Taking Bob Dylan’s Ultimatum Seriously: Fans Risk Disrupting Live Performances

In modern-day concerts, most people in the audience have a camera in their pockets. However, while some musicians welcome photo taking, others often find it distracting and ask their fans to get their photos in early and then stop for the remainder of the show. Jack White even banned smartphones from his concerts because he wanted to establish a different bond between himself and the audience.

You all probably know about Bob Dylan‘s strict ‘no photos’ policy during his live gigs, which has been in effect for several years. The singer demands that no pictures be taken of the performance by anyone in attendance. The reasons for this policy are not entirely clear, but it is believed to be partly due to Dylan’s desire to maintain a certain level of privacy and control over his public image.

Presumably, like White, Dylan may also be thinking that photography and other forms of media can be invasive and can detract from the experience of the live performance. Despite his strict policy, some fans have still managed to sneak photos or videos of Dylan’s shows and have shared them on social media, often leading to a backlash from other fans who support the no-photos policy.

Maybe you haven’t yet realized how serious the singer is in his request, so let us make it more clear by giving an example. Back in April 2019, Dylan was through the end of his European tour when he took the stage in Vienna, Austria. While he was performing the classic ‘Blowin’ in the Wind,’ he suddenly stopped singing, as it seemed like the audience hadn’t fully understood his no-photos policy.

One of the fans attempted to snap a pic of Dylan on stage, but the rocker’s response was pretty harsh, as he immediately started mumbling something about photos into the microphone. Then, he angrily took a few steps backward, tripped over a guitar monitor, and nearly hit the floor before collecting himself.

The singer then asked the audience who took the photo whether they could keep playing or pose. Later, Dylan went on to perform a rendition of ‘It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry’ before walking off the stage. Following him, his band closed the show with an instrumental version of ‘Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues.’

This also marked the first time that the singer had spoken to the audience in some time. The crowd didn’t get to hear his speaking voice, as he had also stopped introducing the band in 2017. Yet, it looks like Bob Dylan is very determined to maintain his no-photo policy during his live gigs. You’ve just seen what can happen if the audience does not take his request seriously.