# Bob Dylan Sucks **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 17, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040 "2007-10-17T14:26:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/1 "2007-10-17T14:26:43Z")
To be fair, I was never a huge Dylan fan. Still, I had a few of his albums and much of his stuff is without peer. He may be the greatest folk/rock song writer. So, I am a fan. Amos Lee opened up. Why this guy and his band aren’t as popular as Matchbox 20, or others I don’t know He was Fantastic with a capital F. The tickets were $47.50 and I would have gladly paid it for a night of his music. Fabulous. Next was Elvis Costello. Never a huge fan, but like Dylan loved some of his stuff. (like Allison etc) He was very entertaining. It was very good. Next came Dylan. His band is tight and first rate; experienced musicians. Now Dylan was never known for his melodic voice. But he would sing. Sometimes he would do this talk/sing thing where he wouldn’t hold a tune very long. But it was still singing mostly. His voice was high pitched, nasal and whiney, but he was _Bob Dylan_ for God’s sake. Bob’s now 67, and he didn’t sing a lick. He talked/ barked through every single song. I suspect he’s a lifelong smoker, because he has a mouth/throat full of road gravel. Song after song he simply talked his way through it with the gravel voice. There was about 2500-3000 people in a venue that would seat 8000+ easily. After about an hour I saw a few hundred or more filing out. (he played for 90 minutes) As is his habit, he said nothing to the crowd—nothing before, during or after the show. (save announcing the band, which was indiscernable in his incoherent rambling voice) I couldn’t wait for it to end. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/2 "2007-10-17T14:40:08Z")
A lot of people have been telling me Dylan’s concerts these days are just horrible. It’s as though he just doesn’t care any more whether or not he’s actually reaching his audience. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/3 "2007-10-17T14:46:21Z")
He was like this when I saw him ten years ago- I can’t believe word hasn’t got out in a decade that his live shows now stink, and that people shouldn’t go. Or maybe it has, and a lot of people just want to see a legend, even an incoherent one. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/4 "2007-10-17T14:54:20Z")
Yeah I saw him in '98 and his “singing” wasn’t up to scratch much and he ignored the audience. Van Morrison on the other hand was extremely engaging and entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/5 "2007-10-17T14:56:53Z")
I didn’t see the tour, but a friend of mine did, and loved it, though he acknowledged Dylan’s voice is basically blown. Different strokes, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/6 "2007-10-17T14:57:05Z")
I saw him in 98 or 99 as well and it was pretty bad. Still glad I got to see a legend though. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/7 "2007-10-17T15:02:20Z")
His shows are hit-and-miss. I’ve only seen him once in concert and I’m not sure I need to see him again. But anyone who expects him to be Mr. Personality onstage doesn’t know him very well. Who cares if he doesn’t banter with the crowd or if he rambles incoherently between songs? That’s not why he’s an icon. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/8 "2007-10-17T16:49:45Z")
I last saw him about 5 or 6 years ago,. and his voice was fine - for Dylan. I understand he can’t play guitar anymore now. As for connecting with the audience, he didn’t the two times I saw him here, and he didn’t when I saw him in 1980 in Baton Rouge, and if the Cd is any indication he didn’t in the “Royal Albert Hall” concert in 1966. The only indication I have of him ever connecting is from the 1964 Carnegie Hall concert CD, and the liner notes said he was drunk. Richard Thompson connects to the audience. Dylan, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/9 "2007-10-17T17:18:59Z")
An ex girlfriend went to see him about 15 years ago. I didn’t 'cause I’m not a fan. She came back very disappointed. She said it might as well have been called “Requiem for Dylon.” She said he was either drunk or stoned or both so bad that she couldn’t understand 80% of the words. (I thought - hell, how is that different then any other time?) ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/10 "2007-10-17T17:20:52Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] He was like this when I saw him ten years ago- I can’t believe word hasn’t got out in a decade that his live shows now stink, and that people shouldn’t go. Or maybe it has, and a lot of people just want to see a legend, even an incoherent one. [/QUOTE] That’s why I didn’t catch this year’s tour, even with a solo Costello opening. I saw Dylan with Paul Simon, and didn’t recognize half the songs Dylan performed until he got to the chorus in most of them. ---
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Saltlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/11 "2007-10-17T17:23:46Z")
Saw him in 79 or 80 (Slow Train Coming tour). He didn’t connect there either. He smirked when somebody shouted out “Lay Lady Lay!” and replied “You shoulda been here ten years ago, man.” Don’t recall that he said anything else that evening. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/12 "2007-10-17T17:39:32Z")
It’s got to be a combination of hard living and indifference, because John Fogerty (62) and the Stones (Jagger 64, Richards 63) are still out there playing, and sounding really good. Fogerty’s voice in particular seems to have faded hardly at all, which is impressive considering his vocal style is pretty strenuous. ---
**Author:** ![SpectBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@SpectBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpectBrain)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/13 "2007-10-17T19:04:08Z")
Saw the latest show (travesty!) in Atlanta and I have to agree with the OP. Dylan was terrible!. I enjoyed Amos Lee (and I thought I heard him introduced as Aimless Lee). Elvis Costello was good, and worked hard for the audience. He even shared a couple of brief anecdotes. Dylan was a waste of time. Couldn’t make out his lyrics even when putting my fingers in my ears, the words were still amorphous mud. His voice had odd bass undertones which was very annoying. As far as stage craft he didn’t talk to or acknowledge the audience (which I’ve heard is normal for him). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/14 "2007-10-17T19:05:04Z")
I’m so glad I saw him (2 or 3 times) back in the '60s, when he had his “normal” voice and stage presence. He was really great back then, in spite of the fact that he “couldn’t sing.” Perhaps his new act is an attempt to make the old one look good in comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/15 "2007-10-17T19:09:16Z")
Poor Bob, I remember not realizing what songs he was singing until halfway through when the melodies began seeming familiar. Better to just get a copy of the Basement Tapes and stay at home. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/16 "2007-10-17T19:14:05Z")
I’m a Dylan fan who really enjoyed his singing in the old days. To make up for never having seen him in concert back in the day, I went to see him maybe two years ago in Columbus, OH. His voice was guttural beyond anything you’ve ever heard from Tom Waits, and totally unmusical. It was an unsteadily rhythmic roar. No words or tunes could be distinguished. Before and since I’ve read praises for his band, but I think that they sounded good only in comparison to Dylan. They weren’t bad, just journeymen. They had to work pretty hard to overcome the legend’s piano playing. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/17 "2007-10-17T19:18:47Z")
I did see him once completely rock out on the harmonica. I figured he was either drunk or awake. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/18 "2007-10-17T19:28:40Z")
[QUOTE=Sean Factotum] That’s why I didn’t catch this year’s tour, even with a solo Costello opening. I saw Dylan with Paul Simon, and didn’t recognize half the songs Dylan performed until he got to the chorus in most of them. [/QUOTE] I saw him on the Simon tour and had no trouble at all. But he may well suck now, certainly his voice isn’t getting any better. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/19 "2007-10-17T22:33:01Z")
I saw him in concert in '78. I didn’t care for it much at all. But I still love his music, including his recent “Modern Times” album. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040/20 "2007-10-18T02:10:52Z")
Bob Dylan reportedly scared the children at his grandson’s kindergarten after treating the class to a live show. He has allegedly been dubbed the “weird man” by children in the Calabasas school where Jakob’s son attends. A source told the New York Post newspaper: “The kids have been coming home and telling their parents about the weird man who keeps coming to class to sing scary songs on his guitar. He’s been visiting the school just for fun, but the kids don’t appreciate they are in the presence of a musical legend. They just think of him as the weird guitar guy.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-sucks/423040.md?page=2)