Bob Dylan is one of the most influential and celebrated musicians of the past 60 years. Though he rose to fame in the 1960s with iconic folk anthems like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin'”, Dylan has never stopped touring and recording new music. Even now, at age 82, Dylan remains an active live performer, forever changing and reimagining his extensive catalog of songs onstage. But of course, even legends like Dylan cannot do it alone. For decades, Bob Dylan has collaborated with talented backing musicians to bring his music to life in concert. Let’s take a look at who is currently playing alongside Dylan on tour in his phenomenal live band.
Charlie Sexton – Lead Guitar
One of the mainstays of Dylan’s band over the past 15 years has been guitarist Charlie Sexton. Born in 1968 in San Antonio, Texas, Sexton first made a name for himself as a guitar prodigy in the 1980s, releasing his debut album at age 17. He went on to have a solo career through the late 80s and 90s before joining Dylan’s band in 1999. Since 2005, he has been Dylan’s primary lead guitarist and right-hand man onstage. His bluesy guitar licks perfectly complement Dylan’s songs, from vintage classics to more modern tunes. Fans especially rave about the guitar interplay between Sexton and Dylan on concerts staples like “Highway 61 Revisited.” Now 54, Sexton has spent nearly half his life as a devoted member of Bob Dylan’s touring band, anchoring the live sound with his phenomenal guitar work.
Bob Britt – Rhythm Guitar
Another Texas musician in Dylan’s band is rhythm guitarist Bob Britt. Born in 1960 in Fort Worth, Britt is known for his work as a session and touring guitarist playing alongside legends like Boz Scaggs, Carole King, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. In 2005, shortly after Charlie Sexton joined up, Britt was brought into the fold to handle rhythm guitar duties for Dylan’s Never Ending Tour. The 63-year-old guitarist specializes in meticulous rhythm playing that grounds and fills out Dylan’s live sound. Fans especially love the way he strums acoustic lines over classic folk-era tunes like “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.” Britt’s reliability and chemistry with Sexton makes them an ideal guitar team in Dylan’s band.
Tony Garnier – Bass
Tony Garnier is the longest-tenured member of Bob Dylan’s current touring band, having provided his rock-solid bass playing since 1989. Born in 1956 in Philadelphia, Garnier played with jazz and blues acts before joining up with Dylan more than 30 years ago. Now 67 years old, he has remained Dylan’s go-to bassist for his marathon Never Ending Tour through multiple band lineups. Garnier’s versatility allows him to shine from Dylan’s acoustic classics to his rowdier rock numbers. His deep bass notes are crucial in anchoring Dylan’s songs live, allowing the frontman to remake the tunes each night as he pleases. In addition to his stellar musicianship, Garnier’s longevity with Dylan speaks to his ability to adapt to the singer’s notoriously spontaneous concert approach.
George Recile – Drums
Drummer George Recile has powered Bob Dylan’s band since 2002 with his dynamic style. Born in 1963 in New Orleans, Recile has been a first call drummer for artists from the Neville Brothers to Tom Waits. The 59-year-old timekeeper brings a blend of versatility, creativity and precision to his nearly 20 years drumming behind Dylan, adeptly swinging from subtle folk numbers to full-bore rockers. His intuitive playing has meshed ideally with Dylan’s free-form concert approach, where setlists and arrangements can change radically from night to night. Fans particularly rave about Recile’s inventive percussion on tour staples like “Thunder on the Mountain” and “Love Sick.” Dylan certainly relies on Recile’s skills to drive his band through constantly-evolving live versions of his iconic catalog of songs.
Donnie Herron – Pedal Steel/Mandolin/Violin
One of the newest additions to Bob Dylan’s touring band is multi-instrumentalist Donnie Herron. Since joining in 2005, the 59-year-old musician has added several stringed instruments to the band’s sound, including pedal steel guitar, mandolin, violin and banjo. Born in Texas and raised in Hawaii, Herron has built a varied career playing with artists from Willie Nelson to Sheryl Crow. With Dylan, his pedal steel in particular has become an integral new texture, swooping and swelling alongside numbers like “Beyond Here Lies Nothin'” and “When the Deal Goes Down.” Fans have also enjoyed hearing Herron’s mandolin melodies weaving through acoustic classics on recent tours. Much like the other seasoned pros in this group, Herron clearly relishes the chance to play off Dylan nightly and breathe new life into these legendary songs.
Bob Dylan’s Legendary Career
While Bob Dylan’s touring band features phenomenal musicians, ultimately the focus at his concerts remains on the legendary singer-songwriter himself. Since debuting in 1962, Dylan has crafted a body of work that has transformed popular music and made him a worldwide cultural icon. Some highlights of his incredible career include:
- Releasing landmark albums like The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde in the 1960s folk rock era
- Writing iconic protest anthems such as “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “The Times They Are A-Changin'” and “Masters of War”
- Making a controversial shift to electric rock music and forging new frontiers for folk and rock fusions
- Winning numerous honors including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, 10 Grammy Awards and the Nobel Prize in Literature
- Continuing to write potent new material and tour the world extensively into his 80s
Bob Dylan has cemented his place as one of the most important songwriters and performers of all time. His chameleonic style and constant evolution have allowed him to transfix audiences decade after decade. While he often collaborates with top-tier musicians, Dylan’s singular artistry and vision remain the compass guiding his Never Ending Tour through its nearly 30 years and over 3,000 shows and counting. Even now, a Bob Dylan concert in 2023 offers fans the chance to witness a true living legend reinventing his catalog each night with passion, imagination and unmatched inspiration.
Setlists on Recent Shows
To give a sense of what Dylan has been playing live recently, here are some sample setlists from shows within the past couple months:
Date | Location | Setlist Highlights |
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October 7, 2022 | Atlantic City, NJ |
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September 30, 2022 | Hershey, PA |
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September 28, 2022 | Bloomington, IN |
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These recent setlists demonstrate how Dylan consistently mixes classic 1960s cuts with his newer twenty-first century material, while also throwing in some intriguing deeper album tracks. Fans at upcoming shows can count on Dylan delivering fresh takes on a cross section of his vast catalog in his inimitable live fashion.
The Bottom Line
Part of Bob Dylan’s continued emergence as a riveting live performer into his 80s owes much to the stellar band he has assembled. Guitarists Charlie Sexton and Bob Britt, bassist Tony Garnier, drummer George Recile and multi-instrumentalist Donnie Herron all do a superb job bringing flexibility and new textures to Dylan’s songs each night. However, ultimately it is Dylan’s unmatched brilliance as a songwriter and interpreter that makes his concerts so special. When complemented by his excellent band, the genius of Bob Dylan himself remains the star attraction on his Never Ending Tour over 50 years into his iconic career.
For fans seeking inspiration and musical magic, a Bob Dylan show in 2023 remains an absolute must-see event. While his setlist varies nightly, Dylan’s transformative ability to give new life to each lyric remains awe-inspiring. Don’t miss the chance to witness Bob Dylan backed by his phenomenal live band making history before our eyes with every unforgettable performance.