Guitar World)
Never Ending Tour 1998
Start date
January 13, 1998
End date
November 7, 1998
Legs
7
No. of shows
56 in North America
6 in South America
33 in Europe
15 in Oceania
–
110 in Total
Another great N.E.T. year.
Please use the Comments section to post your personal favourites from 1998.
The Theater
Madison Square Garden
New York City, New York
17 January 1998
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
Bucky Baxter (pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
Larry Campbell (guitar)
Tony Garnier (bass)
David Kemper (drums & percussion)
Million Miles
You took a part of me that I really miss
I keep asking myself how long it can go on like this
You told yourself a lie
That’s alright mama, I told myself one too
Dylan then tried to recreate the Rolling Thunder Revue’s success in the spring of 1976. Rehearsals were held in Clearwater, Florida during April, and the first show was on April 18 at the Civic Center in Lakeland, Florida. The tour continued throughout April and May in the American South and Southwest.
The final Rolling Thunder show took place on May 25. Held at a half-empty, 17,000 seat Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, it would be Dylan’s last performance for twenty-one months (except for The Last Waltz in November 1976 for the Band), and it would be another two years before Dylan recorded another album of new material.
