Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Dylan's Raw Letterman Set
Coverage from Flagging Down The Double E's, Vulture, and others
Articles
5
Latest Article
03/22
Active Days
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Executive Summary
Dylan's 1984 Letterman set with the Plugz trio turned loose Malibu jams into a raw TV performance that revived his live edge
- Bob Dylan rehearsed informally in Malibu with JJ Holiday, Tony Marsico, and Charlie Quintana in 1983-84
- The group played mostly by feel, often jamming without fixed arrangements or full song choices
- Dylan favored open G tuning and old blues forms during the sessions
- The March 22, 1984 Letterman set included Jokerman, License to Kill, and Dont Start Me Talking
- A harmonica mistake during Jokerman disrupted the performance, but the band kept going
- Plans for an under-the-radar South American tour and other shows never materialized
- The performance was later revisited in archival releases and became a notable Dylan live moment
Quick Facts
- What: A loose, high-energy Letterman performance from Malibu jams
- Where: Malibu rehearsals and New York television studio
- Why: To support Infidels and test a stripped-down live approach
- Who: Bob Dylan with JJ Holiday, Tony Marsico, and Charlie Quintana
- When: March 22 1984 after months of 1983-84 jamming
Coverage Timeline: 3272 Days
Featured Article
Guitarist JJ Holiday recounts for Flagging Down the Double E's how Bob Dylan's Mar 22, 1984 Late Night with David Letterman appearance grew out of informal Malibu rehearsals.
Additional Articles
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On Mar 22, 1984, Bob Dylan performed three songs on Late Night with David Letterman in New York with guitarist JJ Holiday's young band.
In March 1984 in New York, Bob Dylan appeared on Late Night with David Letterman, performing three songs with L.A. punk band the Plugz.
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Bob Dylan promotes Infidels on Letterman in New York during the mid-1980s.
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On Mar 22, 1984, Bob Dylan appeared on David Letterman with The Plugz, performing a three song set from Dylan's Malibu home rehearsals.