Fans of the iconic songwriter Bob Dylan are convinced they’ve figured out why he is still performing live.
With a career spanning more than six decades, the celebrated artist has barely missed a year on stage since the late 1980s, barring a brief pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dylan’s dedication to performing live has resulted in fans nicknaming his ongoing appearances the ‘Never Ending Tour’. Admirers continue to flock to see the ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ singer, who is on the road with his ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’ tour this year.
While many are excited by the prospect of Dylan touring again until at least September, some fans have questioned the driving force behind his relentless schedule.
A curious fan queried on r/BobDylan: “Why does Bob continue to play live? There’s no doubt that some his best performances ever come from live shows.
“But I continue to wonder, with people describing recent shows as ‘dark’ and ‘hit or miss’ – what’s his continuing artistic motivation as a live performer?”
“I hear some say that he does things only for himself, and how he likes it. I would take this as a satisfying answer, except for the fact that, like… does it really seem that way?
“Another big problem I have with dismissing the ‘he does what he wants’ claims is that he’s still doing this all in first place. Surely he could at any moment quit all this forever and be set for the rest of his life. He’s Bob Dylan. He MUST enjoy this, right?”
Fans have made guesses as to the answer, with some attributing it to the simple fact that he is still physically able to perform. A 2004 interview with Ed Bradley on ’60 Minutes’ may provide some insight into why Dylan doesn’t seem eager to hang up his guitar.
He confided in Bradley: “It goes back to the destiny thing. I made a bargain with it a long time ago and I’m holding up my end.”
Dylan, who self-describes as a “religious person”, hinted that his “bargain” involved a pact with a god. Dylan elaborated: “The Chief Commander. On this Earth and in the world we can’t see.”
One fan commented: “This interview stayed with me. Whenever I hear him play ‘I’ve Made Up My Mind To Give Myself To You’ live, I feel like he’s singing to us, the fans. We both sustained him and made his life hell.
“But he loves what he loves and couldn’t stop despite the cost of fame. Anyway, that’s just my inner thoughts. I have no idea why he still plays but I’m so damn grateful he does.”
Another admirer posited that Dylan views his ongoing performances as an obligation, a way to contribute to humanity’s cultural fabric.
They observed: “He sees it as his duty as part of the human tapestry to play for as long as he can so that people can see him and he can carry forward the same spark that Buddy Holly gave him. What a guy. Gotta love Bob.”