Knockin’ on Tracy’s Door: Dylan and Chapman have had a longstanding professional bond, dating back to a 1988 tour together
By Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, March 31, 2025
Bob Dylan gave Tracy Chapman a birthday shout-out via the social platform X Sunday: “Happy birthday Tracy,” he wrote, alongside a picture that probably dates to the 1988 tour where she opened for him. “Hope to see you again sometime.”
Happy birthday Tracy. Hope to see you again sometime. pic.twitter.com/olgoKWnMtr
— Bob Dylan (@bobdylan) March 30, 2025
Chapman always cited Dylan as a key influence on her music, and joined him on the road in ’88 shortly after the release of her self-titled debut album, with the career-making smash “Fast Car.” He ended up inviting her onstage three times for a duet of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,’ including a performance in Edmonton, Canada on Aug. 24 of that year.
At Dylan’s 30th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden in 1992, Chapman delivered a solo-acoustic rendition of “The Times They Are a-Changin’.” Nine years later, Chapman returned to Dylan’s catalog at a 2001 benefit tribute in New York, performing the same track, plus “Gotta Serve Somebody.” Dylan’s work remained part of Chapman’s live repertoire well into the 2000s.
Dylan has been quite active on social media in recent months, sharing restaurant recommendations, birthday wishes, and unexpected music clips. In February, he surprised fans and the artist himself by sharing a 2016 video of Machine Gun Kelly performing at a record store.
Chapman hasn’t released a studio album since 2008’s Our Bright Future. After years out of the spotlight, she popped up at last year’s Grammys to sing “Fast Car” with Luke Combs, who had turned it into a country hit. A 35th anniversary vinyl edition of her debut is set for April 4.
