I love it that Ray loves 1986 so much. I live in Australia, I had just turned 18 in January, and they were just amazing days in February. Doesn't seem like 40 years ago. I had True Confessions for Carol on in the car today as it happens. I remember the anticipation when Bob arrived in NZ, we were counting the days until he'd arrive here. The concerts made me a lifelong Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fan also. Reading Mike Campbell's excellent book "Heartbreaker" at the moment. So looking forward to the continuation of your miniseries Ray, and thanks as always for your tremendous writing. Stephen
As a life long Dylan fan, this was very much a mixed bag concert. As a 17 year old at the 1978 Auckland concert, the eight year wait to see Bob again seemed endless. I was so excited for the show, I travelled to Wellington 4 days early to soak up the atmosphere. Well to say I had mixed emotions would be the least I could say. I wasn’t much of a Petty fan at the time but his set was the highlight. Bob just seemed so flat and the music was so muddled and at times impenetrable. Oh well I had the Auckland concert in a few days time to look forward to.
Good idea for a series, Ray. I agree with your disagreement with Dylan's assessment of this tour. Tom Petty may or may not have been at the top of his game - I have no way to judge that because his band didn't have much cut through in the UK and I only know a couple of his songs, no disrespect - but Dylan was definitely not at his worst. And for a long time, the Hard to Handle release was one of the very few examples of live Dylan video we had - and it's good. Some of it is great, in fact. The version of It's All Right Ma on that tape is a highlight of the 80s, the way he builds the pace up through teh song and the sheer level of feeling he gets across. It's classic Dylan.
Hard to Handle is damn good. The 17 minute video of Tom and the Heartbreakers playing w/ Dylan at the first Farm Aid in 1985 is also fantastic in my opinion.
Great article Ray. Intrigued by this bit:
"There’s a Dylan-in-the-'80s collection coming out at some point where I contributed a chapter...
I love it that Ray loves 1986 so much. I live in Australia, I had just turned 18 in January, and they were just amazing days in February. Doesn't seem like 40 years ago. I had True Confessions for Carol on in the car today as it happens. I remember the anticipation when Bob arrived in NZ, we were counting the days until he'd arrive here. The concerts made me a lifelong Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fan also. Reading Mike Campbell's excellent book "Heartbreaker" at the moment. So looking forward to the continuation of your miniseries Ray, and thanks as always for your tremendous writing. Stephen
As a life long Dylan fan, this was very much a mixed bag concert. As a 17 year old at the 1978 Auckland concert, the eight year wait to see Bob again seemed endless. I was so excited for the show, I travelled to Wellington 4 days early to soak up the atmosphere. Well to say I had mixed emotions would be the least I could say. I wasn’t much of a Petty fan at the time but his set was the highlight. Bob just seemed so flat and the music was so muddled and at times impenetrable. Oh well I had the Auckland concert in a few days time to look forward to.
Good idea for a series, Ray. I agree with your disagreement with Dylan's assessment of this tour. Tom Petty may or may not have been at the top of his game - I have no way to judge that because his band didn't have much cut through in the UK and I only know a couple of his songs, no disrespect - but Dylan was definitely not at his worst. And for a long time, the Hard to Handle release was one of the very few examples of live Dylan video we had - and it's good. Some of it is great, in fact. The version of It's All Right Ma on that tape is a highlight of the 80s, the way he builds the pace up through teh song and the sheer level of feeling he gets across. It's classic Dylan.
Hard to Handle is damn good. The 17 minute video of Tom and the Heartbreakers playing w/ Dylan at the first Farm Aid in 1985 is also fantastic in my opinion.
My favorite era!