Bob Britt, the guitarist formerly part of Bob Dylan’s live band, has broken his silence regarding his departure from the tour. He addressed widespread speculation after posting a photo on social media with the caption “Sayonara Bobby” before deleting it, which prompted fans to question whether he had been fired.
Britt moved to set the record straight in a statement shared on Facebook.
“Apparently there are quite a few threads out there with people speculating about my departure from the Bob tour. I’d like to clear it up. I was not fired but left of my own accord for reasons I would prefer to keep private. I will miss my band mates and crew,” Britt said.
Britt also touched on his plans going forward, hinting at a return to session work and an ongoing project.
“I am looking forward to getting back to doing sessions (give me a call) and also finishing up Etta’s gospel record. As far as any touring goes, we will see what the future holds. Meanwhile, I have some flower beds to weed,” he continued.
The post marks Britt’s first public comment since his departure from Dylan’s touring band, leaving the door open for future opportunities.
Britt’s exit is part of a broader guitarist shakeup within Dylan’s live band. His departure comes on the heels of another significant lineup change that has reshaped the touring group mid-run.
Britt had been a touring member of Dylan’s band since October 2019, making his tenure with the legendary artist span nearly seven years. His final show with the band took place on June 28, 2026. Electric guitarist Doug Lancio also quietly left the tour approximately two weeks before Britt’s departure, marking a double exit that has left fans and observers closely watching the band’s evolving lineup.
Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist Julian Lage replaced Lancio and made his first appearance with the band on June 17. He has since performed at every subsequent gig, taking on what appears to be a full-time role despite maintaining his own solo tour commitments. Whether Lage’s position is permanent or a temporary arrangement for the duration of the current run remains unclear.
Dylan is currently in the middle of his Long Hot Summer Tour, a 35-date run that kicked off on June 4 in Oregon. It is scheduled to wrap on August 1 in Nashville. The tour has continued without interruption despite the lineup changes, with Dylan yet to publicly comment on either guitarist’s departure. The back-to-back exits have drawn significant attention from the music community, with speculation swirling about the internal dynamics of the band, though no official explanation has been offered beyond Britt’s own statement.
