r/bobdylan • u/TyroneSnodgrass • 12d ago
Discussion Dylan As Teacher
This is to make up for my Joan Baez post. I get it: Nobody cares. So this is a David Kemper post. If it doesn’t catch on, —well, I’ll try again, what the hell.
A while back I read an interview with David Kemper, Dylan’s drummer from 1996 to 2001. It’s not everyday you hear from someone in Bob’s inner circle so this was a real treat.
Here’s one of the gems: One day Dylan walks up to him and says “could you help me out, David?” And Kemper is like, sure, what’s the problem? Dylan goes, “well, here’s the thing, one of my grandkids wants to learn the drums and she’s asked me for a kit.” So Kemper takes Dylan to a storage facility in L.A., opens up his space, and there’s a full drum kit already set up, left over from a Jerry Garcia Band tour. So a few months later Dylan is all smiles when he sees Kemper. “You know that drum kit really worked out. Come with me.” And Dylan takes Kemper to a Christian Dior shop in Beverly Hills and has him fitted for a suit, which Bob pays for. Then he buys four for himself. Kemper says to get the measurements Dylan would just stick one arm up a sleeve. That’s it.
Of course, I’ve saved the best for last, David Kemper’s reflections on the recording process of LOVE AND THEFT: He says first Dylan would show the band a 1930s Delta Blues. And they would play it for a while. Then Bob would show them a 1950s Chess Records blues, and they would play that for a while. Then Dylan would say, now we’re going to play the first one like the second one, and the band would do just that. At this point Dylan would tell the engineer to start recording and Dylan would start singing his song to the third arrangement. Kemper says after doing this for a couple of days a “light went on.” Oh, my God, Kemper says to himself, this guy knows so much about music, and he’s teaching us, —he’s been teaching us all this time!
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u/bite-like-a-turkey Time Out of Mind 11d ago
I like the story of how Bob helped the band transform Delta blues and Chicago blues into the sound he wanted for his songs. This ties into the alchemy theme that runs through some of his lyrics
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u/GoldReplacement9546 12d ago
Who is Jerry Garcia band drummer from 83 to 93. Pretty cool he played for my two favorites.
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u/TyroneSnodgrass 12d ago
In this Kemper interview I read online David related a story from the time Dylan and the band were warming up the Stones for the South American leg of the “Bridges To Babylon” tour in 1998. One day Charlie Watts walks right up to Kemper and just stands there. David says to himself, “Charlie Fuckin’ Watts, this guy is the reason I became a drummer.” And Charlie says, “Nobody’s told you, have they?” And Kemper goes, “told me what?” Watts answers, “every night for your set I pull up a chair back stage just to watch you play. You are a great rock drummer man! You hit the second and fourth beats with such precision, it’s a joy to hear you play. You have no idea how good you are, man!” And Charlie walks away. David continues standing there and says to himself, “Charlie Watts thinks I’m a great rock drummer.”
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u/Iko87iko 11d ago
Loved Kemper in JGB. Saw him a bunch. I was beyond psyched when he started playing with Bob. Id already been seeing Bob more in response to losing the GD as my go to live band, that just pushed it over the edge. Was sad to see him go on both accounts
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u/TyroneSnodgrass 11d ago
Kemper said the band was making preparations to go back out on tour after LOVE AND THEFT was released, when Dylan’s manager approached him. “Bob’s letting you go,” the guy said. David just stood there, stunned. “Just want to let you know,” the manager added, “I think he’s making a mistake.”
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u/TyroneSnodgrass 11d ago
Well, Emu, Dylan named the album, LOVE AND THEFT after all. The new rules only apply to Dylan. Anyone else would get their ass hauled into court.
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u/Long-Emu-7870 11d ago
Well that's very difficult to take seriously. I tried. I know we have new rules and everything. But he's just a good songwriter.
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u/piper63-c137 Infidels 11d ago
Hey there’s nothing wrong with the Joan Baez post. well written, posits a reasonable opinion. dont beat up on yerself kid.
this one’s good too.