FIELD NOTES: Bob Dylan’s Desire, 50 years on
The Mid-70s Desire
My cherished vinyl copy of Bob Dylan’s Desire (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
Recorded in the sweltering summer of 1975 and released in early 1976, Bob Dylan’s Desire remains a magnificent, cinematic pivot point in his extensive catalogue.
It had the unenviable task of following the heartbreaking genius of Blood on the Tracks. But instead of retreating into isolation, Dylan exploded outward in full vagabond poet mode. The album dovetailed precisely with the legendary, chaotic caravan that was the Rolling Thunder Revue, which roamed across North America between October 1975 and May 1976.
Scarlet Rivera’s sweeping, haunting violin and Rob Stoner’s vibrant, driving bass lines weren’t just a studio masquerade; they were the body and soul of that wayfaring troupe of minstrels. They provided the shreds, patches and the colour as Dylan took the music back to the people, playing intimate halls instead of faceless stadiums.
Both players went on to carve out fascinating, winding musical journeys of their own.
Rivera became a pioneering force in world and instrumental music, later releasing solo vocal projects like All Of Me and her deeply personal tribute, Dylan Dreams.
For me, though, her presence connects deeply to a personal favourite: her work on Ian McNabb’s 1994 Mercury Prize-nominated masterpiece, Head Like a Rock. While half that album roared with the garage-stomp of Neil Young’s Crazy Horse, Scarlet stepped in for the album’s more soulful, intricate detours. Backed by a powerhouse rhythm section featuring The Meters' Zigaboo Modeliste, her violin weaves like smoke through Potency and the beautifully titled Sad Strange Solitary Catholic Mystic.
Stoner—who playwright Sam Shepard once described as "the brains behind the operation" for his role as Dylan’s musical director—anchored legendary sessions for decades. He’s the man who helped drive the Chevy to the levee, playing the iconic bass lines on Don McLean’s American Pie, and went on to work with everyone from Link Wray and Robert Gordon to Ringo Starr and Chuck Berry.
Scarlet Rivera and Rob Stoner with Bob Dylan, mid-70s (Image: Ken Regan)
50 Years On…the Desire remains strong
Fast forward to mid-2026. Dylan is still out there on his Neverending Tour, rumours of a new record are constantly swirling, and Desire is officially hitting the half-century mark.
Enter troubadours Scarlet Rivera and Rob Stoner once more.
With a respectful nod to the anniversary, they have teamed up with award-winning British singer-songwriter David Ford to mount a brilliant reunion with the music of ’75-’76. This ‘50 Years of Desire’ project breathing fresh oxygen into those timeless tracks.
The UK leg of a tour that will extend into at least Europe, brings some serious creative muscle to the stage. Joining Rivera, Stoner, and David Ford are Michele Stodart and powerhouse jazz/rock drummer Darren Beckett.
David Ford with Bob Dylan’s Desire album (Image: David Ford’s Facebook)
David Ford brings a wonderfully raw, literate edge to the proceedings. He has toured with the likes of Elvis Costello and Richard Ashcroft, but he also penned one of the most honest books on the harsh reality of a creative life: I Choose This - How to Nearly Make it in the Music Industry.
“There was a time when people swore I’d be the next big thing. It took ten years of hard work and dedication but I finally proved them wrong…”
Michele Stodart is best known as the multi-award-winning bassist and co-songwriter for indie-pop heavyweights The Magic Numbers. An AMA-UK ‘Instrumentalist of the Year,’ she has steered numerous projects as a producer and collaborator—even finding time to pop up on screen and on the soundtrack for Danny Boyle’s Beatles-inspired film Yesterday.
Completing the rhythm section is Northern Ireland’s Darren Beckett. He spent over two decades in New York earning a Masters in Jazz Performance and playing everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Royal Albert Hall with Brandon Flowers, Madeleine Peyroux, and Van Morrison amongst countless others. Now back in the UK, he divides his time between touring and lecturing at the BIMM Institute.
UK Tour Dates for Scarlet Rivera and Rob Stoner’s Desire revue
Chasing the Thunder: Desire Takes The Met
“I came to a high place of darkness and light”
A sell-out crowd at the excellent The Met venue in Bury, Lancashire, eagerly awaited the arrival of this powerhouse band.
The night was directed with a sweeping passion and precision that Scorsese would have been proud of.
Anchored by MC for the night and Dylan obsessive and podcaster, Kerry Shale, the first act of the gig was framed around number of non-Desire Dylan classics, peppered with interview vignettes with Rob Stoner and Scarlet Rivera discussing working and playing with Bob all those years ago. David Ford added some further eloquent insights into the re-appraisal of the songs to craft them for the tribute.
Kerry Shale chats with Scarlet Rivera, as Rob Stoner looks on (Image: Damien Wikinson)
With a set list including Don’t Think Twice it’s Alright, Señora, Rita May, A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall to Like A Rolling Stone a marker was laid down signalling this would be a night to cherish.
After an interlude, the camera panned back to the stage and the main feature rolled—Side One of Desire.
As Scarlet Rivera’s soaring violin powerfully kicked off opening song Hurricane, the assembled musicians locked in to commence a tribute worthy of the esteem the album holds.
We witnessed the movie that is Desire in full high-definition, backed by the massive, widescreen sound of a band completely tuned into Dylan’s original vision.
Highlights came with the frequency of Dylan’s voluminous Bootleg Series of releases. The drama and grit of mini Joey contrasted with Michele Stodart’s Emmylou-invoking Oh, Sister and the joyful vibe of Andalusian infused Romance in Durango.
Scarlet Rivera, David Ford, Darren Beckett, Rob Stoner and Michele Stodart perform Desire (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
As Side Two came to a close with a truly spine-tingling Sara—David Ford and Michele Stodart’s voices melding with gorgeous synchronicity—the credits rolled on an incredible piece of musical history.
The liner notes for Desire, curated by Allen Ginsberg herald the Songs of Redemption and tonight this was delivered in spades.
Returning to the stage for a well deserved encore, we were treated to Forever Young and Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, to round off an amazing evening.
The band, joined by Kerry Shale, take a bow (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
Denouement - You, You Set My Desire*
Desire is an undoubted masterpiece from an artist who has spent more than six decades reshaping the landscape defining my own music collection.
“Was that the thunder that I heard?”
But witnessing a band of this calibre—some with original, 1970s rock-and-roll skin in the game—was something entirely different. This wasn’t a dusty, museum-curated re-tread. It was a vital, sonically massive and engaging thunder-filled spectacle, fuelled by the genuine awe these contemporary artists hold for Dylan’s musical blueprint.
The unbridled passion of the band on stage (Image: Damien Wilkinson)
Over the course of the last 50 years, the rolling stone that is the Desire album has avoided gathering any moss along the way. Tonight emphasised why its itinerant splendour will remain forever young.
A triumph of the Second Act. The compass remains steady, and the nomadic music on the turntable, thankfully, never stops roaming.
*Trip Through Your Wires (U2, lyrics Bono)
Post script: The Chevee and the Levee
As I left the gig and walked back to the car, the unmistakable sound of American Pie drifted out into the rainy Bury night from a local bar, The Old White Lion. Hearing Rob Stoner’s iconic, pounding bass line coupled with the excited fervour of people spilling out into the street was magic. It was a sudden, sharp reminder of the enduring power of music, and the vital role our roaming heroes selflessly provide.
All of the band very kindly made themselves available after the show to chat passionately about their own relationship with Desire. They shared memories of working with Dylan, or spoke of how they had discovered entirely new facets of the album simply by rehearsing the lyrics in readiness for the tour.
Selflessly putting aside the careful routine of packing away the precious cargo that had just delivered such a triumph, they stayed to sign album covers, posters, and pose for selfies.
The passion of an audience packed to the rafters with self-confessed "Bob-sessives" and Dylanologists made it a deeply poignant, unique experience. It was a powerful reminder that rock and roll has remained fiercely alive since the day the music died.
Editor's Note: A huge shout-out to Nathan from The Met for taking Damien back to the stage post-show to meet David Ford! Check out the gallery below for photos of Damien and Katie meeting the stellar cast—Darren Beckett, Scarlet Rivera, David Ford, Michele Stodart, Rob Stoner, and Kerry Shale.
Meeting the stellar cast of Desire post-show! Darren Beckett, Scarlet Rivera, David Ford, Michele Stodard, Rob Stoner, Kerry Shale (Images: Katie Flanagan)
