Bob Dylan World Tour 1966
Tour by Bob Dylan and the Band | |
Location |
|
---|---|
Start date | February 4, 1966 |
End date | May 27, 1966 |
Legs | 3 |
No. of shows | 45 |
Bob Dylan and the Band concert chronology |
The Bob Dylan World Tour 1966 was a
Photographer Barry Feinstein (who had shot the cover of Dylan's album The Times They Are a-Changin’ in 1964[1]) accompanied Dylan on the UK leg of the tour at the musician's behest to document the tour, both onstage and off.[2]
The 1966 tour was also filmed by director
Many of the 1966 tour concerts were audio recorded by
The last show of the tour was on May 27, 1966 at the Royal Albert Hall, and after withdrawing from the public eye and relocating to Woodstock because of a motorcycle accident he suffered on July 29 of the same year, it would be his last show on a major tour until 1974,
Tour
Finding The Band
As Dylan finished the sessions for his 1965 "
Background
Dylan and his backing group gave concerts sporadically throughout the United States and Canada while the initial sessions for Blonde on Blonde were being recorded.[7][8][9][10][11] Sometime in September 1965, Dylan and the Band embarked to Woodstock, New York to rehearse the songs they would be performing on the tour.[12] Several songs, such as "Maggie's Farm", "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" and "It Ain't Me Babe" were dropped from the tour's set list as they embarked to different locations.
The first leg of the tour took place in North America, but by now both Kooper and Helm had left the band. The initial sessions with the Band for Blonde on Blonde, proved unproductive, with only two tracks good enough to be released ("Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" and "One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)"). Dylan soon began recording in Nashville, Tennessee with a new lineup of studio musicians. By April, Dylan had finished the sessions for Blonde on Blonde, and continued the tour outside of North America.[13]
Leaving the continental United States, Dylan first traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii and from there to Australia, where he performed seven concerts over ten days in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The tour group then flew to Scandinavia for concerts in Stockholm and Copenhagen. After Scandinavia, Dylan toured Ireland [appearing in Dublin] and the United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland) in May. He made a short trip to Paris before he finished the tour in London.
The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert
Towards the end of the May 17, 1966 concert at the
Reception
Because Dylan was now playing "electric", he was being constantly heckled by folkniks and angry fans throughout the electric half of a concert. Even the press began to go along with the dissent of his fans. A review in the magazine Melody Maker of the May 5, 1966 concert in
Concert-goers began to become hostile, yelling at Dylan from their seats, shouting phrases like "phoney" and "traitor" between songs. Dylan would often reply to these jeers, such as in Liverpool, where one man shouted "Where's the poet in you? What's happened to your conscience?", to which Dylan responded, "There's a fellow up there looking for the savior, huh? The savior's backstage, we have a picture of him."[17] During one concert, as the jeers and shouts reached a terrible level, Dylan lazily replied, "Oh come on, these are all protest songs. It's the same stuff as always, can't you hear?"[18] When the group embarked to Scotland, the audience turned out to be somewhat more receptive, at least in Glasgow, where Dylan's supporters outnumbered his hecklers. But in Edinburgh, a section of the audience attempted to drown out the band by playing their own harmonicas.[19] In Paris, the French even jeered during Dylan's acoustic set; and during the electric portion, Dylan told his audience, "Don't worry, I'm just as eager to finish and leave as you are."[19] The final two nights at the Royal Albert Hall in London saw the biggest walkouts of the tour, but there was some support, as the Beatles were in the audience, shouting down the hecklers. George Harrison denounced the angry fans as "idiots".[19] When the tour ended, the Band returned to America angry and dejected; Robbie Robertson later said that, "After those shows we were lonely guys. Nobody wanted to hang out with us." In his memoir, Robertson writes of the Beatles stopping by Dylan's hotel room after the final London show, but Dylan being too exhausted to receive them.
On November 2023 the american Singer-Songwriter Cat Power released an Album-Cover of Dylan's Concert on this tour at May 17th 1966 in Manchester (GB) at that year's april she also'd performed live at November 2022 at Royal Albert Hall London: Cat Power sings Dylan. The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert.[20]
Personality and equipment
Now that Dylan had separated himself from his
Throughout the tour Dylan used during his acoustic sets his
Despite the transition from acoustic folk music over to rock 'n' roll, Dylan did not see himself as a part of the mainstream crowd of musicians. In a press conference in December 1965 he would detach himself from his contemporaries of rock music and call his style "vision music . . . mathematical music".
During his 1966 World Tour Tour, Dylan is alleged to have taken drugs. During his 1965 tour of England, it was alleged Dylan had used
Tour dates
Date | City | Country | Venue | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
North America | ||||
February 4, 1966 | Louisville | United States | Louisville Convention Center | [26] |
February 5, 1966 | White Plains | Westchester County Center | [13] | |
February 6, 1966 | Pittsburgh | Syria Mosque | [13] | |
February 10, 1966 | Memphis | Ellis Auditorium | [27] | |
February 11, 1966 | Richmond | Shrine Mosque
|
[28] | |
February 12, 1966 | Norfolk | Norfolk Municipal Auditorium | [29] | |
February 19, 1966 | Ottawa | Canada | Ottawa Auditorium | [30] |
February 20, 1966 | Montreal | Place des Arts | [13] | |
February 24, 1966 | Philadelphia | United States | Academy of Music | [31] |
February 25, 1966 | [31] | |||
February 26, 1966 | West Hempstead | Island Garden | [13] | |
March 3, 1966 | Miami Beach | Convention Hall | [31] | |
March 5, 1966 | Jacksonville | Jacksonville Coliseum | [13] | |
March 11, 1966 | St. Louis | Kiel Opera House | [31] | |
March 12, 1966 | Lincoln | Pershing Municipal Auditorium | [32] | |
March 13, 1966 | Denver | Civic Auditorium | [33] | |
March 19, 1966 | Los Angeles | Hollywood Bowl | ||
March 24, 1966 | Portland | Paramount Theatre
|
[33] | |
March 25, 1966 | Seattle | Center Arena | [33] | |
March 26, 1966 | Vancouver | Canada | PNE Agrodome | [13] |
April 9, 1966 | Honolulu | United States | International Center
|
[34] |
Oceania | ||||
April 13, 1966 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Stadium | [13] |
April 15, 1966 | Brisbane | Brisbane Festival Hall | [35] | |
April 16, 1966[A] | Sydney | Sydney Stadium | [35] | |
April 19, 1966 | Melbourne | Festival Hall
|
[13][36] | |
April 20, 1966 | [13] | |||
April 22, 1966 | Adelaide | Palais Theatre | [37] | |
April 23, 1966 | Perth | Capitol Theatre | [37] | |
Europe | ||||
April 29, 1966 | Stockholm | Sweden | Stockholm Concert Hall | [13] |
May 1, 1966 | Copenhagen | Denmark | K.B. Hallen | [13] |
May 5, 1966 | Dublin | Ireland | Adelphi Cinema | [13] |
May 6, 1966 | Belfast | Northern Ireland | ABC Theatre | [13] |
May 10, 1966 | Bristol | England | Colston Hall
|
[13] |
May 11, 1966 | Cardiff | Wales | Capitol Theatre | [13] |
May 12, 1966 | Birmingham | England | Birmingham Odeon | [13] |
May 14, 1966 | Liverpool | Odeon Theatre | [13] | |
May 15, 1966 | Leicester | De Montfort Hall | [13] | |
May 16, 1966 | Sheffield | Gaumont Theatre | [13] | |
May 17, 1966 | Manchester | Free Trade Hall | [13] | |
May 19, 1966 | Glasgow | Scotland | Odeon Theatre | [13] |
May 20, 1966 | Edinburgh | ABC Theatre | [13] | |
May 21, 1966 | Newcastle | England | Odeon Theatre | [13] |
May 24, 1966 | Paris | France | L'Olympia | [38] |
May 26, 1966 | London | England | Royal Albert Hall | [13] |
May 27, 1966 | [13] |
Set lists
Beginning all of his concerts with an acoustic set, Dylan performed seven songs each time. As well as playing material that was recorded as folk songs, he played several of his recently recorded electric songs acoustically ("She Belongs to Me", "Visions of Johanna", etc.). During the second half of a concert, he performed eight songs each time; but on the other hand, played some of his older, once acoustic material as electric blues ("One Too Many Mornings", "I Don't Believe You"); but the bulk of each set was centered on recent Blonde on Blonde and Highway 61 Revisited material, whether it be acoustic or electric. The song "Tell Me, Momma", which opened the second half of the concert, was never recorded for a studio album.
During the initial U.S. Tour (August 1965 – March 1966), Dylan rarely played the same set list twice in a row. The set list below is that of the 28 August concert at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, New York City.[7]
- Acoustic Half
- "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"
- Electric Half
- "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 Stone"
Dylan added several songs to the set as the tour progressed, including "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down", "Visions of Johanna", "4th Time Around", and "Tell Me, Momma", while he omitted "To Ramona", "Gates of Eden", "Love Minus Zero/No Limit", "Tombstone Blues", "From a Buick 6", "Maggie's Farm", "It Ain't Me, Babe", and "Positively 4th Street" during the later part of the tour. He also performed several songs only once, including "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" and "Long Distance Operator". After these revisions, the set each night became consistent, following the pattern below.
- Acoustic Half
- "She Belongs to Me"
- "4th Time Around"
- "Visions of Johanna"
- "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"
- "Desolation Row"
- "Just Like a Woman"
- "Mr. Tambourine Man"
- Electric Half
- "Tell Me, Momma"[39]
- "I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)"
- "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down"
- "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues"
- "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat"
- "One Too Many Mornings"[40]
- "Ballad of a Thin Man"[41]
- "Like a Rolling Stone"
Each show lasted approximately 90 minutes,[13][42] not including the break between the acoustic and electric halves. The only background vocals used were Danko's wailing "behind" during "One Too Many Mornings".
Musicians
- Bob Dylan – acoustic and electric guitars; harmonica, piano, lead vocals
- Robbie Robertson – electric guitar
- Rick Danko – bass guitar; backing vocals
- organ
- Richard Manuel – piano
- Mickey Jones – drums
- Sandy Konikoff – drums (before March 26, 1966)
Musicians per Olof Bjorner.[43][44][45][46]
Aftermath
On July 29, 1966, two months after the last concert of the World Tour, Dylan was involved in a motorcycle accident while riding on the property of his manager, Albert Grossman.[47] The true nature and extent of his injuries has never been publicly disclosed.[47] Although Dylan still had bookings for the rest of 1966 and beyond, he cancelled all engagements for an indefinite period after the accident.
There were many reasons that contributed to his decision. He had come under increasing pressure over the preceding few years—his transition to "electric" music had provoked intense criticism from his former colleagues who were still involved in the folk music scene. His concerts and press conferences became increasingly hostile and confrontational, and it has been said that he was using drugs by the end of the tour.
Another significant personal factor is that Dylan was newly married, and with a young family. He had quietly wed
Dylan's withdrawal from touring coincided with a similar decision by the Beatles, who had decided to halt public performances after their unpleasant experiences in The Philippines (after unintentionally snubbing the Marcos family)[49] and in the United States (due to the backlash over John Lennon's misinterpreted "more popular than Jesus" statement). This was soon followed by the touring hiatus imposed on the Rolling Stones caused by the drug busts and subsequent trials of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones, which prevented them from touring in the U.S. for some time.
Another important factor is that the high public profiles of these artists were increasingly making them targets for violence.
However, Dylan continued to record in the period following the accident, taping a large body of work with The Band downstairs in the converted garage of their rented home, nicknamed "Big Pink" due to its salmon-colored siding, near Woodstock, New York, which became known as
External links
- 1966 concerts, from Bob Dylan's Official website
- Bjorner's Still on the Road 1966: Tour dates & set lists
- mashable.com: bob-dylan-1966-tour-unseen-images – from D. A. Pennebaker, for an never aired film ABC special
- youtube.com: Bob Dylan 1966 World Tour: The Home Movies – from Dylans Tour-Drummer musician turned actor Mickey Jones (1918 - 2014)
References
- ^ "The Times They Are A-Changin' | The Official Bob Dylan Site". www.bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
- ^ "Real Moments – Bob Dylan by Barry Feinstein". Genesis Publications. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
- ^ a b c Williamson, N. "The Rough Guide to Bob Dylan", p. 56, 58
- ^ a b c d MacDonald, Bruce. "Part 2 (1960–1965): Clip 6". Yonge Street: Toronto Rock & Roll Stories. Toronto: Bravo Canada. Archived from the original (Video) on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
- ^ No Direction Home (2005 documentary film)
- ^ a b "SOMETHING IS HAPPENING". www.bjorner.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
- ^ a b Bjroner (August 7, 2000) Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, New York City, 28 August 1965 Bjorner's Still on the Road. Retrieved July 20, 2010
- ^ Bjorner (February 6, 2002) Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, September 3, 1965 Bjorner's Still on the Road. Retrieved July 20, 2010
- ^ Bjorner (August 7, 2000) Carnegie Hall, New York City, October 1, 1965 Bjorner's Still on the Road. Retrieved July 20, 2010
- ^ Bjorner (February 6, 2002) Columbia Recording Studios, New York City, October 5, 1965 Bjorner's Still on the Road. Retrieved July 20, 2010
- ^ Bjorner (May 21, 2010) Columbia Recording Studios, New York City, November 30, 1965 Bjorner's Still on the Road. Retrieved July 20, 2010
- ^ Bjorner (August 7, 2000) Unidentified Location, Woodstock, September 1965 Bjorner's Still on the Road. Retrieved July 20, 2010
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Björner, Olof (March 8, 2021). "Still on the Road: 1966 Blonde on BLonde recording sessions and world tour". About Bob. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ Kershaw, Andy (17 July 2013). "Bob Dylan: How I found the man who shouted 'Judas'". Independent. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ youtube.com: No direction home ending scene (November 11th 2023)
- ^ Williamson, N. The Rough Guide to Bob Dylan, p. 209
- ^ a b c Williamson, N. "The Rough Guide to Bob Dylan", p. 68
- ^ a b Williamson, N. The Rough Guide to Bob Dylan, p. 69
- ^ a b c Williamson, N. The Rough Guide to Bob Dylan, p. 72
- ^ dominomusic.com (November 10th, 2023)
- ^ Robertson R. "Gear", Retrieved on 22 January 2015.
- ^ Robertson R. "1965 Telecaster", Retrieved on 23 January 2015.
- ^ Caraway S. "Rick Danko – Robbie Robertson", Retrieved on 22 January 2015.
- ^ Worsfold K. "Garth's Gear – The Classic Years", Retrieved on 22 January 2015.
- ^ a b c Williamson, N. The Rough Guide to Bob Dylan, p. 64-65
- The Courier-Journal. p. A8.
- ^ Howard, Edwin (February 11, 1966). "Dylan doth protest, like too much". Memphis Press-Scimitar. p. 10.
- ^ Rowe, Norman (February 12, 1966). "Folk Music". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. 9.
- ^ Heylin 1996, p. 90.
- ^ Foley, Dennis (February 21, 1966). "4,000 fans dig Dylan in folk, rock concert". Ottawa Citizen. p. 13.
- ^ a b c d Heylin 1996, p. 92.
- ^ "Sports, plays, dances get top billing". Lincoln Journal Star. 13 March 1966. p. 38.
- ^ a b c Heylin 1996, p. 93.
- ^ Heylin 1996, p. 94.
- ^ a b Heylin 1996, p. 96.
- ^ The 1966 Live Recordings, Sony Music
- ^ a b Heylin 1996, p. 98.
- ^ "Bob Dylan to release 36CD set of all his 1966 live recordings". The Guardian. September 27, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ youtube.com: Tell Me, Momma („LIVE HD FOOTAGE, Paris, May 24th, 1966“; November 11th, 2023)
- ^ youtube.com: Bob Dylan - One Too Many Mornings (Live in Liverpool 1966) (November 11th, 2023)
- ^ youtube.com: Ballad Of A Thin Man (LIVE HD FOOTAGE & RESTORED AUDIO) (May 1966; November 11th, 2023)
- ^ Bjorner (May 21, 2010) Manchester Free Trade Hall, Manchester, May 17, 1966 Bjorner's Still on the Road. Retrieved August 9, 2010
- ^ Bjorner (February 17, 2000) Island Garden, Hempstead, February 26, 1966 Bjorner's Still on the Road. Retrieved July 21, 2010
- ^ Bjorner Jacksonville Coliseum, Jacksonville, March 5, 1966 Bjorner's Still on the Road. Retrieved July 21, 2010
- ^ Bjorner (March 13, 2009) PNE Agrodome, Vancouver, March 26, 1966 Bjorner's Still on the Road. Retrieved July 21, 2010
- ^ Bjorner (August 7, 2000) Arie Crown Theater, Chicago, November 26, 1965 Bjorner's Still on the Road. Retrieved July 20, 2010
- ^ a b Williamson, N. The Rough Guide to Bob Dylan, p. 73
- ^ Williamson, N. The Rough Guide to Bob Dylan, p. 57
- ISBN 0-380-79698-8
- ^ Williamson, N. The Rough Guide to Bob Dylan, p. 41
- Bjorner, Olof: [1] Still on the Road 1965
- Bjorner, Olof: [2] Still on the Road 1966
- Heylin, Clinton (1996). Bob Dylan: a life in stolen moments. Day by day, 1941–1995. New York: Schirmer Books. ISBN 9780825671562.
- Sounes, Howard: Down the Highway. The Life of Bob Dylan.. 2001, ISBN 0-8021-1686-8
- Williamson, Nigel: The Rough Guide to Bob Dylan (1st ed., 2004), ISBN 1-84353-139-9