, 2006 For a two and a half year period, between 2003 and 2006, Dylan ceased playing guitar, and stuck solely to the keyboard during concerts. Various rumors circulated as to why Dylan gave up guitar during this period, none very reliable. According to
David Gates, a
Newsweek reporter who interviewed Dylan in 2004, "basically it has to do with his guitar not giving him quite the fullness of sound he was wanting at the bottom. He's thought of hiring a keyboard player so he doesn't have to do it himself, but hasn't been able to figure out who. Most keyboard players, he says, like to be soloists, and he wants a very basic sound". Dylan's touring band typically features two guitarists along with a multi-instrumentalist who plays pedal & lap steel, mandolin, banjo, violin and viola. From 2002 to 2005, Dylan's keyboard had a piano sound. In 2006, this was changed to an organ sound. At the start of his Spring 2007 tour in Europe, Dylan once again began playing guitar. The last time Dylan played an acoustic guitar live was at the
White House's Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights concert in 2010. As of the most recent leg of the Never Ending Tour, in fall 2025, he mostly played an upright piano but would also occasionally play electric guitar. The most recent leg of the Never Ending Tour, in the fall of 2025, consisted of the following members: • Bob Dylan – vocals, piano, harmonica, guitar •
Doug Lancio – acoustic guitar, electric guitar •
Tony Garnier – bass guitar • Bob Britt – guitar, lap steel guitar •
Anton Fig – drums During a 2006 interview with
Rolling Stone magazine, Dylan spoke about his band at that time: This is the best band I've ever been in, I've ever had, man for man. When you play with guys a hundred times a year, you know what you can and can't do, what they're good at, whether you want 'em there. It takes a long time to find a band of individual players. Most bands are gangs. Whether it's a
metal group or
pop rock, whatever, you get that gang mentality. But for those of us who went back further, gangs were the mob. The gang was not what anybody aspired to. On this record [
Modern Times] I didn't have anybody to teach. I got guys now in my band, they can whip up anything, they surprise even me. Other notable members include Stu Kimball (guitar 2004–2018),
Denny Freeman (guitar, slide guitar 2005–2009),
Larry Campbell (guitar, slide guitar, pedal steel, banjo,
cittern, mandolin and violin 1997–2004), George Receli (drums 2002–2019), Donnie Herron (pedal steel guitar, violin, banjo, mandolin 2005–2024), Freddy Koella (guitar 2003–2004),
David Kemper (drums 1996–2001),
Bucky Baxter (pedal steel 1992–1999), John "J.J." Jackson (guitar 1991–1997) and
G. E. Smith (guitar 1988–1990). In 2003–2004, Tommy Morrongiello, a technician on the tour, would frequently play guitar with Dylan & his Band.
Charlie Sexton, who played the guitar from 1999 until 2002, returned as the lead guitarist in Dylan's band for the fall 2009 tour, replacing Denny Freeman. Sexton was in turn replaced by
Duke Robillard for the first half of 2013, before returning on July 3, 2013. Sexton was replaced for seven concerts by
Colin Linden before returning once again on July 26, 2013. Over the years, many artists have been special guests at shows, playing songs with Dylan and his band. Artists include
Phil Lesh,
Jack White,
Paul Simon,
Ronnie Wood,
Bruce Springsteen,
Bono,
Norah Jones,
Willie Nelson,
John Mellencamp,
Tom Petty,
Neil Young,
Jimmie Vaughan,
Carl Perkins,
Elvis Costello,
Amos Lee,
Patti Smith,
Van Morrison,
Joni Mitchell,
Warren Haynes,
Al Kooper,
Jorma Kaukonen,
Paul James,
Kenny Wayne Shepherd,
Dave Stewart,
Chrissie Hynde,
Nils Lofgren,
Dave Matthews,
Susan Tedeschi,
Billy Strings,
Dave Alvin,
Chuck Loeb,
Dickey Betts,
Bob Weir,
Ian Moore,
Roger McGuinn,
Cesar Diaz,
Boyd Tinsley,
LeRoi Moore,
Doug Sahm,
Aimee Mann, Liz Souissi,
Ray Benson,
Leon Russell,
Lukas Nelson,
Carlos Santana and
Mark Knopfler.
Timeline ==Tours==