Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Bob Dylan rarely speaks in his concerts beyond a “thank you,” so when he says even something trivial from the stage, people listen — and when he suddenly breaks with form to defend a controversial figure, they lean in even more.
At a show Thursday night at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, he defended Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner, who in September was removed from the board of directors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation — which he also co-founded — after remarks in a New York Times interview that were perceived as sexist and racist.
Dylan said he would “like to say hello to Jann Wenner, who’s in the house,” as heard in an audio snippet tweeted by Dylan.FM Podcast. “Jann Wenner, surely everybody’s heard of him.
Anyway, he just got booted out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and we don’t think that’s right; we’re trying to get him back in.” “All right, like to say hello to Jann Wenner who’s in the house.
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