On the Road with Bob Dylan

by Larry Sloman

Hailed as “the War and Peace of rock and roll” by Bob Dylan himself, this is the ultimate backstage pass to Dylan’s legendary 1975 tour across America—by a former Rolling Stone reporter prominently featured in Martin Scorsese’s Netflix documentary Rolling Thunder A Bob Dylan Story.   In 1975, as Bob Dylan emerged from eight years of seclusion, he dreamed of putting together a traveling music show that would trek across the country like a psychedelic carnival. The dream became reality, and On the Road with Bob Dylan is the behind-the-scenes look at what happened when Dylan and the Rolling Thunder Revue took to the streets of America. With the intimate detail of a diary, Larry “Ratso” Sloman’s mesmerizing account both transports us to a celebrated period in rock history and provides us with a vivid snapshot of Dylan during this extraordinary time. This reissue of the 1978 classic resonates more than ever as it chronicles one of the most glittering rock circuses ever assembled, with a cast that includes Joan Baez, Robbie Robertson, Joni Mitchell, Allen Ginsberg, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, and a wild entourage of groupies, misfits, sinners, and saints who trailed along for the ride. Sloman candidly captures the all-night revelry and musical prowess—from the backstage antics to impromptu jams—that made the tour a nearly mystical experience. Complete with vintage photos and a new introduction by renowned Texas musician, mystery writer, and Revue member Kinky Friedman, this is an unparalleled treat for Dylan fans old and new. Without question, On the Road with Bob Dylan is a remarkable, revealing piece of writing and a rare up-close and personal view of Dylan on tour.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, The United States Of America, History, Travel

498 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Larry "Ratso" Sloman is best known as Howard Stern's collaborator on what were then the two fastest selling books in publishing history, Private Parts and Miss America.

His most recent book, The Secret Life of Houdini, written with magic theorist William Kalush, was a New York Times best-seller and made international news when Houdini’s relative called for an exhumation of the dead magician’s body to test for poisoning, based on evidence of a plot against Houdini uncovered by Sloman and Kalush.

Sloman’s previous two books, Mysterious Stranger, a collaboration with the magician David Blaine, and Scar Tissue, the autobiography of Red Hot Chili Pepper lead singer Anthony Kiedis, both made the Times best-seller list. Sloman is currently working with the boxer Mike Tyson on his autobiography.

Reviews

[Scott Jacobson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A speed freak's EXHAUSTIVELY detailed account of life on the road with Dylan's mid-70s Rolling Thunder Revue. This is the phase of Desire and Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, etc. By this point in his career Dylan had learned to insulate himself from hangers-on like the author, so much of the book is bogged down in tedious, meticulously recounted dialogue with the tour manager. ("Dammit, Ratso, you're gonna get yourself thrown off the tour!" "C'mon, man, I just need one more quote from Bob!" "Bobby don't need to be bothered with this right now!" and on and on and on.) The interesting stuff is truly interesting, though. Dylan comes across as a guy who'd learned to accept the unique, borderline mystical place he'd assumed in American culture. You get a glimpse of his insecurities ("I don't think Kinky Friedman likes me, man"), and thankfully Sloman brings the same obsessive attention to detail to the show descriptions as he does to his own behind-the-scenes plight. It's a good book. Trim some of the Ratso and it'd be great.

[GloriaGloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

La premessa è d'obbligo anche se non va spiegata: trattasi di un grande libro per Dylaniani , non per Dylanologi.
Parte a razzo Sloman trasportandoci sin dalle prime righe al centro dell'azione, in quella New York del '75 che saluta il ritorno in città dell'Illustre Scomparso (per tutte quelle persone normali che non ritengono la vita di Dylan una tappa obbligatoria della propria formazione culturale va detto che negli anni precedenti agli accadimenti del libro Dylan si era ritirato dal mondo giocando a fare il signorotto di campagna, lo sfornafigli seriale, la parodia di Johnny Cash e l'autore di un paio dei dischi più brutti della discografia universale - Planet Waves e Self Portrait. Con indovinata sintesi potremmo usare le parole che un suo epigono minore italiano, in una delle sue poche riuscite canzoni, dedicò al periodo bucolico del Vate senza più l’alloro "Lui adesso vive in California, da 7 anni sotto una veranda ad aspettare le nuvole,è diventato un grosso suonatore di chitarre e stravede per una donna chiamata Lisa" ) alle prese con le alcoliche registrazioni del controverso Desire - il suo disco di maggior successo commerciale ma, stranamente, il meno costeggiato dai cartografi del verbo Dylaniano (sarà, è una mia tesi da Dylaniano e non da Dylanologo, per la "scandalosa" doppia paternità dei testi, condivisa con lo psicologo clinico Jacques Levy, fraterno sodale del Nostro in quegli anni) - e le prime 50 pagine sono una deliziosa falsa pista disseminata di scorribande ubriache in macchina per la città, feste di bentornato e preparativi per il più bizzarro e improbabile dei tour : un giro nella provincia dimenticata in compagnia di decine di musicisti, poeti, registi, giocolieri e non si sa cosa a intrattenere con un raffinato gioco meta musicale un pubblico di personaggi di Sherwood Anderson in teatri fatiscenti e palestre di college. Il famigerato Rolling Thunder Revue. E dove inizia il vero racconto Dylan scompare e vanno in scena le picaresche avventure di Larry “Ratso” Sloman, figlioccio di Hunter Thompson e del suo giornalismo gonzo e lo sfiatato inseguimento alla carovana delle star. Sempre tenuto ai margini del circo itinerante, tra sberleffi, prese in giro, doposbronze, eccessi farmacologici, macchine scassate e materassi bitorzoluti di hotel di infima fama. Il suo momento di massima gloria arriverà quando gli assegneranno il compito di dogsitter del beagle di Dylan. Ma nel mezzo di questo frustrante peregrinare riesce a infilare alcune perle di altissimo giornalismo gonzo: improbabili interviste al cognato(?!!) di Jack Kerouac, alla mamma di Dylan, a teppistelli anfetaminici dei sobborghi dei sobborghi d’america, commenti in presa diretta di Allen Ginsberg durante le esibizioni di Dylan, chiacchierate con la groupie Lisa costretta a ogni tappa a ripassarsi tutto l’entourage solo per far arrivare bigliettini demenziali all’invisibile star, schermaglie intellettuali con Joan Beaz ecc… ecc… . Inevitabile il paragone con l’altro grande libro su questo tour, quei Diari del Rolling Thunder del futuro premio Pulitzer Sam Shepard, anche lì Dylan è solo un’entità, un dio capriccioso e onnipotente che appare e scompare in uno scenario narrativo fatto essenzialmente da un paesaggio americano. Solo che Sloman lo riscalda con il fuoco dell’esuberanza, del sopra le righe, Shepard lo raffredda in un’algida sintesi concettuale alla Hopper. Catartico il racconto del loro incontro nel libro di Sloman, i due scrittori a notte fonda nella hall di un albergo a sfogare le loro frustrazioni e il loro amore masochistico per il genio più scorbutico del mondo. Dylan in absentia plasma comunque ogni loro percezione della realtà. E’ un libro prezioso e divertente, sconsigliato ai Dylanologi  e ai cultori della scrittura cesellata, qui si viaggia a cento all’ora con tutta la grandezza e i limiti di un certo giornalismo sfasato. Da gustarsi insieme alla visione del traballante Renaldo & Clara, film monstre di quel tour e all’ascolto del quinto volume delle bootleg series, imperdibile documento sonoro di quei concerti, forse, e qui i Dylanologi di cui sopra mi sbraneranno, ultima fiera zampata di quel leone prima di essere ingabbiato nelle innocue categorie della modernità.
Un grazie alla Minimum Fax che tra un imperdibile e dimenticabile nuovissimo genio delle lettere americane e l'altro traduce e pubblica certe perle dimenticate.

[Roving Gambler · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a person who has traveled to see Dylan, many parts of this book rang true. The lost souls who always seem to be around are still there. The feeling of being disconnected, always a new town, travel, lack of sleep, but lots of the same faces. This book put me back on the road and while it had many flaws, it touched me in a way other books don't. It was real to me and I recommend it to any Dylan fan and especially those "lost souls" goin to one more show.

[Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

The tour must have been fun, but it is not very interesting to read about. The author wrote for Rolling Stone and expanded his articles into the rather massive paperback reissued in 2002. It's difficult to read straight through, as there are many gonzo detours into the author's search for significant people & events (of which there were few) outside the concert hall. One of those books that undermines my positive sentiment & affection for the subject matter & makes me wish I'd picked up Middlemarch instead, like I've always been meaning to do someday. The most valuable portions for me were conversations with the relatively under-appreciated women on the tour, all of whom come off well (Ronee Blakely, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez & Bob's wife Sara). Joni Mitchell's rant about being pigeonholed as a "Female Songwriter" with a "Woman's Perspective" is almost worth the rest of the book. Several celebrities of dubious merit were along for the ride, including Allen Ginsberg who always has something to say. If you can borrow this book I recommend it.

[Janis Ian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't say much beyond what the other one star reviews have said, except that I regret spending money on this. Hard to believe a journalist could write so poorly.

[Deacon Tom F. (Recovering from a big heart attack) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book that I had a very difficult time finishing. I am not a fan of Dylan singing, but I love the artistry and poetic structure of his songs. I tried not to bring that bias into my reading and hopefully I did not account his singing as in this review.

In the end, it was also ordinary book about speed induced rock ‘n’ roll rollers, who were high or stoned or drunk all the time and made really stupid mistakes.

In the beginning it was pretty interesting, As it moved on, it really wore me out.

Dylan fans… Might really like it. Not me.

[Luke · Rating 1 out of 5]

After the Netflix documentary, I came across this at the library and thought I’d give it a try. I skimmed it. I heard Sloman on a podcast describe a few conversations from this book, and in retrospect that was more than enough.

On the Road with Bob Dylan is long and sloppy. It’s told in straightforward, unreflective chronological order, and it could really use a list of dramatis personae (and a caring editor, among other things). I suppose the author was going for some sort of street journalism/realism, but to me it was completely uninteresting.

Most of the book is made up if either 1) long, unedited conversations that the author purportedly recorded at the time (but seriously: were there enough tapes in 1975 for all that talking?), or 2) disjointed “I went here, I went there, I yelled at this person” anecdotes. The author revels in dropping the names of famous folks and relating less than fascinating anecdotes about them. The Joni Mitchell conversation about female songwriters is worth reading, as is the interview with Robbie Robertson, but most of the conversations with Dylan are like most interviews with Dylan: circular and unrevealing. That isn’t the author’s fault, but the torrential prose masks the bits of this tale that might be interesting to readers curious about what Rolling Thunder was like.

[Kristen Wenzel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This account by a rock journalist was annoying because he often drifted into the third person and was obviously way too much of a fan of Dylan to be objective (funny for me to say). He came off like an over-eager teen, but maybe he wanted to. It was interesting to get the behind the scenes on the tour and his dialogues with other musicians like Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen are great, as well as his discussions with Rubin Carter. His observations on the whole situation of "the Hurricane" are entertaining, particularly his comments on media hype and manipulation. Not great, but not bad either.

[Jesse · Rating 1 out of 5]

obnoxious, unfocused and poorly written, "Ratso" Sloman expends so much energy trying to get Dylan to read his shitty poetry, or get Roger Waters to buy him dinner, or bang desperate hippie chicks that he never manages to give any insight on what made the first Rolling Thunder tour so legendary. "On the Road" should be taken literally, as the author basically lives in his car the whole time after he's kicked off the tour caravan. "with Bob Dylan" should be taken more as a joke. Dude would make hanging out with A.J. Weberman seem like a good time.

[David Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I resisted reading this since buying a copy circa 1980, not caring to read 400-plus pages about a single tour, even one by my favorite artist. And sure, this is self-indulgent, although self-mockingly so. But it was a fun read, and Ratso deserves props for insinuating himself into the tour to the point he was able to quote Dylan's wife, mother and the headliner himself. Minor note: This "revised edition" didn't fix typos from the original. Poor Eric Andersen, still remembered here as Anderson.

[furious · Rating 3 out of 5]

an interesting account of life on the road with the Rolling Thunder Revue, from the perspective of the ultimate insider/outsider. i happen to be a big fan of Rolling Thunder era Dylan, so i kinda dug this artifact. to others i can see how it might be kind of tedious & lacking in the "Hammer of the Gods" type sensationalism. for Dylan fanatics/completists it is, of course, indispensable.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

(worth reading the intro .. hilarious.)

[Aj Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars is generous. It has its moments but they are few and far between.

[patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect companion piece to Scorsese’s Rolling Thunder Revue documentary.

[Joe Fahey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was utterly fascinating, I can’t believe seeing the start and finished dates above but that does include the event of a basement flood destroying my first copy, then trying to read a downloaded pdf copy on my iPad (which I didn’t particularly enjoy as much as a bound book of papyrus, or paper I guess they used to call it in the 20th century). It was a long read and I’d occasionally get bogged down in some of the earlier pages but at some magical point I got into the rhythm of the story telling and was captivated. As big of a Dylan fan as I am, I guess I’ve never really read much about him fleshed out as a person rather than a mysterious and private artist. It took a long time for the author to gain the trust of the enigmatic artist but when he finally did, it was highly worth the wait which mainly took place in the final pages of the book. It really cracked me up, how funny Dylan is, and so brilliant of course. The saga itself covers a lot of ground beginning with the impetus and recording of the “Desire” album and the focal point of the Rubin Carter, the subject of the song “Hurricane”. That album was one of the missing links in my Dylan record collection but I’ve since picked up a copy and listened to it heavily as a companion piece as well as the live recordings from the “Rolling Thunder Revue”, the tour which this book chronicles. Along the way you get to meet and get to know so many incredible artists who were involved and or performed in these shows including Roger McGuinn, Mick Ronson, Leonard Cohen, Kinky Friedman, Allen Ginsberg, Gordon Lightfoot and many more, plus Dylan’s wife Sara and his mother Beatty who were presented in a candid and heartfelt fashion. But in particular, Joan Baez and especially Joni Mitchell were highlights in the storyline and added so much to the artistic sensibilities of the times. I’m looking forward to reading the Sam Shepard penned “Rolling Thunder Logbook” which covers the tour from a different perspective. And if I haven’t gone over my word count, I have to mention that I’ll be seeing Bob Dylan tonight in concert and that this book has added even more interest and enthusiasm for the show.

[Davidg · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first sight, this appears to be the Dylan equivalent of Stanley Booth’s brilliant book on the Rolling Stones - it isn’t. Slogan doesn’t get the same sort of access than Booth had. At first, it starts well for him. On the streets of New York, Sloman is in the clubs with Dylan, in the car when they pick up the violinist who will be such an integral part of the sound of the next album. He is there at the recording sessions and at the birth of the idea that becomes Rolling Thunder Revue.

But then it all gets difficult. Tours require managers and planners. They need funding and a budget. They need to book venues and hotels. What they don’t need is a reporter, sticking his nose in and writing material for ‘Rolling Stone’ which is known for its dislike of Dylan.

Sloman then finds himself on the outside looking in. The artists are happy to talk to him, even Dylan is ok with him, but he can’t get to them. ‘Rolling Stone’ doesn’t help by only wanting material on the finances and the business and not the art, the crowd reaction.

The book then becomes hard going. It isn’t about being on the road with Dylan, but being on the road, following, occasionally glimpsing, but not actually getting to, Dylan. We spend all our time, getting drunk, stoned with Sloman, our eyes pressed against the window but not getting in. The tone changes, as he gets nicknamed Ratso by Joni Mitchell, and he refers to himself in the third person as Ratso or ‘the reporter’. Once you realise that is what the book is, it becomes more enjoyable.

Ratso does get access as the tour progresses, becoming a sort of fixer, interviewing the artists, Sara, Dylan’s wife and his mother. There are encounters with Dylan himself, but never getting behind the mask. But nobody ever seems to get behind the mask. Dylan remains the enigma.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wound up skimming a lot of this book.The author apparently didn’t get the access to Dylan he expected to get on the Rolling Thunder tour, so in between the sometimes interesting interviews we get a lot of Sloman complaining about being ignored and talking to random people on the fringes. His writing is typical Rolling Stone of the 70s which seems mainly to be striving to be like Hunter S. Thompson’s (it’s not). He was extremely irritating in the Rolling Thunder documentary and that only continues here.

There are some pretty good interviews scattered throughout, including ones with Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Robbie Robertson and Mike Bloomfield. Most of his interviews with Dylan are short and Dylan is evasive, although there’s one lengthier one almost at the end.

Sloman also switches from first-person narrative to third-person right at the time Baez starts calling him “Ratso”. This is weird.

(I also don’t understand Sloman’s continual use of the “n-word” , mostly regarding himself and the way he’s being treated. Was this considered “cool” in 1978? Because it just comes across as jarring.)

[Caponato · Rating 3 out of 5]

La historia de la primera parte de la gira de Bob Dylan de la Rolling Thunder Revue (del 30 de octubre al 8 de diciembre de 1975), su gestación previa en el Other End y la grabación del disco Desire. El libro combina lo mejor (algunas entrevistas con Sara, Joni Mitchell, esa artista con el mejor ombligo del mundo, la madre de Dylan, Mike Bloomfield, Robbie Robertson, etc.) con otros momentos soporíferos, repetitivos y de vergüenza ajena (la búsqueda de prostitutas por el autor, por ejemplo). Larry Sloman no sé si conscientemente acaba creando su propio personaje, Ratso, un tipo insoportable que se convierte en gran parte en el mayor protagonista del libro.

Tan interesante como irregular.

A día de hoy, el libro no está traducido al español.

[Sean · Rating 1 out of 5]

This thing is a stinker. It has an interesting profile of Lowell, Massachusetts in the wake of Jack Kerouac, and some noteworthy conversations with Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, but other than that, it's garbage. It's primarily about the author trying to get access to Dylan, trying to get Rolling Stone to cover his expenses, etc. In other words, stuff nobody except maybe Sloman's mother would care about.

[Clint Banjo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting better...the Stones Tour coverage by Stanley Booth is the best example...sometimes a bit long winded and the author is hung up on his own problems although still a great insight to a great time and Tour, made me want to listen to the music...

[Mark Goddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Amazing that most of this takes place in my backyard. Plymouth, Falmouth, Boston.
Sloman captured those times with panache to say the least. Great document of a tour, musicians and a time that will never be repeated!

[Lancelot Link · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think Bob Dylan called this book "The war and peace of rock and roll" because it doesn't feel as though it will ever end. If you're a fan of rather dull, unedited interviews, then take heart -- this book is for you.

[Dewayne Stark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another read about Dylan, this an inside view.

[Ari Sarkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of the Rolling Thunder Revue shows in 1975-76.
Some of the songs mentioned in the book are on Dylan's 'Bootleg Series vol 5'.

[Clint · Rating 2 out of 5]

It has its moments, but overall, meh.

[Kurt Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part tour monologue, part concert report, part fever dream. What a wild ride.

[Steve Mills. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interestig look at 70's music excesses,but a scattered diary of a 6 week tour with gust artists.

[Nick Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

placeholder for the movie, directed by Martin Scorsese.

[Federico · Rating 1 out of 5]

Subject is interesting but the writer is far from being a good one. Sorry they missed the chance to write a good book

[David Brimer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A meandering, Thompson-esque ramble through the Rolling Thunder Revue. Uninspired and uninteresting.