When (if?) Bob Dylan retires ...

If Bob Dylan ever decides he is "retired" he would probably just quit with no announcement or fanfare, right? I noticed today there are no concert dates on the horizon, and he's 78 now. Could it be . . .?

 

Please ...

 

When that day comes Ted Williams will lean over and say "there goes the greatest lyricist that ever lived". And he'll get no disagreement from me.

 

The guy can’t take a season off from the road?

 

A person can't ponder something and invite speculation? I must have gotten some wrong ideas about this forum.

 

Far be it from me to tell someone what to ponder however pondering about someone that’s been in music as long as Dylan has isn’t just going to just retire and not tell anyone. Just because he’s not on the road this minute doesn’t mean anything other than he’s doing something else. Hopefully not making another Sinatra covers album though.

 

We'd need to come up with another name for the Never Ending Tour?

 

It depends how long he lives, but I think he'll die with his boots on. He's still pretty "spry", as they say. Here he is last month in London

 

You think he will do a "farewell tour" or something? OK. I think one day he will be done, and eventually it will sink in.

 

He *could* go the Chuck Berry route. But I wonder when the last time was there were zero future dates announced. I'd love for Bob to quietly disappear while he has some active years to relax. He has given plenty and I've been lucky enough to see a few shows the past 10 years.

 

he'll know when he's ready and so will we, but we may know it first!
: ) can't condemn the man for loving the road and it's not like his voice has gotten worse it was always pretty bad! but at times it was good...I LOVE BOB since I was a teen...

 

I don't think he would ever do a "farewell" tour either. He's just not that kind of guy. He could just stop and disappear, but I even find that hard to imagine. I think at this point he lives to perform, odd as that may seem, for someone who was for decades described as "reclusive". I think the only thing that would stop him is ill-health.

 

I doubt that and it even sounds a little sad. I assume he has loved ones that are his main joy of living.

 

With the boring concerts and Sinatra albums... In my mind he retired 10 years ago and it's nice.

 

His autobiography was supposed to be three books long. So far only Chronicles Volume 1, has been published - and that was in 2005.
I imagine he's working on these.
Also, his Whiskey company is opening a huge facility in the South.
Or he's painting.
Or smelting iron (or whatever it is he does with metal works.)
Or onto something entirely new.

I do not think though, that he would ever announce a farewell tour.

 

whatever we think bob will do....he wont..... but I do doubt he'd do a farewell tour....wouldn't be shocked if he just takes a break and doesn't come back

 

Yes...it' s time to retire alright. Retire the American Songbook thing and put out an all original songs album.
How long has it been since ' Tempest ' anyway?

 

Is there any way we could bet on that?

 

Not sure he’d do a tour but I think he’d say publicly he was done touring and spending time on his whiskey or whatever else he’s doing these days.

 

To me that seems very un-Bob-like.

 

If you told me 10 years ago he’d release three albums of standards (5 if you count the 3 CD set as 3) and he is hawking Bob Dylan Whiskey I would have said that didn’t sound like Bob either.

 

Very odd that there are no upcoming tour dates. I can't remember the last time I checked his website and that was the case. I don't think ever.

 

Bob Dylan could tour while just working on his art welding metal while on stage.
And I’d bet many would pay to watch him create.

 

I can't make a "Bob Dylan Farewell Tour" make sense in my mind. I see him going the quieter route, just not booking anymore dates. Eventually, people will get the drift after a year of no live shows, and then press will start asking him and he'll either not grant an interview, or release a low-key statement at that time saying he has no plans to tour at this time. Leaving it open ended for one-off concerts, a festival appearance, Farm Aid set, etc.

Personally, I think he has one more original album in him. Maybe he's getting off the road to focus solely on that because he thinks it is probably his last?

 

I always go see him when he comes through my way. I hate to think I won't have tbat pleasure again. I enjoy it every time.