Never Ending Tour 2012 Explained

Concert Tour Name:Never Ending Tour 2012
Border:yes
Artist:Bob Dylan
Start Date:April 15, 2012
End Date:November 21, 2012
Number Of Legs:4
Last Tour:Never Ending Tour 2011
(2011)
This Tour:Never Ending Tour 2012
(2012)
Next Tour:Never Ending Tour 2013
(2013)

The Never Ending Tour is the popular name for Bob Dylan's endless touring schedule since June 7, 1988.[1] [2] [3]

Background

The 2012 leg of the Never Ending tour was announced via BobDylan.com on February 16, 2012. The first dates to be announced were concerts taking place in three South American Countries; Brazil, Argentina and Chile. Dylan previously visited these countries last time he toured South America on the Never Ending Tour 2008.[4] On March 15, 2012, after being rumored in the press, it was confirmed that Dylan would perform in Heredia, Costa Rica on May 5, 2012. This was Dylan's first concert in the country of Costa Rica and his first concert in Central America.[5] On March 28, 2012 it was confirmed that Dylan would return to Mexico, four years after his last performances there in 2008.[6]

It was confirmed on March 27, 2012 that Dylan would return to Kent in 2012 to headline the Hop Farm Festival. Dylan had previously headlined the festival in July 2010.[7] On March 29, 2012 Dylan's official website revealed several European concerts for the summer of 2012. These dates included official confirmation of his performances at Hop Farm Festival, Festival Internacional Benicàssim and Festival Vieilles Charrues Les Nuits de Fourvière. It was revealed that Dylan also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Dylan also performed in Salzburg, Austria and Nîmes, France.[8]

Dylan performed at eleven European concerts this summer including: his second performance at The Hop Farm Festival in Kent, the Citadel Music Festival in Berlin, Kunst!Rasen Gronau in Bonn, Lieder im Schloss in Bad Mergentheim, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Festival Internacional de Benicàssim in Spain, Festival Jardins de Cap Roig in Calella, Festival de Nîmes in France, Collisioni 2012 in Barolo, Les Nuits de Fourvière in Lyon and the Vieilles Charrues Festival in Carhaix.[9]

Rehearsals for Dylan's 2012 European tour began at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie, New York on Monday June 25, 2012 and lasted until Wednesday June 27, 2012 where Dylan and his band flew to England for his performance at Hop Farm Festival on Saturday June 30, 2012. Among unknown tunes Dylan and his band performed "Things Have Changed", "Nettie Moore", "Tangled Up in Blue", "Blind Willie McTell" and "Ballad of Hollis Brown".[10] Dylan's performance at the Hop Farm Music Festival saw the introduction of a grand piano into his set, which he played for eight songs of his sixteen-song set.[11] [12]

On June 15, 2012, Dylan's official website announced eleven concerts that are to take place in August and September 2012. These shows include three concerts in Canada, where Dylan hadn't performed since November 2009.[13] The following day a further two concerts were announced, one taking place in Billings, Montana[14] and the other taking place in Rochester, Minnesota.[15] On June 20 another two concerts were announced, one in Cincinnati[16] and the other in Salisbury, Maryland.[17] The tickets for Dylan's show in Cranbrook sold out in record time. The venue adjusted the position of the stage to add a further 250 tickets, which also sold out.[18] On June 28, 2012 a further six concerts were announced taking place in August and early September. The August 15 concert in Billings, Montana was eventually cancelled due to poor ticket sales.[19]

The much anticipated North American leg of the Dylan/Knopfler tour was announced via both BobDylan.com and MarkKnopfler.com on July 18, 2012, just one day after Dylan announced his 35th studio album, Tempest.[20] The tour was met with a mixed to negative response. Many reviews complained about Dylan's decreasing vocal abilities and his lack of piano playing skills. As usual with Dylan reviews the press complained about Dylan's changing of song, beyond recognition sometimes. The tour's attendance was fairly poor with many reviews reporting fans leaving long before the concert was over.[21] In an unprecedented move during his November 5 concert in Madison, Wisconsin, Dylan addressed the crowd, besides his normal band introduction and said: "We tried to play good tonight since the president was here today. Don't believe the media. I think it's going to be a landslide"[22]

Performing only 86 concerts in 2012, Dylan performed the fewest shows during a year-long leg of the Never Ending Tour since 1996.[23] [24]

Supporting acts

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenue
Latin America[25] [26]
April 15, 2012Rio de JaneiroBrazilCitibank Hall
April 17, 2012BrasíliaNilson Nelson Gymnasium
April 19, 2012Belo HorizonteChevrolet Hall
April 21, 2012São PauloCredicard Hall
April 22, 2012
April 24, 2012Porto AlegrePepsi on Stage
April 26, 2012Buenos AiresArgentinaTeatro Gran Rex
April 27, 2012
April 28, 2012
April 30, 2012
May 2, 2012SantiagoChileMovistar Arena
May 5, 2012HerediaCosta RicaHeredia Palacio de los Deportes
May 7, 2012MonterreyMexicoAuditorio Banamex
May 9, 2012GuadalajaraTelmex Auditorium
May 11, 2012Mexico CityPepsi Centre WTC
May 12, 2012
Europe[27]
June 30, 2012KentEnglandThe Hop Farm Country Park
July 2, 2012BerlinGermanyZitadelle Spandau
July 3, 2012DresdenFreilichtbühne Junge Garde
July 4, 2012BonnBonn Rheinaue
July 6, 2012Bad MergentheimSchloss Mergentheim
July 7, 2012SalzburgAustriaSalzburgarena
July 8, 2012MontreuxSwitzerlandAuditorium Stravinski
July 11, 2012BilbaoSpainGuggenheim Museum Bilbao
July 13, 2012BenicàssimBenicàssim Festival Grounds
July 14, 2012CalellaJardín Botánico del Cap Roig Auditorium
July 15, 2012NîmesFranceArènes de Nîmes
July 16, 2012BaroloItalyPiazza Colbert
July 18, 2012LyonFranceThéâtres Romains de Fourvière
July 20, 2012BayonneArènes de Bayonne
July 22, 2012CarhaixLa Prairie de Kerampuilh
North America[28]
August 10, 2012LloydminsterCanadaLloydminster Exhibition Grounds
August 11, 2012LethbridgeENMAX Centre
August 12, 2012CranbrookCranbrook Recreational Complex
August 14, 2012MissoulaUnited StatesBig Sky Brewery
August 17, 2012Rapid CityBarnett Arena
August 18, 2012Sioux FallsSioux Falls Arena
August 19, 2012FargoFargo Civic Center
August 21, 2012RochesterTaylor Arena
August 22, 2012Des MoinesWells Fargo Arena
August 24, 2012Fort WayneParkview Field
August 25, 2012IndianapolisThe Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn
August 26, 2012CincinnatiPNC Pavilion at Riverbend
August 28, 2012YoungstownCovelli Centre
August 29, 2012JohnstownCambria County War Memorial Arena
August 30, 2012SalisburyWicomico Youth and Civic Center
September 1, 2012Big FlatsTag's Budweiser Summer Stage
September 2, 2012BethelBethel Woods Center for the Arts
September 4, 2012Port ChesterCapitol Theater
September 6, 2012LewistonLewiston Artpark Mainstage Theater
September 7, 2012HolyokeHolyoke Mountain Park
September 8, 2012UncasvilleMohegan Sun Arena
September 9, 2012HersheyStar Pavilion
North America with Mark Knopfler
October 5, 2012WinnipegCanadaMTS Centre
October 6, 2012ReginaBrandt Centre
October 8, 2012SaskatoonCredit Union Centre
October 9, 2012EdmontonRexall Place
October 10, 2012CalgaryScotiabank Saddledome
October 12, 2012VancouverRogers Arena
October 13, 2012SeattleUnited StatesKeyArena
October 15, 2012PortlandRose Garden Arena
October 17, 2012San FranciscoBill Graham Civic Auditorium
October 18, 2012
October 19, 2012BerkeleyHearst Greek Theatre
October 20, 2012SacramentoPower Balance Pavilion
October 22, 2012Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara Bowl
October 24, 2012San DiegoValley View Casino Center
October 26, 2012Los AngelesHollywood Bowl
October 27, 2012Las VegasMandalay Bay Events Center
October 29, 2012Broomfield1stBank Center
October 30, 2012
November 1, 2012Grand PrairieVerizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
November 2, 2012TulsaBOK Center
November 3, 2012OmahaCenturyLink Center Omaha
November 5, 2012MadisonAlliant Energy Center
November 7, 2012Saint PaulXcel Energy Center
November 8, 2012MilwaukeeBMO Harris Bradley Center
November 9, 2012ChicagoUnited Center
November 12, 2012Grand RapidsVan Andel Arena
November 13, 2012DetroitFox Theatre
November 14, 2012TorontoCanadaAir Canada Centre
November 16, 2012MontrealBell Centre
November 18, 2012BostonUnited StatesTD Garden
November 19, 2012PhiladelphiaWells Fargo Center
November 20, 2012Washington, D.C.Verizon Center
November 21, 2012BrooklynBarclays Center
Festivals and other miscellaneous performances
Cancellations and rescheduled shows
<--Date--><--City, (State or Country)--><--Venue--><--Reason/Additional Info-->
April 30, 2012Santiago, ChileMovistar ArenaRescheduled to May 2, 2012.[29]
August 15, 2012Billings, MontanaRimrock Auto Arena at MetraParkCancelled due to poor ticket sales.[30]
November 10, 2012Chicago metropolitan areaUnconfirmed venueCancelled before official announcement.[31]
November 13, 2012Auburn Hills, MichiganThe Palace of Auburn HillsMoved to the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan due to poor ticket sales.[32]

Box office score data

VenueCityTickets sold / available Gross revenue
Citibank HallRio de Janeiro1,283 / 2,616 (49%)$295,055[33]
Ginasio Nilson NelsonBrasília6,447 / 9,645 (69%)$586,652
Chevrolet HallBelo Horizonte5,350 / 5,380 (99%)$416,766
Credicard HallSão Paulo6,845 / 7,706 (89%)$1,129,460
Pepsi On StagePorto Alegre6,324 / 6,363 (99%)$508,117
Palacio de los DeportesHeredia1,977 / 2,500 (79%)$200,222[34]
Auditorio BanamexMonterrey1,217 / 6,542 (19%)$78,111[35]
Auditorio TelmexGuadalajara2,571 / 4,446 (58%)$111,373
Pepsi Center WTCMexico City2,508 / 6,496 (39%)$135,529[36]
Big Sky BreweryMissoula2,293 / 2,293 (100%)$91,200[37]
Civic CenterFargo3,056 / 3,056 (100%)$165,024[38]
Mayo Civic CenterRochester4,246 / 5,000 (85%)$221,474[39]
Mohegan Sun ArenaUncasville3,662 / 4,271 (86%)$181,269[40]
Star PavilionHersey5,205 / 8,129 (64%)$246,862
Rose Garden ArenaPortland4,667 / 7,477 (62%)$361,818[41]
Bill Graham Civic AuditoriumSan Francisco8,280 / 10,000 (83%)$596,670[42]
Hearst Greek TheatreBerkeley7,277 / 7,277 (100%)$606,867
Power Balance PavilionSacramento3,087 / 4,500 (69%)$229,658
Santa Barbara BowlSanta Barbara4,564 / 4,564 (100%)$421,301[43]
Valley View Casino CenterSan Diego5,425 / 7,928 (68%)$387,350
Verizon TheatreGrand Prairie3,877 / 6,001 (65%)$301,365[44]
BOK CenterTulsa3,400 / 3,400 (100%)$245,392[45]
Xcel Energy CenterSt Paul7,565 / 9,850 (77%)$602,645
United CenterChicago6,335 / 8,021 (79%)$532,301
Van Andel ArenaGrand Rapids3,154 / 9,946 (32%)$234,600[46]
Air Canada CentreToronto8,935 / 9,000 (99%)$756,894
Bell CentreMontreal5,706 / 6,712 (85%)$474,894[47]
Wells Fargo CenterPhiladelphia8,564 / 10,000 (86%)$428,951
Barclays CenterBrooklyn9,679 / 10,931 (89%)$844,271
TOTAL143,499 / 190,050 (76%)$11,392,091

Setlists

Song Count

SongCount
1Ballad of a Thin Man86
2Highway 61 Revisited86
3Like a Rolling Stone86
4Tangled Up in Blue86
5Thunder on the Mountain86
6All Along the Watchtower85
7Things Have Changed83
8Blowin' in the Wind77
9Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat42
10Simple Twist of Fate37
11High Water (For Charley Patton)35
12Summer Days34
13Desolation Row29
14Visions of Johanna28
15Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum27
16Rollin' And Tumblin'25
17The Levee's Gonna Break25
18A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall24
19Love Sick21
20Watching the River Flow21
21Spirit on the Water20
22Beyond Here Lies Nothin'17
23Forgetful Heart17
24Cry A While16
25Honest With Me16
26To Ramona16
27Tryin' to Get to Heaven16
28Don't Think Twice, It's All Right14
29Make You Feel My Love14
30Man in the Long Black Coat14
31Sugar Baby13
32The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll13
33Blind Willie McTell12
34It's All Over Now, Baby Blue12
35Girl from the North Country11
36I'll Be Your Baby Tonight11
37Ballad of Hollis Brown10
38Mississippi10
39You Ain't Goin' Nowhere10
40It Ain't Me Babe9
41Chimes of Freedom8
42Early Roman Kings7
43Every Grain of Sand7
44John Brown7
45Love Minus Zero/No Limit7
46Can't Wait6
47Jolene6
48This Dream Of You6
49Ain't Talkin'5
50Not Dark Yet5
51Joey4
52Shelter from the Storm4
53Rainy Day Women #12 & 353
54Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues2
55Soon After Midnight2
56Absolutely Sweet Marie1
57Delia1
58Dignity1
59Million Miles1
60My Back Pages1
61Nettie Moore1
62Pay in Blood1
63Saving Grace1
64Scarlet Town1
65Shadows (Gordon Lightfoot cover)1
66She Belongs to Me1
67Shooting Star1
68Sweet Home Chicago (Instrumental)1
69This Wheel's On Fire1
70Under The Red Sky1
71When the Deal Goes Down1

Band

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bob Dylan begins his 'never-ending' tour . The Guardian . 12 June 2011 . 26 November 2011.
  2. The Evolution of Bob Dylan . https://web.archive.org/web/20110514172401/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/the-evolution-of-bob-dylan-20110509/the-never-ending-tour-begins-1988-1996-0242530 . dead . May 14, 2011 . Rolling Stone . 26 November 2011.
  3. Bob Dylan's Never-Ending Tour Keeps on Trucking . https://web.archive.org/web/20120108075838/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/our-10-greatest-hopes-and-fears-for-2012-20120104/bob-dylans-never-ending-tour-keeps-on-trucking-0968597 . dead . January 8, 2012 . Rolling Stone . 16 February 2012.
  4. Sources for South America Leg:
  5. Web site: Palacio de los Deportes . BobDylan.com . 15 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130910060240/http://www.bobdylan.com/us/home#us/tour/2012-05-05-palacio-de-los-deportes . 10 September 2013 . dead .
  6. Web site: Bob Dylan To Tour South and Central America and Mexico . BobDylan . 28 March 2012 . 28 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130910060240/http://www.bobdylan.com/us/home#us/news/bob-dylan-tour-south-and-central-america-and-mexico . 10 September 2013 . dead .
  7. Sources for Hop Farm 2012:
  8. Web site: BOB DYLAN EN CONCERT : Festival de Nîmes, Arènes de Bayonne, Nuits de Fourvière à Lyon . fr . Mes Tickets . 5 April 2012.
  9. Web site: 2012 Europe Summer Festival Tour . Bjorner.com . 18 May 2012.
  10. Web site: Dylan readies for Europe at Bardavon . Poughkeepsie Journal . 28 June 2012 . 30 June 2012.
  11. Web site: Bob Dylan Shocks Fans By Playing Grand Piano at Summer Tour Kick-Off . Rolling Stone . 2 July 2012 . 3 July 2012.
  12. Web site: Bob Dylan Swaps Keyboard for Grand Piano on First Date of New Tour . Ultimate Classic Rock . 3 July 2012 . 3 July 2012.
  13. Web site: Bob Dylan Tickets: Bob Dylan Announces late Summer 2012 Headlining Tour in Support of his New Album . https://web.archive.org/web/20120625085839/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/6/prweb9630798.htm . dead . June 25, 2012 . PR Web . 22 June 2012 . 25 June 2012.
  14. Web site: Bob Dylan sets Aug. 15 concert at Rimrock Auto Arena . Billings Gazette . 17 June 2012 . 25 June 2012.
  15. Web site: Bob Dylan returning to Rochester . North Iowa Today . 25 June 2012.
  16. Web site: Bob Dylan coming to PNC Pavilion in August . Cincinnati News . 25 June 2012 . 26 June 2012.
  17. Web site: ENTERTAINMENT: Bob Dylan coming to WYCC . Delmarva Now. 25 June 2012 . 26 June 2012.
  18. Web site: Dylan tickets sell out in record time . Daily Bulletin . 26 June 2012 . 27 June 2012 .
  19. Web site: Bob Dylan Adds U.S. Dates . Jam Base . 29 June 2012 . 30 June 2012.
  20. Sources for Dylan & Knopfler Fall Tour 2012:
  21. Sources for Dylan & Knopfler Fall Tour 2012 Reviews:
  22. Web site: Bob Dylan predicts Obama 'in a landslide' . Herald Standard . 6 November 2012 . 13 November 2012.
  23. Web site: 1996 US FALL TOUR . Bjorner . 26 November 2012.
  24. Web site: 2012 US AND CANADA FALL TOUR WITH MARK KNOPFLER . Bjorner . 26 November 2011.
  25. Web site: 2012 TOUR OF SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA . Bjorner.com . 17 May 2012.
  26. Web site: Rock icon Bob Dylan will play Costa Rica on May 5 . Tico Times . 14 May 2012 . 17 May 2012.
  27. Sources for European Summer Leg:
  28. Web site: Bob Dylan In August – Zimmy lays out his late summer tour of North America beginning in Canada in August . Pollstar . 18 June 2012 . 21 June 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141214213518/http://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=801772 . 14 December 2014 . dead .
  29. Web site: Bob Dylan takes the stage in Santiago on Wednesday . SantiagoTimes . 30 April 2012 . 30 April 2012.
  30. Web site: Dylan's Billings concert cancelled . Billings Gazette . 20 July 2012 . 9 October 2012.
  31. Web site: November 10, 2012, Chicagoland area, Illinois . BobLinks . 5 November 2012.
  32. Web site: Bob Dylan's Palace concert Nov. 13 switches to Fox Theatre . Detroit Free Press . 8 October 2012 . 9 October 2012.
  33. Billboard Boxscore . 9 May 2012 . Billboard . 12 June 2012 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . November 27, 2012 .
  34. Billboard Boxscore . 23 June 2012 . Billboard . 23 June 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . 27 November 2012 .
  35. Billboard Boxscore . 21 November 2012 . Billboard . 21 November 2012 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . November 27, 2012 .
  36. Billboard Boxscore . 15 November 2012 . Billboard . 16 November 2012 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . November 27, 2012 .
  37. Billboard Boxscore . 7 October 2012 . Billboard . 8 October 2012 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . November 27, 2012 .
  38. Billboard Boxscore . 16 September 2012 . Billboard . 18 September 2012 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . November 27, 2012 .
  39. Billboard Boxscore . 2 September 2012 . Billboard . 4 September 2012. unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . November 27, 2012 .
  40. Billboard Boxscore . 1 October 2012 . Billboard . 2 October 2012. unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . November 27, 2012 .
  41. Billboard Boxscore . 25 October 2012 . Billboard . 26 October 2012. unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . November 27, 2012 .
  42. Billboard Boxscore . 11 November 2012 . Billboard . 11 November 2012 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . November 27, 2012 .
  43. Billboard Boxscore . 5 November 2012 . Billboard . 5 November 2012 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . November 27, 2012 .
  44. Billboard Boxscore . 26 June 2013 . Billboard . 26 June 2013.
  45. Billboard Boxscore . 13 January 2012 . Billboard . 28 January 2013 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . November 27, 2012 .
  46. Billboard Boxscore . 12 December 2012 . Billboard . 12 December 2012 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . November 27, 2012 .
  47. Billboard Boxscore . 3 December 2012 . Billboard . 6 December 2012 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121127085712/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp . November 27, 2012 .