On the Road with Bob Dylan - by Larry Sloman (Paperback)

About the Book

First published in 1978, this mesmerizing description of Dylan's 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue tour that supported his multiplatinum album "Desire" is reissued and candidly captures the all-night revelry and musical prowess that made the tour a nearly mystical experience. 16 -page photo insert.

Book Synopsis

Hailed as "the War and Peace of rock and roll" by Bob Dylan himself, this is the ultimate backstage pass to Dylan's legendary 1975 tour across America--by a former Rolling Stone reporter prominently featured in Martin Scorsese's Netflix documentary Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story.

In 1975, as Bob Dylan emerged from eight years of seclusion, he dreamed of putting together a traveling music show that would trek across the country like a psychedelic carnival. The dream became reality, and On the Road with Bob Dylan is the behind-the-scenes look at what happened when Dylan and the Rolling Thunder Revue took to the streets of America.

With the intimate detail of a diary, Larry "Ratso" Sloman's mesmerizing account both transports us to a celebrated period in rock history and provides us with a vivid snapshot of Dylan during this extraordinary time. This reissue of the 1978 classic resonates more than ever as it chronicles one of the most glittering rock circuses ever assembled, with a cast that includes Joan Baez, Robbie Robertson, Joni Mitchell, Allen Ginsberg, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, and a wild entourage of groupies, misfits, sinners, and saints who trailed along for the ride. Sloman candidly captures the all-night revelry and musical prowess--from the backstage antics to impromptu jams--that made the tour a nearly mystical experience.

Complete with vintage photos and a new introduction by renowned Texas musician, mystery writer, and Revue member Kinky Friedman, this is an unparalleled treat for Dylan fans old and new. Without question, On the Road with Bob Dylan is a remarkable, revealing piece of writing and a rare up-close and personal view of Dylan on tour.

Review Quotes

"An invaluable insider's look at a legendary tour." --Michael Musto, the Village Voice

"An all-access pass to hang with the greatest singer-songwriter of our time. On the Road with Bob Dylan remains a true gonzo rock journalism classic and a revealing study of music's greatest genius/enigma." --David Wild, contributing editor to Rolling Stone and host of Bravo's Musicians

About the Author

Larry "Ratso" Sloman is the author of On the Road with Bob Dylan and appears in the Martin Scorsese documentary Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story on Netflix. He also collaborated with Howard Stern on Private Parts and Miss America and wrote the Abbie Hoffman biography Steal This Dream. He lives in New York City.