Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (1993)
On October 16, 1992, an impressive and eclectic group of artists gathered at Madison Square Garden in New York City for the purpose of celebrating the music of Bob Dylan on the occasion of his 30th anniversary of recording. Bringing together musical greats as far-flung as Johnny Cash and Eddie Vedder, The Clancy Brothers and Lou Reed, the four-hour show celebrated a truly remarkable lifetime of songs in front of a sold-out audience of over 18,000. Warmly dubbed the Bobfest by participant Neil Young, the show was broadcast around the world and featured a cast of musical notables performing carefully chosen and often surprising selections from the incomparable Dylan songbook. At evening's end, the man of honor himself appeared on stage and gracefully brought it all back home again. In a world where all-star celebrity gatherings have become commonplace, the Bob Dylan celebration stood out as, first and foremost, a legitimately memorable musical event.
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Such a frustrating disappointment
Brilliant and touching
The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.
Think about this - the Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert took place in 1992, that's already twenty five years ago! And this year, 2017, Dylan has released a new triple disc album. That's fifty five years and still going strong! Wow! And you'll say Wow! to the incredible lineup showing up to pay tribute to Dylan's first thirty years of writing and recording with this Concert Celebration. The list of performers reads like a Who's Who in the world of Rock 'n' Roll with some additional unexpected faces also on hand to lend their support. Like the Clancy Brothers from the Irish folk scene, and Johnny Cash with wife June Carter. Actually, Johnny Cash wasn't that big a surprise. Cash held Dylan in high regard as a poet and musician, and Dylan was his very first guest on the debut of 'The Johnny Cash Show' in 1969. So a bit of professional payback there.The evening at New York's Madison Square Garden on October 16th, 1992 got off to a rocking start with John Mellencamp performing 'Like a Rolling Stone'. Other favorite performances of mine included the Cashes on 'It Ain't Me, Babe', Neil Young on 'All Along the Watchtower', Chrissie Hynde doing 'I Shall Be Released, Eric Clapton with a great bluesy version of 'Don't Think Twice, It's Alright', and of course the great finale with everyone joining in on 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door'.The only downside of the entire evening occurred when the audience met Sinead O'Connor with sustained booing, a reaction to her tearing up a photo of The Pope on 'Saturday Night Live' a couple of weeks earlier. When the band began playing the song she intended to sing, she waved them off and went into a screaming rant of Bob Marley's 'War', the same 'song' she did on SNL. Afterward, she was escorted off stage by Kris Kristofferson who had introduced her.I thought about O'Connor's display of disrespect and had to wonder what would have happened today if she had turned in a similar blast against the current Pope. With the amount of liberal vehemence expressed against Christians and Catholics in particular, she might actually be cheered today, except for the fact that the current Pope leans toward Socialism. In which case one might expect her to get booed all over again. Isn't it interesting how perceptions change with the times? O'Connor maintained her personal disdain for the fans during the 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' number by standing stone faced with her arms crossed and not joining in. Her presence really was quite embarrassing, though the performers who followed her took things in stride and were not affected by her behavior.If you have the program on CD you'll have a little over three hours of concert video with additional backstage and rehearsal footage, along with three more songs performed by Mellencamp, Nancy Griffith with Carolyn Hester, and Booker T and The MG's. It really is one of the best concerts you'll ever experience, while catching many of your favorite artists in one place at the same time. Can't beat that.
One of the greatest concert films.16 October 1992, Madison Square Garden, New York. A concert to celebrate Bob Dylan's 30 years in the music industry. The list of performers, all performing Dylan songs, is amazing: Dylan himself, John Cougar Mallencamp, Kris Kristofferson (who was also MC), Stevie Wonder, Lou Reed, Eddie Vedder & Mike McCready from Pearl Jam, Tracy Chapman, Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash, Willie Nelson, Johnny Winter, Ron Wood, Richie Havens, Neil Young, Chrissie Hynde, Eric Clapton, The Band, George Harrison, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Roger McGuinn. Supported by Booker T and the MGs.Great versions of great songs, sung by phenomenal artists. Brilliant.
I listened to the double CD many many times. Recently I got the video-documentary and I got really disappointed because I couldn't see the performance of Ronnie Wood, Neil Young, George Harrison or Eric Clapton. A shame, because that would make this documentary just epic. I really enjoyed the performance of Jhonny Winter, Johnny Cash, Lou Reed, Willie Nelson, Chrissie Hynde, Roger McGuinn or Eddie Vedder. And the end it's very emotive with all the musicians together, playing with Bob and so... There's just those missing parts that makes this tribute so special, so I am waiting for the full version. I want to see Ron Wood playing "Seven days", Neil young playing "All along the watchtower", Eric Clapton playing "Don't think twice it's alright" and so. Time will straight this up.
I love this concert so much! And I was only 6 years old when I watched it on Television. What a great collection of amazing music legends... Tom Petty did an outstanding job on this, "License to Kill" is probably by favorite performance on here. Not to mention "It Ain't Me Babe" performed by June Carter and Johnny Cash is some pretty amazing stuff. Every performer brings something unique to the stage. Truly a concert that is all about the music and not about the light and appearance. This is one of those concert I wish I could have gone to. I can watch this over and over and never get tired of it! A must see for Bob Dylan and old music lovers! Check it out!