AOTM: Petty, Clapton, Harrison, Dylan, Young, and McGuinn All Walk into a Rehearsal

Back in 1992, Bob Dylan held a star-studded 30th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden. Performers included Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Neil Young, and Roger McGuinn; just to name a few. The concert wasn’t just a coming together of music legends, it was also a concert dedicated to the music: Dylan said on his website that in the end it was about the songs. In a rarely seen rehearsal video, Tom Petty along with Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Roger McGuinn, Bob Dylan, and others rehearsed Dylan’s song “My Back Pages”.

First made known by Guitar World earlier this year, the rehearsal video showcased the legendary musicians chatting, playing licks, and then running through the song. While the audio is not the best, it gives fans a glimpse into the making of an epic concert. Also included in the rehearsal were “…guitarist G.E. Smith (who was musical director for the show), Booker T and the M.G.s—guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn, and organist Booker T. Jones—and drummer Jim Keltner (guitarworld.com).” The multi-talented group of musicians went on to perform at Dylan’s 30th Anniversary Concert.

(Rehearsal video for “MY Back Pages” by Bob Dylan featuring Tom Petty. Video Courtesy of YouTube)

In a rare rehearsal video, music legends came together to play “My Back Pages”. Tom Petty along with Eric Clapton, Roger McGuinn, Neil Young, George Harrison, Booker T & the M.G.s, and Bob Dylan chatted, played guitar licks, and showcased what it takes to prep for an epic concert. Although the rehearsal, and later the concert, brought together star-studded performances, Dylan was adamant that the concert was about the songs.

~Jenna Jakes, WOGB

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