Bob and John Take a Limo Ride May 27, 1966

Rolling Stone has done a nice job embracing the “new media” with its stories that circulate on social media. The flow of short and pointed rock and roll tales (most often accompanied by video) has become my “go to” when I need some mental floss to clear out residue from the daily grind.


Earlier this week the Rolling  Stone story (click here) on one of the only film clips of John Lennon and Bob Dylan together caught my eye. 


Shot by D.A. Pennebaker on May 1966 in the back of Dylan’s limo while cruising London on a (typical) dreary spring afternoon, Dylan orchestrated a one-on-one meeting with Lennon to be included in the follow-up movie to the 1965 Dylan documentary “Don’t Look Back”.

But what should have and could have easily been one of the coolest music rambles in the history of people talking music… turned out to be the babbling of a stoned fool. 


Truthfully, watching Bob Dylan in his drugged and drunk state makes me sad. But then again, Bob worked hard to make people realize he was just a man like everyone else.


Dylan is one of the few people that can act that way and still get treated like a genius.  I wished he actually puked on himself in the car.


It’s kinda like the time I had a media pass to see Dylan open up the new Capital Theatre in Port Chester (click here for that story)… Bob turned up small.


What a wasted opportunity!! WTF.


As for Lennon, he was obviously on edge and had his guard up knowing that King Bob was capable of doing something awful. He decided to have fun with it, but you can tell by his constant looking behind the limo and stiff position in the far corner of the back seat… John Lennon was uneasy.


The Atlantic did a piece a few years ago entitled “Bob Dylan and John Lennon’s Weird, One-sided Relationship.“


I agree with Rolling Stone, that Lennon likely lost some respect for King Bob that day.


In case your browser won’t let you view the video box below, here is the link on YouTube to the 20 minute video.