Bob Dylan - Jokerman | Live on Late Night with David Letterman (1984)

[@adz68]

One of the most underrated dylan songs this is a gem

[@maxthepupp]

I dunno if I need to be talked down, but: After about 50 views this is Bobs GREATEST single filmed live song. I remember this happening at and was like, "Yeah, I'm still Bob freakin' Dylan. Agin. Still. Any questions?" Kick ass.

[@markhayward7400]

The only public appearance of Punk Dylan riding the crest of New Wave! A 'Jokerman' with attitude and an astonishing performance all round. I especially love it when Dylan vanishes in search of what....a harmonica?He just leaves the Plugz to plug the musical gap !

[@KeredYo]

And then he NAILS the solo 🤣

[@derekr3607]

Is that Band really the Plugz?!?

[@markhayward7400]

@@derekr3607 Not quite! It is 2 members of The Plugz with a third.

[@COD-dr1ph]

He was handed the wrong harmonica. It's in the wrong key and he quickly realizes this and gets the roadie to get him the right key. Don't matter. It still kicks ass

[@michaellindell8950]

True punk. No act. Real deal..

[@quazwasd4062]

I just read the interview with the bass player. They never got to the bottom of how Dylan picked them for a back-up band. It was probably from Jacob but another story says Dylan actually saw them. They were popular in LA punk scene but playing dives for a few bucks. Dylan had them come to his Malibu home and studio and didn't say anything about the Letterman gig until after a few rehearsals.

[@rckrtcrg1246]

I recently read that as well, some great insight into what led up to this moment. The performance was magic back when it aired that night and it still wows me 40 years later. Dylan made a brilliant choice working with this band!

[@bent2]

If Bob Dylan were playing in The Replacements.

[@eleonoradini2371]

Excellent point! My deepest respect to you

[@EricBerg-gp5us]

That's exactly what this is. Bob Dylan/Replacements and Max's

[@T11639]

I watch this every few months for just the sheer thrill of it - surely the greatest live performance in rock'n'roll history. Brilliant, beguiling, Bob.

[@danknight8297]

Yeah, I always think the same thing And I'm a total runk n roll junkie

[@eleonoradini2371]

Every Dylan's performance is surprisingly different but this is a very good one

[@PatrikLowe]

This version and the original, studio version are so different from each other, but they're both amazing and I love them both!

[@louise_rose]

Agree! Also, IMO "Infidels" is the best and most cohesive studio album he cut during the entire 1980s (with possible exception of "Oh Mercy" at the end of the decade). Beautiful, by turns lyrical and epic, intimate and shrewdly satirical...and with a superb backing band (both Mark Knopfler and Mick Taylor on guitar!)

[@xgutierrez933]

I am still moved by the original version of Joker Man, but damn! This kicks a$$. Thanks!

[@melodymakermark]

As I type this on this Sunday evening, the man himself just played both Friday and Saturday nights at the downtown Memphis Orpheum. I was unable to go, but I caught him when he was here in 2022. Anyway, thinking of him being in town made me revisit this jewel of a Bobformance. I love it when he rocks stuff or here even punks stuff up. The version of Gotta Serve Somebody on this R&RW’s tour is like that; very up tempo.

[@antonioantonio9062]

Una canzone che varrebbe una carriera intera, per il 95% dei cantanti!!

[@raymondbullock6661]

Best Tv performance ever in a million years

[@conceicaopenhalves2326]

A experiência de ver ele cantando ao vivo deve ser única,a voz crua eo sentimento puro é privilegio de poucos

[@peter2010900]

Dear God ~ thank you for Bob Dylan

[@timcrenshaw5920]

When you're Bob fkn Dylan, you do what you do!

[@Andy22-lf7ii]

In its own way this is as good as the original and this is the 1st time ive heard it absolutely brilliant... ♥

[@waymorelonesome6446]

Best energy he ever had outside of The Band.

[@snapcap77]

I just watched this for the 1000'th time. I m eed to see it 1M more.

[@johnhuston8213]

This is the best, but also check out the other song from the night, "Don't Start Me Talking". Bob is having a blast.

[@DharmaRains]

I remember this part of his career. I entered UCLA in 1979 and thanks to best friend Reggie Collins and favorite radical professor Victor Wolfenstein really started getting into Dylan, which coincided with his born again phase, which was to be sure an acquired taste. Then, as he transitioned out of the born again phase - Shot of Love and Infidels - the LA press began reporting Dylan showing up at local punk shows, including Los Plugz and if I remember correctly the last Clash version of Cut the Crap. It took Dylan a while to find himself as he soon started playing with Tom Petty and the Grateful Dead.

[@FrancescoMarchese-zs4gn]

Just Wowwwwwwww !!! Absolutely cool !

[@matteocrocco5682]

Io non ci sto credendo. Grazie

[@rkcfish204]

Excellent!! Thanks for cleaning up the old video. Bob fit right in with this punk band. So cool. Great

[@326cher]

I love every hair on that curly head !!!!❤❤❤

[@bobbybloodfeastin308]

I love this so much, story was he just grabbed a local punk band for some gigs? Also thanks for uploading a cleaner version than the one I've been watching for 10 years.

[@michele-33]

There's an interview with a member of band. They allegedly spent time at Bob's learning songs, rehearsing, hanging out. Bob said he might be interested in a small tour but nothing became of it. I think it was lead guitarist that said, they didn't realize at the time that Bob was such an iconic figure with massive influence. ... He said looking back it seems like a dream & wish they'd have asked more questions. Who really it's the chance to play music and hang out with Bob at his place. Will post interview if I find it. Apologies for rambling but we could talk forever about Bob, his life, music, relationships, voice changes over the years, etc... ✨🕯️✨ @Bobby Daubert, sorry forgot to @ reply to U.

[@boppob1343]

They were a pretty popular punk band lol

[@joseornelas1718]

That's the Plugz baby.

[@termikesmike]

@@michele-33 ' Ray Padgett ' brought me here

[@timusforlife]

I could be wrong but I think Dylans son was a fan of The Plugz and they went to a show together and Dylan and them started talking and performing rehearsal jams which lead to this.

[@iaincrawford1018]

Absolutely magnificent ❤👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@christophercampbell1677]

Amazing 👏 bravo!! Cheers 🍻

[@stewartwilbanks4294]

Is that the Plugz backing him up?

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

David Michael Letterman (12 de abril de 1947) es un presentador, comediante, escritor y productor de televisión estadounidense. 77 AÑOS. 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤

[@rhoneas]

El puto amo

[@shaneb320]

Why didn't this get put on the Bootleg album? It's bloody fantastic!

[@MrJmt33]

When I saw the list, I said the same thing to my Dylan fan buddy

[@T11639]

Said millions of us. Because Bob never makes it easy! Even when it's one of the greatest moments in his career.

[@joedorer8867]

It did!!

[@soulkiss1001]

Album version is much better

[@joabei11]

a true icon!

[@brendaalvarez4658]

Dylan's on stage movements remind me of Buddy Holly! Dylan never ceased to disappoint!

[@2redmenace]

Dylan: that harmonica is in the wrong key. Stage hand: what's a harmonica?

[@henryedwards6408]

Hi Michael, I’m just laying around the apartment with another case of Covid looking through some old videos when I noticed your comment. Years ago I wrote a detailed account of the harmonica incident and finally took it down when it reached several hundred likes. Long story short- Bob asked for the wrong harmonica ( as in the wrong key) just before the performance. Afterwards when I asked what happened he turned to me and said “ I made a mistake “. He wasn’t worried in the least as opposed to me who was mortified at what happened. After the show I thought I would never see him again but much to my surprise I was asked to join him on the upcoming European tour. By the way I still have the “ infamous harmonica “ in my possession. Thanks for commenting, Ed

[@stolendans]

​@@henryedwards6408 Good afternoon! Have you ever written or given an interview about this story? Would you be interested in doing so?

[@henryedwards6408]

Hi Jared I wrote a lengthy account of what I dubbed “ HarmonicaGate” years ago for KZbin and deleted after it was up for a couple of years. Don’t know if you saw it or not but I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about the rehearsals or the actual Letterman performance.

[@stolendans]

​@@henryedwards6408Hello, again, Henry, Jared again (changed my screen name). I believe my last reply to you was deleted. Is there still a way to watch/read what you made for KZbin?

[@henryedwards6408]

Hey Jared , happy 40 anniversary of the David Letterman show. I had no idea until I got your email today. My original comments can still be found on Reddit. Someone posted the video and my story. Whoever it was threw a little shade my way by saying even though it’s a good story he didn’t necessarily believe it was true. My reaction was I thought I made it pretty specific with several names to fact check. Anyway, thanks for reminding me…

[@andyinoregon]

I love that the bass player looks like a young Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T. & the M.G.'s.

[@maxthepupp]

Needs a pipe!😎 Honestly tho - these kids were pretty game! I'm guessing Bob didn't want to shepherd some young band on the road in a stripped down limited way which is too bad. New wave-y Bob would've been great! THANK GOD he did that tour with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers! That was the very best I saw Bob!

[@meofnz2320]

The bass player stealing the show! In fact the whole band sends it! Tip: If you don’t like it the first time try turning the volume up…😉

[@smiler693]

rock on bob

[@krisscanlon4051]

Dylan getting all power pop and or alternative rock...sounds like 1984

[@brettculton5298]

So fucking cool!

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

Bob Dylan (Duluth, Minnesota; 24 de mayo de 1941), registrado al nacer como Robert Allen Zimmerman, es un músico, compositor, cantante y poeta estadounidense, ampliamente considerado como una de las figuras más prolíficas e influyentes en la música popular del siglo xx y de comienzos del siglo xxi.​ En 2016 recibió el Premio Nobel de Literatura. 82 AÑOS. (83) 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤

[@benbrill3617]

Anyone who's not heard the original released version, needs to hear it, it is brilliant, absolutely nothing like this version

[@user-xx3nx3nx8v]

Brilliant,I am not joking ,man...Lev,Deut and Zimmy

[@sharoneavenson3142]

🎸💯👏💞🥰🎶

[@rockandroller8352]

bass player right outta the 1950's

[@michaelmcgrath2482]

Great read from the guy who misplaced the harmonica on Bob,if its here somewhere great read🤙

[@kelvingrover4043]

Gotta plugs this lol

[@jewelsandbinoculars1]

fun for the kids

[@surewhynot6040]

The first harmonica he picks up, LOL

[@jackmarks23]

It's tight and technical and consistent and particular. Dylan fronting for the Velvets in late 1968 or something. Like.

[@dupreeblues4744]

Dylan was looking for right key harp

[@studiobluem9412]

Plugz RULE

[@paulsteffan2703]

Harmonica -sizzle. ‘where’s my keys?

[@leonardbechler1867]

Is there a Plugz bootleg in the vault? Please.

[@SoulStylistJukeBox]

This is fantastic but what the heck is going on with that harmonica?

[@kenjisato1361]

めっちゃカッケー！ノーベル賞なんかどーでもいいね。これこそ真実だわ。

[@DanFrechette]

I bet he did this to show people what his music sounded like without 80’s production.

[@jpm9628]

Plugz Rulz

[@wackrow]

is that Keith Richards with the drummer from the clash? not

[@andynoble2393]

It's the Plugz an Los Angeles Latin American punk band.

[@AA-sn9lz]

@@andynoble2393 cheers man for listening to this masterpiece

[@alvarobretal8121]

Not really, but Paul Simonon from The Clash played on one track ("Sally Sue Brown") of Dylan's "Down in the Groove".

[@totalgreen810]

Charly quintana

[@marklacroix373]

of Social Distortion fame too.@@totalgreen810

[@brianballard1153]

Charlie Sexton Great

[@BlueBeeMCMLXI]

First harp, wrong key. So Mr D had to WAIT. He's a position player? No.

[@steveseefeld3653]

You need to get some Iron in your Range

[@richardcoreno]

Dylan doing his best Elvis Costello impersonation!

[@wackrow]

but anything went in the 84

[@prinefan5]

What in the hell is he saying?

[@procopiojrpalacios9702]

Listen to the studio version. It's slower, more clear and the lyrics are quite stunning, with great guitar work from Mark Knofler.

[@eximusic]

Not as good as the studio version with Sly and Robbie as the rhythm section.

[@peregrine1222112]

He not busy being born is busy dying

[@administration8961]

and this comedian prides himself as looking like an old bum now.. now that IS FUNNY.

[@Alsatiagent-zu1rx]

It's as if someone said 'let's do Jokerman as if it were from the Stones Some Girls". It didn't work.

[@joh123ist]

Not great harp playing, sorry.

[@loopynutful]

Thank god you said 'sorry.' I'm sure that Bob Dylan would have felt bad about himself if you hadn't.

[@joh123ist]

@@loopynutful I very much doubt such a random opinion would worry about such a statement.

[@jensillum]

Technically you're right, but somehow Dylan can get away with almost anything.

[@quazwasd4062]

Yes, from what I've heard he scours youtube comments every night and is said to become very upset if harsh critiques of his harmonica playing show up. @@loopynutful

[@raymondbullock6661]

Dylan needn’t used harmonica . The song was just going so great . Who am I to critique Dylan. Suicide here I come . Only Dylan can forgive me.

[@peterrueling6572]

I’m sorry. The studio version is so much better. The bass groove is great, and Mark Knofler on guitar with his tasty sound, goes so well with the lyrics. Dylan is known for doing completely different arrangements of his songs when he plays live, and it renders some songs unrecognizable

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

I don't understand how so many people love Bob Dylan. He doesn't sing in key. His voice is horrible. His music makes my ears bleed. Why?!? Why/how could anyone like his music?

[@Eoghan__]

either be groovy or leave man

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

@@Eoghan__ I'm not being, nor am I trying to be mean. I'm not a troll neither. I am groovy, man. You, chill a bit and answer my question if you can.

[@SG91218]

awful comment, delete

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

@@SG91218 Aww, you don't like my comment? Might I offer some suggestions. Go to your safe space. Use breathing exercises. I feel bad that I committed a microagression against your poor tender feelings.

[@michaels8620]

Someone once said “all my favorite singers can’t sing”. To each their own. Folk,rock, punk, they’re meant to be raw. Guys written more great songs than anyone else I could think of. And for all the polished covers I always go for bobs version (50/50 with Jimi’s All Along the Watchtower, not so polished either)

[@philipodowd227]

Not great.

[@HTJB60]

Well, I've liked Dylan since his very first LP.... This is AWFUL.... Even worse than Neil Young's attempt at R&R (and I've liked Neil since Buffalo Springfield.) Just because you're good at one thing doesn't mean you'll be good at another......

[@gregorysahagian2976]

That's The PLUGZ backing him up! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Plugz