Interview: Bassist Rob Stoner: Anchoring Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue

Like a Rolling Stoner! With Rob as the anchor and musical director, Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue was relevant to a new generation tuned to the burgeoning punk scene, and emerging voices such as Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith, along with a new wave of writers and musicians. Stoner was the "thunder" in that Revue, commandeering a rotating cast of diverse players including Mick Ronson, Roger McGuinn, and Joan Baez, among others. To this day, it is among Dylan's greatest artistic achievements and a watershed moment in popular music that continues to resonate. Stoner's swingin' modal bass passages recast Dylan's repertoire - nothing was off limits - harmonically or rhythmically. Dylan always surrounded himself with great players, but none of his bands, including The Band, could rock akin to Rolling Thunder. Tom Semioli: Interviewer / Writer. Mark Preston: Director / Producer. Derek Hanlon: Cinematographer. Mark Polott: Editor. [www.KnowYourBassPlayer.com] To learn more about bass players and their history, visit www.KnowYourBassPlayer.com - Subscribe to Tom Semioli’s Know Your Bass Player KZbin page!

[@DavidLee-rx6uo]

His bass playing on Idiot Wind always brings a smile to my face

[@robstoner3521]

Thanks!

[@robstoner3521]

Thanks, David!

[@stephenlee1756]

A leaky canopy on a rainy day - so Dylan made it his TV special!! And it was totally brilliant.

[@knowyourbassplayer]

Among Bob's greatest performances! Thanks for watching!

[@andyscott5277]

Hard Rain is very underrated imo. The songs are so raw and rockin’. Have never heard Dylan sing like that, with such intensity and ferocity, before or since.

[@andygarcia4960]

seriously, this interviewer calling it sloppy was out of pocket. the band killed it (including Stoner) and Bob was just taking a different approach with the songs from the first leg of the tour

[@marynelson3067]

I was at the Fort Collins, Colorado RTR concert May 23, 1976 (later dubbed Hard Rain) about three feet from the stage. This two-part interview with Rob Stoner is fascinating. ❤️🔥❤️🙏❤️

[@knowyourbassplayer]

Rob needs to write that book!

[@0otee]

Rambling Jack mentioned… Today Aug.1 is his Birthday 91th!!! 🌹💥

[@johanmarais3417]

Very very interesting, so we'll told, thank you - Johan Marais South Africa

[@SeeCSeesCC]

❤️ Mister SToner is fabulous fabulous fabulous. My musical heart beats for Rob Stoner

[@robstoner3521]

xoxox, Cindy!

[@SeeCSeesCC]

@@robstoner3521 ❤️ ❤️ Rob LOVE this interview and you more

[@kanegreenhatch1008]

That totally blew my mind 🤗

[@knowyourbassplayer]

Agreed! I've been nagging Rob to pen his memoirs

[@patnevins3991]

Such a great interview with Rob! So much fun to hear the stories and just amazing memory and candid answers!

[@knowyourbassplayer]

Bob needs to write a book!

[@donmcallister3745]

Great insight… thanks for the information… I wish I had been able to get to see the Rolling Thunder Review… must have been quite an experience. By the way… I ALWAYS read liner notes… it’s part of my musical education… I wanted to know who played what… who produced… where was it recorded… who wrote what…etc. buying an album was not just bringing it home putting it on and walking away… I liked immersing myself in it… especially one I was excited about hearing! Enjoyed the information in this video… thanks 🙏 again!!! 🌜🌞🌛

[@knowyourbassplayer]

Thanks for watching Don! Hope Rob writes the book he's been talking about...

[@ericmalone3213]

These interviews with superb bass player & great raconteur Rob Stoner are classics for the history books. Great to hear his praise of the late great Howie Wyeth (nephew of painter Andrew Wyeth), who died too young at age 51. Stoner's personality conveys the same direct-energy spirit of his musicianship. Listen to Stoner's bass playing on the Rolling Thunder Review version of "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll." Bloody brilliant. Cheers and kudos for these Stoner interviews. May we have 15 more hours, please!?

[@azzaz1]

That was interesting!

[@et2petty]

The NBC "hard rain" live in Colorado, Rob is playing and gesturing at the band like a "waltzing conductor"

[@josephohora1287]

Wow 😮 Sooooo many cool stories and insight!❤

[@jaimehill4021]

Great interview 👍

[@philuribe7863]

The Rolling Thunder was, for me, the pinnacle of Dylan's output from a musical pov (lyrically we'll stick with the mid-60's era), and Rob (and Howie) was key to that sound - great bass playing. I can watch that Fort Collins concert over and over and never tire of it. (Is there more of it than just the hour video I've seen on YT? I'd pay good money for a full-length video of that... :) ) [edit} spelling

[@robstoner3521]

Thanks!

[@knowyourbassplayer]

Agreed!

[@Skibreck]

Stoner is incredible

[@robstoner3521]

Thanks!

[@robstoner3521]

Awwww...thanks!

[@randychester2754]

The best tracks on Hard Rain are as good as anything Dylan has ever done - Idiot Wind, Shelter From the Storm, Maggie's Farm. This was his newest album when I got into Dylan in the '70s, and I listened to those tracks endlessly.

[@knowyourbassplayer]

Same here! Thanks for watching!

[@jonathanlevine8497]

What I wanna know is why Stoner hasn't done *way* more solo records. Patriotic Duty is the best fucking completely unknown album I've ever heard.

[@robstoner3521]

Thanks, JL!

[@patrickguitar8676]

Howie hanging at Cafe sine some nights with his girl and that cool hat

[@caroleeliseusonolympics219]

'IT IS SO INTERESTING TO GET THE BASS PLAYER...WHO WAS THERE WITH BOB DYLAN/CE

[@knowyourbassplayer]

Absolutely! Thanks for watching!

[@patrickguitar8676]

Stoner is upbeat

[@DanFrechette]

I’ve made 121 albums almost all of them inspired by Bob Dylan.

[@philipcohen5659]

Great storyteller - even better bass player. And I'm glad he gives Howie Wyeth credit because those two guys made that band special (not to mention that distinctive snare drum sound!) Howie's piano playing is on display on the Hard Rain telecast on "Pity the Poor Immigrant." kzbin.info/www/bejne/i53Pi6eweN90g8U

[@robstoner3521]

Thanks!

[@robstoner3521]

Thanks, Phillip!

[@lewstone5430]

Might be my imagination, but there seemed to be a slight “shrug of the shoulders” when Rob mentioned The Band’s contribution to Dylan’s music. Tell us what you really think Rob, positive or negative.

[@tommyguitar534]

I thought the canadian dylan would be neil young..

[@rcnotes]

I think that Rolling Thunder Revue was inspired by Joe Cocker/Leon Russell's Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour.

[@knowyourbassplayer]

Not so, see our Rob Stoner interview...

[@robstoner5873]

@@knowyourbassplayer If you'd listened to what I said in the clip, you'd notice I stated that Dylan had the idea for a traveling carnival show for years before the Cocker tour.

[@knowyourbassplayer]

@@robstoner5873 In the new (2023) Leon Russell biography penned by Bill Janovitz, he makes the claim that Bob was inspired by Mad Dogs...however when we interview him in March 2023 for Cygnus Radio with my co-host David C. Gross, I will reference your quote from this video interview and post his reply on this platform!

[@knowyourbassplayer]

@@robstoner5873 Exactly! My bad on the reply to RC Benway, I was agreeing with another viewer who lauded the interview! Social media burnout!

[@Greg-go8ep]

"Beatles, Stones, Dylan...that's it?" Really, in the 70's? Great bassist, but ego to match.

[@robstoner3521]

You missed the point I was making, Greg. I'm well aware that there were more than three acts during the 70's. Duh! Regarding your "ego" comment: "if you can back it up, it ain't bragging."

[@mrjasondylan]

Just for starters American pie and Desire if I played on 2 of the most famous albums of all time I'd be proud of my career too. So why shouldn't he be ? he's been there and done it like a million other guitar/ bass players would give there left arm to have had even half the career Rob has had.

[@lewstone5430]

It’s not as if Zeppelin and the Eagles were selling out stadiums in the 70’s. Nah.

[@joepalooka2145]

"Beatles, Stones, Dylan, that's it"? This guy is full of crap. I was around at the time and recall tons of other great acts all of huge prominence at that time, like Led Zeppelin, the Who, the Band, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Queen, Grateful Dead, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.....etc. etc. And in retrospect today, the Rolling Thunder Revue was actually a pretty mediocre part of Dylan's recorded legacy. I turned the interview off as soon as this BS artist said that.

[@muttley918]

There is 12 notes... well maybe 48. WFC. Humility goes further

[@robstoner3521]

@@muttley918 There "is" 12 notes? WTF does that mean, and please learn English.

[@robstoner3521]

Joke Pal Hookah: You didn't listen to what I said and by your own admission are a jealous hater who turned off the interview before you could comprehend the point I was making. I'm well aware that there were more than three acts around during the 70's. Duh! Dude, you misconstrued and are extremely rude.

[@paulmancini3363]

@@robstoner3521 love your interview and music and your perspective of a dynamic time of Live Performances … Peace and Love !!

[@robstoner3521]

@@paulmancini3363 Thanks, bro!