Bob Dylan will release a brand new album of holiday songs, Christmas In The Heart, on Tuesday, October 13, it was announced today by Columbia Records. All of the artist’s U.S. royalties from sales of these recordings will be donated to Feeding America (http://feedingamerica.org/), guaranteeing that more than four million meals will be provided to more than 1.4 million people in need in this country during this year’s holiday season. Bob Dylan is also donating all of his future U.S. royalties from this album to Feeding America in perpetuity.

Additionally, the artist is partnering with two international charities to provide meals during the holidays for millions in need in the United Kingdom and the developing world, and will be donating all of his future international royalties from Christmas In The Heart to those organizations in perpetuity. Details regarding the international partnerships will be announced next week.

“When we reached out to Bob Dylan about becoming involved with our organization, we could never have anticipated that he would so generously donate all royalties from his forthcoming album to our cause,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. “This major initiative from such a world renowned artist and cultural icon will directly benefit so many people and have a major impact on spreading awareness of the epidemic of hunger in this country and around the world.”

Bob Dylan commented, “It’s a tragedy that more than 35 million people in this country alone — 12 million of those children — often go to bed hungry and wake up each morning unsure of where their next meal is coming from. I join the good people of Feeding America in the hope that our efforts can bring some food security to people in need during this holiday season.”

Christmas In The Heart will be the 47th album from Bob Dylan, and follows his worldwide chart-topping Together Through Life, released earlier this year. Songs performed by Dylan on this new album include, “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Little Drummer Boy” and “Must Be Santa.”

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks supports 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit www.feedingamerica.org.

Bob Dylan’s four previous studio albums have been universally hailed as among the best of his storied career, achieving new levels of commercial success and critical acclaim for the artist. The Platinum-selling Time Out Of Mind from 1997 earned multiple Grammy Awards, including Album Of The Year, while “Love and Theft” continued Dylan’s Platinum streak and earned several Grammy nominations and a statue for Best Contemporary Folk album. Modern Times, released in 2006, became one of the artist’s biggest albums worldwide, selling more than 2.5 million copies and earning Dylan two more Grammys.

Those four releases fell within a 12-year creative span that also included an Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning tune, “Things Have Changed,” from the film Wonder Boys, in 2001; a worldwide best selling memoir, Chronicles Vol. 1, which spent 19 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List, in 2004; a Martin Scorsese-directed documentary, No Direction Home, in 2005; and several volumes of the best-selling Bootleg Series, which culminated in last year’s highly-acclaimed Tell Tale Signs.

Dylan was awarded a special Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for “his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power.” He was also the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 1997, the French Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres in 1990, Sweden’s Polar Music Award in 2000 and numerous other awards and accolades.

Source: Columbia Records

“Beyond Here Lies Nothin’”

First Single & Lead-Off Track From Together Through Life

Featured In HBO True Blood Promotional Campaign

Bob Dylan’s new album, Together Through Life, has entered both the U.S. and UK album charts at #1, marking the artist’s second consecutive U.S. #1 debut and his first chart-topping release in the UK since New Morning in 1970. Together Through Life is a true international hit, as well, achieving #1 debuts in Austria and Denmark, Top 5 entries in Australia, Germany, Ireland, Holland, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden and New Zealand, and Top 10 rankings in Italy, France and Belgium.

“Beyond Here Lies Nothin’,” the first track on Together Through Life, is serving as the soundtrack for a series of on-air and online promotional spots for the highly anticipated second season of True Blood, the smash hit HBO vampire series. The eagerly awaited second season of True Blood launches on HBO on Sunday, June 14.

The True Blood promos debuted on HBO on Saturday, May 2, and are airing in heavy rotation on HBO and HBO’s multiplex channels. The True Blood/”Beyond Here Lies Nothin’” promos premiered online on both HBO.com and BobDylan.com May 4. The promotional spots can be viewed by clicking on the following link: www.hbo.com/trueblood/video.html

“When I heard the song, I knew it would be a perfect fit for our characters and storylines,” said True Blood creator Alan Ball.

A short film for “Beyond Here Lies Nothin’” has been lensed by AFI and Sundance Film Festival award winning director Nash Edgerton, and will be seen on the IFC Channel and on IFC.com, beginning Tuesday, May 12.

Released on Tuesday, April 28, Bob Dylan’s Together Through Life is the artist’s first full-length studio album since 2006′s platinum-certified Modern Times, which also debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. Produced by Jack Frost, Together Through Life, was recorded late last year, prompted by the composition of a new song, “Life Is Hard,” which was written for a forthcoming film by French director Oliver Dahan (La Vie En Rose).

Together Through Life is already receiving worldwide raves:

“Critics Choice! A vibrant new album.”
People Magazine

* * * (out of four)”Dylan’s 33rd solo album lives up to the artistic standards established by a trilogy of career-recharging gems that started with 1997′s Time Out Of Mind. But he deviates from their apocalyptic burdens to spin yarns, wry and real of ordinary folks in the grip of lust, longing and heartache,”

Edna Gundersen — USA Today

“Latter period Dylan is turning out to be some of his deepest, richest work. Together Through Life is another brilliant, sure-handed outing by one of the few certified greats still living up to his legend.”

Joel Selvin — San Francisco Chronicle

* * * (out of four)”His greatest achievement on this, his 33rd studio album, is his ability to shut out the expectations of a world that in recent years has sent his stock skyrocketing, and to assemble his warmest, most unforced, set of songs in recent memory.”

Pete Paphides — London Times

“Dylan has found his 21st century feet in musical touchstones almost 100 years old. And yet, through his growling, puckish delivery and crack band, it comes across fresh and vibrant. Here’s to Dylan finding more of his future in the sounds of the past.”

Jed Gottleib — Boston Herald

* * * (out of four)

Together Through Life is an album that gets its hooks in early and refuses to let go. It’s dark yet comforting, with a big tough sound, booming slightly like a band grooving at a soundcheck in an empty theatre. And at its heart there is a haunting refrain. Because above everything this is a record about love, its absence and its remembrance.

Danny Eccleston – Mojo

“Another genius Dylan disc….Together Through Life continues Dylan’s Indian summer string of masterpieces, and it’s a cut above 2006′s Modern Times.”

Brad Bamberger in the Newark Star-Ledger

“As crafty and moving as anything in Dylan’s catalog”
Corey duBrowa — Paste Magazine

“Together Through Life is the perfect soundtrack for down-but-not-out America, a clear-eyed, often elegant-sounding, road map that notes the struggles, but keeps its focus on making it through – with your sense of humor intact, no less.”

Glen Gamboa — Newsday

www.bobdylan.com

Source: Columbia Records

John Mellencamp

Willie Nelson

Bob Dylan has just announced an ambitious line-up for this year’s summer concert tour. Along with fellow troubadour Willie Nelson, this summer The Bob Dylan Show will also feature John Mellencamp, marking just the second time in the past 24 years that these three performers have shared the concert stage.

Since first embarking on a tour of minor league baseball parks in 2004, over a half-million fans have come together to spend a night under the stars. With free admittance for children*, these tours draw a multi-generational fan base rarely seen on the concert circuit, causing one reporter to describe it as, “more like a backyard party than a rock concert.” The Boston Globe ranked the tour amongst “the most relaxed, enjoyable shows of the year. “You Can’t Beat Fun At The Old Ballpark,” came a headline from the Chicago Sun Times.

Besides performing over 100 concerts each year for the past 15 years, Bob Dylan drops into millions of households each week with his highly popular satellite radio program Theme Time Radio Hour. In recent years, he has also received the big-screen treatment, courtesy of film director Martin Scorcese, with the critically acclaimed release of No Direction Home, the first feature-length film biography of Bob Dylan. Prior to that, he spent over 20 weeks on the New York Times best seller list with the publication of Chronicles: Volume One, the first in a series of the artist’s self-penned personal histories. In between these high-water marks, Bob has earned multiple Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a Kennedy Center Honor (the highest honor of artistic achievement given in the United States). As a recording artist, he continues to hit the long ball. After debuting at #1 with his last record, Modern Times, Bob Dylan is about to release a brand new studio album on April 28 through Columbia Records. Entitled Together Through Life, it has already received 4-star reviews from MOJO, The London Telegraph and the New York Times.

Over the course of a career that has spanned more than 30 years, John Mellencamp, consummate songwriter and performer, has released 23 albums with worldwide sales of over 40 million units while amassing 22 Top 40 hit songs. In 2008, the same year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Life Death Love and Freedom, was issued which Rolling Stone called “one of the most compelling albums of Mellencamp’s career” and placed it among the top 5 albums of the year. Mellencamp’s ties to Willie Nelson date back to 1985, the year they joined forces to mount the first Farm Aid benefit concert that also featured a stellar set from Bob Dylan. Mellencamp and Bob Dylan have been friendly for the past 25 years. Besides rallying his friends each year to support Farm Aid, Willie Nelson is quite possibly the most prolific recording artist in any genre of music. In the past five years alone he’s released no less than a dozen records, and when he’s not in the studio recording new albums, he fills time writing books, acting in feature films and generally keeping a pace unimaginable for someone half his age. It’s a wonder he even finds the time to tour.

All concert tickets are priced at $67.50 and most shows are general admission, allowing fans to grab a seat in the stands or find a place to watch from the field. Tickets will go on sale throughout the month of May (see attachment) and will be available at the local ballpark ticket office and affiliated ticket outlets. *Children 14 and under get in free with each adult ticket holder. Showtime is 5:30pm and gates open at 5:00. There is no baseball game on the day of the show. For more information about the tour and presale opportunities, visit www.bobdylan.com.

Date Market On-Sale
7/2 Sauget, IL at GCS Ballpark 5/2
7/4 South Bend, IN at Coveleski Stadium 5/2
7/8 Louisville, KY at Louisville Slugger Field 5/9
7/10 Dayton, OH at Fifth Third Field 5/2
7/11 Eastlake, OH at Classic Park 5/2
7/13 Washington, PA at Consol Energy Park 5/2
7/14 Allentown, PA at Coca-Cola Park 5/2
7/15 New Britain, CT at New Britain Stadium 5/9
7/19 Syracuse, NY at Alliance Bank Stadium 5/9
7/21 Pawtucket, RI at McCoy Stadium 5/9
7/23 Lakewood, NJ at FirstEnergy Park 5/2
7/24 Aberdeen, MD at Ripken Stadium 5/9
7/25 Norfolk, VA at Harbor Park 5/9
7/28 Durham, NC at Durham Bulls Athletic Park 5/9
7/29 Sevierville, TN at Smokies Park 5/16
8/4 Round Rock, TX at The Dell Diamond 5/16
8/5 Corpus Christi, TX at Whataburger Field 5/16
8/7 Grand Prairie, TX at QuikTrip Park 5/30
8/11 Glendale, AZ at Camelback Ranch 5/16
8/12 Las Vegas, NV at Cashman Field 5/30
8/14 Fresno, CA at Chukchansi Park 5/30
8/15 Stockton, CA at Banner Island Ballpark 5/30

Source: Columbia Records

SIRIUS XM Radio announced that Bob Dylan’s award-winning Wednesday morning show on Deep Tracks, Theme Time Radio Hour, will now also be broadcast weekly on SIRIUS XM’s The Spectrum channel beginning February 8. Every Sunday SIRIUS XM listeners will have the added treat of two classic shows from the Theme Time Radio Hour vault in addition to a special encore of Wednesday’s show.

SIRIUS XM listeners will have access to four uninterrupted hours of Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour on SIRIUS XM’s The Spectrum SIRIUS channel 18 and XM channel 45 every Sunday from 4:00 – 8:00 pm ET. The weekly four-hour additional programming will kick off with an encore of the new show that debuted on Deep Tracks SIRIUS channel 16 and XM channel 40 the prior Wednesday at 11:00 am ET. The marathon will continue with two shows from the Theme Time Radio Hour vault as well as an additional encore of Wednesday’s show.

Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour has been described as “revelatory” by Rolling Stone magazine. During the weekly hour-long radio program hosted by Bob Dylan, listeners hear an eclectic mix of songs, from a wide variety of musical genres, related to that week’s theme with Dylan’s on-air thoughts and commentary interspersed with phone calls, email readings, contributions from special guests and an array of classic radio IDs, jingles and promos from the past.

“Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour is among the most unique programs ever done on radio, offering a window into the mind of one of the most prolific artists of our time,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SIRIUS XM Radio. “We are thrilled to be able to offer to even more SIRIUS XM listeners such an innovative show from one of the few people who are truly able to be called an American icon.”

“To listen to ‘Theme Time Radio Hour’ is to rediscover the sense of musical adventure that old-fashioned disc jockeys with strongly individual personalities offered in the days before big-money stations pinned their fiscal hopes to the rigid Top 40-style playlists that took the fun out of radio,” observed Terry Teachout in The Wall Street Journal.

SIRIUS XM’s The Spectrum features rock ‘n roll both new and old from artists who’ve stood the test of time. In addition to the music of Bob Dylan, The Spectrum listeners will hear Bruce Springsteen, U2, John Hiatt, Dave Matthews Band and many others.

SIRIUS XM’s Deep Tracks explores classic rock’s archives by digging deep into classic rock albums. Deep Tracks listeners will hear Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, The Doors, The Allman Brothers, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Who, Bob Dylan and many others.

For more information, please visit www.sirius.com/thespectrum, www.sirius.com/deeptracks or www.xmradio.com/bobdylan.

This Fall VH1 Classic is bringing its viewers more of their favorite classic artists with all-new exclusive series and specials. The new slate of programming begins on Monday, September 29 as VH1 Classic and rock ‘n roll icons Rush celebrate “Rush Hashanah.” The network’s fall lineup also includes premieres of “VH1 Classic All Time Top 10,” and “VH1 Classic One Hit Wonders,” as well as never-before-scene documentaries, and past and present videos and concerts from artists including Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Bob Dylan, and The Who.

“Rush Hashanah” – Monday, September 29 beginning at 7PM*

From sunset on Monday, September 29 to sunset on Tuesday, September 30 rock band Rush will celebrate the Jewish New Year, during “Rush Hashanah” on VH1 Classic. The 24-hour tribute to Rush will include two of the band’s concerts including “Rush in Rio” and “R30″ as well as past and present videos from band.

“VH1 Classic Celebrates Dylan” – Tuesday, October 7 beginning at 8PM*

Bob Dylan continues his long history of great music, with the release of his compilation, “Tell Tale Signs,” from the “Bootleg Series” on October 7. In honor of this great release, VH1 Classic will air “Bob Dylan Unplugged” and the classic 1965 D.A. Penebaker documentary “Don’t Look Back” featuring behind-the-scenes moments with Joan Baez, Donovan and Alan Price, and Dylan’s iconic opening of “Subterranean Homesick Blues.”

“VH1 Classic All Time Top 10″ – Premieres Friday 10/10 at 10PM*

VH1 Classic will celebrate the biggest and best in music during “VH1 Classic All Time Top 10.” The new series will premiere Friday, October 10 at 10:00 PM with a new episode to air every Friday at 10:00 PM. Hosted by Mark Goodman, each episode will focus on a specific artist or genre of music including Def Leppard, Madonna, Van Halen, male singers, female singers, metal and many more.

“AC/DC Day” – Sunday, October 19 beginning at 6AM*

One of the baddest bands in the land, AC/DC is returning after eight years. The group’s new album, “Black Ice,” hits stores October 21 and VH1 Classic is celebrating the new release with a 24-hour marathon. Sit back and relax with AC/DC as VH1 Classic takes you through archival footage of the group, BBC concerts and one of the groups most seminal concerts, “Live at Donnington.”

In conjunction on Tuesday, September 16, VH1Classic.com kicked off “AC/DC Day” with their ultimate fan sweepstakes: “VH1 Classic Presents The AC/DC All Aboard The Rock & Roll Train.” One lucky fan will get the chance to attend the last LIVE AC/DC rehearsal at a secret location and party like a rock star as they hit the road from NYC in their own “party train.” All entries must be received by October 20. Go to http://www.vh1classic.com/ to enter to win and for official rules and guidelines.

“WHOlloween” – Friday, October 31 beginning at 6AM*

Viewers are in for a treat on Halloween as VH1 Classic dedicates 24-hours to one of the most iconic rock groups of all time, The Who. Throughout “WHOlloween” rock down memory lane with original series and specials including “VH1 Rock Honors: The Who,” “VH1 Classic Rock Doc: Amazing Journey – The Story of the Who,” “Classic Albums: Who’s Next,” as well as “BBC Electric Proms: The Who” and “On Tour: The Who Virtual Ticket.” Then at 9:00 PM settle in for the premiere of “The Who Live at the Isle of Wight.”

“VH1 Classic Gives Thanks for Pink Floyd” – Thursday, November 27 beginning at 11AM*

VH1 Classic is ‘giving thanks’ to one of the best rock bands in history — Pink Floyd. Throughout the day, the network will air documentaries including “The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story,” and “Pink Floyd: Which One’s Pink?” and will recount the story behind the making of one of the group’s most influential albums during “Classic Albums: Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon.” The ‘day of thanks’ will cap-off with an encore presentation of the band’s iconic movie “The Wall” and premiere the new concert “David Gilmour: Live in Gdansk.”

“VH1 Classic One-Hit Wonders” – Premieres Monday, December 1 – Thursday, December 4 at 9:00 PM

Hosted by Carrie Keagan, “VH1 Classic One-Hit Wonders,” will premiere on Monday, December 1 at 9:00 PM with the first two episodes in the series. Throughout the week, VH1 Classic will premiere two new episodes each night that will salute the biggest one-hit music phenomenons in various categories including dance, metal, rap, new wave, ladies and more. They’re the songs you can’t help but sing…and the music videos you love to watch.

* All Times ET/PT

Source: VH1