The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration revisited

The 30th Anniversary tribute concert of 1992 looked and sounded poor - even to one who was, at the time of release, still listening regularly to thirty-something mainstream poprock.

Checking out the album and video again, after a long gap, merely confirmed first impressions: largely unlistenable… the middle-aged American poprockocracy indulging itself… show biz schlock for the younger consumer… the night it became obvious that Dadrock was spiritually bankrupt… .

True, there are a few high points. Dylan’s own performances are worth having - It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), My Back Pages, Knocking on Heaven's Door and Girl of the North Country. Neil Young was in great form for his brief shift. McGuinn shone. And, er, that’s it.

Low points? MC Kristofferson’s diatribe going into Blowin’ In The Wind, and (on video) the hunting pack’s bigoted humbling of Sinead O’Connor. But these glitches were as nothing compared to the relentless tide of rockpop mediocrity washing from the stage. Sonic gloop.

Has Dylan ever been involved in a less worthy enterprise? I think not. If this Madison Square Garden extravaganza was his typical milieu, I wouldn’t go near his music.


Gerry Smith