Onstage, Mr. Dylan — in a particularly smiling, playful mood — was able to meet Mr. Clapton on his level, playing a heated version of ”Crossroads.” But Mr. Clapton had trouble meeting Mr. Dylan on his. Mr. Clapton’s liquid blues lines couldn’t find an entry point into Mr. Dylan’s ”Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” and when their iconic heads met at the microphone for ”Born in Time,” they seemed to be singing different words. As for the rest of Mr. Clapton’s band, at first the musicians had trouble doing much more than standing around slack-jawed as these two giants searched for common ground to stand on.
-Neil Strauss (New York Times)
Madison Square Garden New York City, New York 30 June 1999 Eric Clapton & Friends To Benefit Crossroads Centre Antigua
1999 was a great year for Bob Dylan’s “Never Ending Tour”.
For all the splendours of earlier in the year [1999], this last leg was the most consistently triumphant. By the time Dylan brought the year’s touring to an end, with an extended set on November the 20th, he had played 121 shows – the most in a single year of his entire career. It had been a very good year, the best since 1995.
~Andrew Muir (One More Night: Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour)
A lot of concerts from this tour is in circulation (both video & audio) and this concert is a great example from that last leg. Highlights include: One Too Many Mornings, This Wheel’s On Fire, Not Dark Yet & Not Fade Away.
Assembly Hall
University Of Illinois
Champaign, Illinois
27 October 1999
Touring is something you either love or hate doing. I’ve experienced both. I try to keep an open mind about it. Right now, I’m enjoying it. The crowds make the show. Going onstage, seeing different people every night in a combustible way, that’s a thrill. There’s nothing in ordinary life that even comes close to that.
– Bob Dylan (Edna Gundersen interview for USA Today – April 1999)
Never Ending Tour 1999
Start date
January 26, 1999
End date
November 20, 1999
Legs
5
No. of shows
98 in North America
21 in Europe
–
119 in total
Every N.E.T. junkie seems to agree that 1999 was a wonderful Dylan year. Strong performances in all 5 legs.
Pavilhão do Atlântico
Parque das Nações
Lisbon, Portugal
7 April 1999
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
Bucky Baxter (pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
Larry Campbell (guitar)
Tony Garnier (bass)
David Kemper (drums & percussion)
Tryin´ To Get To Heaven
The air is getting hotter
There’s a rumbling in the skies
I’ve been wading through the high muddy water
With the heat rising in my eyes
Every day your memory grows dimmer
It doesn’t haunt me like it did before
I’ve been walking through the middle of nowhere
Trying to get to heaven before they close the door
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
Everblades Arena
Fort Myers, Florida
26 January 1999
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
Bucky Baxter (pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
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