I love Bob Dylan. Apparently China doesn’t. I read this morning that his planned concert tour has been cancelled because the authorities refused to let him play in the major cities.
So – China having the Olympics didn’t work then!
I thought that was meant to be the new China putting its best foot forward and kicking its bad old human-rights record into the history books. Well – no surprise really. Google and now Bob have the truth at first hand.
At least China isn’t ageist! They still think Bob is a danger at 68 – and perhaps they are right. Music can be dangerous – thank goodness. It can call us together. It can inspire. It can symbolise the feelings of a generation. And I speak as someone who thrilled to the anti-war songs of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan – and the righteous days of the anti-Vietnam chords ‘One, two, three – what are we fighting for? Don’t ask me I don’t give a damn. Next stop Vietnam!’.
We need a new Bob Dylan really. There was no equivalent during the Iraq war to sing out the opposition – no rising up or dropping out of the younger generation. We did march against the war – all ages. I did go on the march – and my eldest daughter came with me – to show the Labour Government that we did not want to go to war on an illegal prospectus. Much notice they took of the wishes of the people!
Bob! Come here instead.
Lynne Featherstone 
Its very convenient stroy but not true. The promoter screwed up. could not afford to run the tour and used the old government censorship as cover up knowing that the government of PRC would not respond
Lynn,Bobs playing@the Hop Festival in Kent this summer.Hopefully he will add a few dates around the country and I would not be surprised if he done something for the Chinese people.
Regards
Alecko.
Steve: how do you know?
I think China banned the Bobster because they can’t figure out what the hell he’s saying. Either that or because he sounds so much like an irate crow they’re afraid he’ll bring in an avian flu.
I’m a huge Dylan fan (and I mean HUGE), but I think the Chinese goverment have done it’s people a service… I mean, has anyone heard the Never Ending Tour recently? Yikes!
On a more serious note, I’d like to know more about what Steve Barker said. Where did you get that info from Steve? Interesting if true1
There is much written about this issue on http://www.expectingrain.com.What show or shows on the tour are you referring to with your interesting crit?Have you been down Japan way recently?
I haved lived in China for eight years.
The Ministry of Culture have made no statement. The Taiwanese promoter can say what they like, the Ministry of Culture would not – respond why should they. This is quite a common tactic by promoters and has been used before. The gigs were never on Bob Dylan website and the tickets were never on sale in Beijing – they were reputedly priced at 2400 Yuan – around 240 quid!
Basically any journalist worth their salt could have added all this up! Lots of sloppy stuff in papers and on blogs. Just check someone reliabel who knows about China like James Fallows in the Atlantic ……..
All those lame predicable comments re Dylan singing etc come from people who have never really heard much vintage American folk and blues but just need easily digestible vicarious experiences and coffee-table protest. Bob is an American classic, has produced work of supreme quality and his presence will figure highly in the cultural history of the 20th century – whether naysayers like it or not (go listen to some Blind Willie Johnson and get saved!)