“He Looks at Them and He Goes, F— You”: The Wild Concert Where Bob Dylan Flipped off The Rolling Stones

Bob Dylan did this, Bob Dylan did that, Bob Dylan said what? These types of Dylan stories come a dime a dozen. However, despite this notion, there is one story about Bob Dylan that is seemingly so epically comedic that it can’t go untold. And it all surrounds Bob Dylan’s relationship with the Rolling Stones.

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Dylan has always been a cavalier character known for his wit and allusive public reputation. Although, there are snippets that humanize the man and take him off his lyrically built podium. After all, the man walks and breathes like everyone else. That being so, the man also shares quite the average Joe sense of humor and temper, and this story is a testament to just that.

Bob Dylan & The Rolling Stones Take on France

In an interview on The Howard Stern Show, the founder of the Black Crowes, Chris Robinson, shared a story about a candid moment between Dylan and the Stones. He opened up his story by stating, “The best show is in Mount Pelée in the South of France and it was Black Crowes, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones” and “I’ll always remember it because I met Bob that day.”

Subsequently, Robinson goes on to say how the Rolling Stones’ single of the Summer was Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone,” and also divulges exactly what Mick Jagger was wearing, as well as how Dylan was going to sit in with the Stones on the track. He then continued his story by saying, “Bob comes walking right beside me and Rich [Robinson] wearing the exact same outfit [as Mick Jagger].”

When the Stones took the stage, Robinson continued his story, stating, “Then [The Rolling Stones] come up to Bob’s turn” and “Bob goes to the mic and doesn’t sing anything.” Per Robinson’s story, The Stones go through the verse a second time and they come to Dylan’s part again, he does the same thing. Robinson concluded, “[Bob Dylan] walks off before the end of the song” and “He turns around and he looks at them and he goes, ‘f— you’, and gives them the finger.”

Why did Dylan do that? Nobody knows, nor probably ever will, but to Chris Robinson, it was “the best f— concert ever.” Take this story in any way you’d like, but above all, the story is a testament to Bob Dylan’s unapologetic personality. To some it’s refreshing, to others it might come across as arrogant, but to Dylan, well, he doesn’t care what you think.

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