Dylan with twin fiddles and steel guitar!

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 21 Feb 2005 2:52 pm

A musician gets a gig with Bob Dylan---immediately guys start ranting about Dylan vocals. Amazing.

Dan Hatfield · Post by **Dan Hatfield** » 21 Feb 2005 3:59 pm

Smiley, thanks for saying exactly what I always wanted to say.

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 22 Feb 2005 2:31 am

I'd take the gig whether I like his singing or not and I'd say most of us here would too even though they wouldn't admit it. I can remember a couple of years ago how so many of these so called "traditionalists" were cutting Donny Herron to pieces because he didn't play they way they thought he should. I guess he didn't play The Way To Survive enough to suit them, who knows? My hat's off to him for getting the gig. It's nice to say you've played a great gig in your life but it's best to say you're "playing" that gig right now. It's just a step along the way. More gigs will come from it. I wonder who's the headliner on this show, Dylan or Haggard?

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 22 Feb 2005 3:41 am

Amazing!

Have fun Donny!

[This message was edited by Theresa Galbraith on 22 February 2005 at 03:43 AM.]

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 22 Feb 2005 6:21 am

Well I'd take it even if I had to learn how to play a steel.I'd sing harmony in s# if I had too.

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Smiley 15-4 Crank&pull pro model Deluxe with auto string changer.200 ft. roll.

Graham Lathrop · Post by **Graham Lathrop** » 22 Feb 2005 8:58 am

2
[This message was edited by Graham Lathrop on 11 June 2006 at 10:05 AM.]

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 22 Feb 2005 9:05 am

How many times does one man have to prove himself before people just accept him for what he is and move on?

Yes, and how many roads must a man walk down, before they can call him a man?

And how many seas must a white dove sail,...

(Oh never mind...)

(You want your coffee now, Mr. Dylan?)

Orville Johnson · Post by **Orville Johnson** » 22 Feb 2005 9:46 am

people will be listening to and singing bob dylan songs when every member of this forum is long gone. and, as much as i love merle, dylan doesn't need anyone to sell seats to his shows. he's also an amazing singer, technically and soulfully. he is the most influential pop musician of the 20th century. he invented the singer/songwriter genre (i admit he has something to answer for there!), made it possible for pop music to be about something besides moons and junes, love and stars above, had the first radio hit that was 6 minutes long...i could go on, but i think dylan is great and i bet if you asked merle he'd agree. i hope i can get tickets to the show.

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 22 Feb 2005 10:09 am

THE most influential? I have a hard time putting him above Frank Sinatra or The Beatles. I'm even tempted to say Woody Guthrie, who without, there would have probably been no Dylan. Sorry, not busting your chops just for the sake of busting chops, but I try to avoid using words or phrases like "always", "never", "the best", or "the worst."

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 22 Feb 2005 10:53 am

It is well documented that the Beatles credit Bob Dylan for inspiration on their songwriting.

Bob Dylan is a legend and has influenced many singer/songwriters. I personally credit Bob Dylan for giving me the courage to sing. I figured if he can get away with it, why not me! I'm not the best but I have had more fun in my semi-pro career pickin' and singin' than you can imagine.

Truth be known, Merle is probably honored to have Bob Dylan on the same bill.

Terry[This message was edited by Terry Edwards on 22 February 2005 at 10:54 AM.]

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 22 Feb 2005 11:03 am

I never envisioned this turning into a Dylan love/hate fest.

I just wanted to publicly congratulate Donny with landing a gig, playing steel and fiddle, on a major tour with one of the worlds most famous pop stars.

To me it seemed like it would be good news to folks on a steel guitar forum. Especially at a time when the so called "country acts" in Nashville are leaving the fiddle and steel players at home, so they can have more electric guitars, marshal stacks, drums, and synthesizer keyboards on stage.

Call me crazy, but I would rather RUN across the street to hear a Dylan with fiddles and steel as opposed to some pretty boy/girl Nashville singer with a stage set up that looks like a Styx's concert from 1980.

Now on another note(a sad one),I just heard a rumor that Merle has Lupus. I'm praying that this is not true, has anyone else heard anything about it.[This message was edited by Alvin Blaine on 23 February 2005 at 12:27 AM.]

Graham Lathrop · Post by **Graham Lathrop** » 22 Feb 2005 11:19 am

a[This message was edited by Graham Lathrop on 11 June 2006 at 10:05 AM.]

Charles French · Post by **Charles French** » 22 Feb 2005 12:11 pm

Yea, let one person make a derogatory comment and everyone's quick to jump on the band wagon. "He can't sing, he has no talent, he needs Merle to fill the seats. He wouldn't be nowhere if it wasn't for Woody" jeeezee!

I'm sure Merle is not touring with Dylan out of pity. I just hope you Merle Fans/Dylan bashers never get the chance to express your opinions to Merle. He probably wouldn't be impressed with your narrow-minded-ness.

Interviewer & Ramblin Jack Elliott

Interviewer-> Ramblin Jack, how do you feel when people say you sound like Bob Dylan?

Ramblin Jack-> Puffs on a joint and says " Funny, I been sounding like Dylan for 15 years"

Dylan was about 20 yrs old at the time.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 22 Feb 2005 12:12 pm

The Beatles got into Bob Dylan well after they were established song writers. The Rubber Soul era is the best example of the influence that Dylan had on them for a short time. After that, the drugs took over and that was the biggest influence into the Pepper period.

Funny that Dylan dug the Beatles because because he thought in the song "I Want To Hold Your Hand" that the lyrics were " I Get High" instead of "I Can't Hide". There were groups like The Byrds who seem to never shake the Dylan effect in their music.

To keep harping on Dylans' singing style is to totally miss it all.

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 22 Feb 2005 1:16 pm

There's a lot of mean old men on this forum. Can't you be happy for Donny Herron and Elena Fremerman? Jeez.

With those stick in the mud attitudes y'all must be working constantly, right?

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<pre>Drew Howard - website - Fessy D-10 8/8, Magnatone S-8, N400's, BOSS RV-3</pre>

[This message was edited by Drew Howard on 22 February 2005 at 01:54 PM.]

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 22 Feb 2005 1:58 pm

I never thought Dylan was a Sinatra singer or anyone else for that matter. He's just himself and that's obviously enough. On the other hand I never thought ET was a great singer either but I always liked what he did anyway. I think being real is every bit as important if not moreso than all the other things put together that make a great singer/entertainer. We were listening to the words in the 60's of Dylan and The Beatles. It was the words that sold him and still does. Was Johnny Cash a great singer? You know on key all of the time? He remained a solid singer/songwriter right up to his death and he didn't sound anything like he did in his earlier years. The message and the words will bring the fans.

Mike Winter · Post by **Mike Winter** » 22 Feb 2005 2:45 pm

Donny -- congrats on the gig. Graham, Orville, Terry, Bill and Frank...what you said.

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 22 Feb 2005 2:55 pm

I think this forum would be alot more functional if a person was allowed to say they didn't care for something without being accused of "bashing" someone. I never "got" Dylan either.
Congrats, Don, sounds fun.
Sorry to digress.
-John [This message was edited by John Steele on 22 February 2005 at 02:56 PM.]

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 22 Feb 2005 3:33 pm

who remembers Dylan's return after his accident on the Johnny Cash show ?
the Beat generation was'nt really popular amongst the CxW crowd
i can see that 35 years later the cleavage remains
funny to note that during those years Zimmy was'nt using much steel if any and now over the past few years he's goin' out w: one.

i remember seein' here on the Forum a post or link of Dylan playin' for the Pope & sure enough there was steeler & his contraption.
now that's Amen !
i'd be the first one to holler jes' that if Smiley played for the Pope !
glad to know Donny's got the gig & good to read your commentaries

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 22 Feb 2005 5:37 pm

The Beatles got into Bob Dylan well after they were established song writers. The Rubber Soul era is the best example of the influence that Dylan had on them for a short time. After that, the drugs took over and that was the biggest influence into the Pepper period.

Well, Bob Dylan was the one that introduced the Beatles to smoking pot. So I guess you could say his influence continued on way past Rubber Soul!

Terry

Orville Johnson · Post by **Orville Johnson** » 22 Feb 2005 11:26 pm

everyone is entitled to their opinion and i gave mine. i didn't criticize anyone else. but one thing i said is a fact, not an opinion, and that is that bob dylan's music will be sung and listened to long after all of us are playing harps (pedal harps i guess).

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 23 Feb 2005 5:40 am

Alvin, I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I read your comment about a Styx concert!! LOL!!!!!!!! Charles, please reread my post, in no way did I run down or make a derogatory comment about Bob Dylan (if you were referring to me). I was merely expressing my opinion that there were others who were more influential than Mr. Dylan.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 23 Feb 2005 10:25 am

Dylan will be in Milwaukee with Haggard on April 8 and 9. Sounds like a fun one to go to.

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 23 Feb 2005 10:52 am

Well...I got my tickets for Sunday night show in Chicago. Dylan and Haggard together...can't wait!

To the people who think that Dylan needs Haggard to fill seats...The past 4 times Dylan has been in Chicago I have gone and there was NEVER an opening act and all 4 shows have been sold out. In fact, the shows sold out the day the tickets went on sale.

Haggard has come through Chicago a couple of times in the past few years and he wound up playing to very small crowds. In fact the last time Haggard was around Chicago he played at a community college gym and not even a club or theatre.

Congrat's on the gig Don! Looking forward to hearing some pickin'.

Cheers!
Mark Ardito

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com
http://www.arditotech.com

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 23 Feb 2005 10:55 am

here's part of an article detailing Merle's health problems. I sure hope he pulls through:

Haggard has had some health issues recently. He canceled several dates late in 2003 because of respiratory problems and recently visited the Mayo Clinic for treatment of what he said has been diagnosed as lupus. While he was there, Haggard told UPI he had a brief cancer scare.

"The flag went up on the cancer and they did an internal biopsy on me and found that it was benign," he said.

Haggard said he was relieved to discover why he hadn't been feeling well.

"I'd get to a certain part of the day and I'd just collapse," he said. "I'm a guy with unlimited energy, and all of a sudden I'd have a headache in one part of my head and it would stay there for 20 minutes and then move somewhere else."

Haggard said he and his doctors were mapping out a course of treatment for lupus -- a chronic inflammatory disease in which the immune system loses its ability to distinguish between foreign substances (antigens) and its own cells and tissues and makes antibodies directed against itself. He said he wanted to let his fans know he appreciated their prayers and wishes for recovery -- and said those kinds of health concerns are just part of being 67.

"You can't get away with laying up in the hospital dying of nothing," he said. "When you're Merle Haggard and you have a place to be and a promise to be there, you have to have reasons why you're not."

Part of Haggard's response to his condition has been to change his diet.

"I've just assumed that raw food is a lot better than cooked food," he said. "If I don't mess up and eat half a pie, then I'm all right."

Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 18 (UPI)