Legendary musician Bob Dylan surprised fans by performing his iconic song "All Along The Watchtower" live for the first time in six years on September 12. The performance took place at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where Dylan opened the show with the 1967 classic. This marks the first time he has played the song since November 2018.
"All Along The Watchtower," featured on Dylan's eighth studio album, "John Wesley Harding," has been covered by many artists over the years but is most notably associated with Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix recorded his electrifying version with the Jimi Hendrix Experience for the 1968 album "Electric Ladyland." This cover reached the Top 20 in the same year and was awarded a Grammy Hall of Fame award in 2001. Since its introduction to his concert repertoire, Dylan has performed it a staggering 2,285 times, making it his most frequently played song.
Prior to this performance, Dylan played "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" this past August at the Outlaw Music Festival in Boise, Idaho, showcasing a diverse setlist containing vintage blues and country covers. Dylan has also announced a UK headline tour set to begin in November, featuring a series of shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Notably, the use of mobile phones and cameras will be prohibited at these concerts.
In addition to his touring, Dylan is slated to release a new box set titled "The 1974 Live Recordings" on September 20, encompassing 417 previously unreleased performances. Furthermore, Dylan has recorded a cover of "Don't Fence Me In" for the upcoming Ronald Reagan biopic, set to release in late August. Another anticipated project, Dylan's biopic "A Complete Unknown," is expected to hit US theaters on Christmas Day, featuring Timothée Chalamet portraying the iconic musician.
For more details, check the full tracklisting for the box set here.