In 1968, Steven Tyler saw the ‘new Bob Dylan’ in New York. He left feeling “so bummed”
As a teenager in 1968, Steven Tyler saw Donovan perform at Carnegie Hall and left disappointed. Donovan was then widely regarded as Bob Dylan’s successor, but Tyler felt the quiet performance fell short of what he expected from the singer and his songs.
Tyler recalled that Donovan played the songs faster and did not use the distinctive vocal effect on “Hurdy Gurdy Man”. After an audience member spoke, Donovan reportedly replied, “You’re playing havoc with my senses,” then stopped addressing the crowd. Tyler later said the experience shaped his own approach to performing: he tries to give audiences the songs and stage presence they expect.
In short
- Tyler was disappointed by Donovan’s 1968 Carnegie Hall performance.
- Donovan reportedly changed the pace and vocal effect of his songs.
- The experience shaped Tyler’s commitment to audience expectations.
Explained simply
Steven Tyler is the singer of Aerosmith, the American rock band formed in the early 1970s. Donovan is a Scottish singer and songwriter who became known in the 1960s for songs such as “Sunshine Superman” and “Hurdy Gurdy Man”.
Bob Dylan was an influential American singer-songwriter whose lyrics and folk music helped shape the music of the 1960s. Donovan was often compared with Dylan, and some people saw him as a possible successor; the comparison helps explain the expectations around his performances.