Paul McCartney’s review of Bob Dylan concerts

Busy in promoting his new solo album, “The boys of Dungeon Lane” coming out next May 29th, Paul McCartney he shared in a recent interview his impressions of Bob Dylan concerts. During the chat with the podcast “The Rest Is Entertainment”, the former Beatle said he had seen the Duluth singer-songwriter live on several occasions and revealed that, despite being a big fan of his, “he couldn’t understand what song he was doing”.

On the sidelines of the interview, McCartney explained that what he admires most about Dylan is his ability to do what he feels is right for him, without worrying too much about what others think, especially when it comes to exclude most of his most famous songs from concerts. Macca thus said that, unlike the musician of “Blowin’ in the wind”, he felt the need to play his greatest hits at every concert, and said:

“I think we could do songs that most people don’t know and have a lot of ‘black holes’ in the set. But people paid a lot of money. I remember as a kid going to concerts and saving money. I went to see a Bill Haley concert. I’d been saving for months, doing the newspaper rounds and whatever. And I knew what I wanted, I wanted him to play his hits. If he got too sophisticated with me, I’d be like, ‘oh, okay’. I’d let him indulge. a bit of himself.”

Talking about how his approach differs from that seen in Dylan’s concerts, McCartney added:

“Actually, speaking of Mr. Dylan, I’ve been to a couple of his concerts and, honestly, I couldn’t understand what song he was doing. And that’s a bit much, because I know his music so well!”

While he understands why Bob Dylan “doesn’t want to do ‘Mr Tambourine Man’, maybe because he’s had enough of it”, McCartney said that from a fan’s point of view “I’d like to hear it. And I paid!”.

As recalled by the NME, the friendship between the Beatles and Bob Dylan dates back to the mid-1960sand over the years the two artists have often exchanged words of great mutual respect. In 2007, for example, the American singer-songwriter spoke of his long-standing admiration for the Fab Four and denied any rumors of rivalry with McCartney and John Lennon: “They were fantastic singers. To this day, it’s hard to find a better singer than Lennon was, or than McCartney was and still is,” said Bob Dylan: “I’m amazed by McCartney. He’s about the only one I’m truly amazed by. He can do everything. And he never gave up. He does everything so damn effortlessly.” In 2020, McCartney then reciprocated with as many words of admiration towards Dylan when, on BBC Radio 2, he explained how the more “interpersonal and reflective” side of the Beatles’ writing had been influenced by the Duluth musician and said: “We certainly took a lot from Dylan and I know that I had one of his first LPs at home even before the Beatles: “I listened to him a lot, so I was immersed in his music, and I think your father was too. But that was just one influence.”