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Defense policy analysis, commentary and discussion.In honor of Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday today, HOH hit up Congress’ favorite bipartisan rock band, the Second Amendments, for a tribute to the legendary rocker.
Rep. Collin Peterson, the band’s lead singer, isn’t Dylan’s biggest fan despite representing his native state.
Dylan “is a great songwriter, but his singing voice just doesn’t do it for me,” the Minnesota Democrat tells HOH.
Still, the Congressman shared a great Dylan story. Back in Minnesota, Peterson tells HOH, he plays with a couple guys who once hired a 16-year-old Bob Dylan to play piano with their band. Dylan showed up only able to play in the key of C.
After two shows, Peterson’s buddies fired the now-legendary rocker. “You’re gonna be sorry,” young Dylan told the band. “I’m going to be famous one day.”
Unlike his bandmate, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), who plays a Fender Strat for the Second Amendments, is a giant Dylan fan. In fact, Dylan’s “Wedding Song” played at his own wedding.
McCotter first saw Dylan live in the mid-1980s with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
“Bob Seeger joined them for the encore,” McCotter recalls.
The concert closed with “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” the only Dylan song that the Second Amendments cover.
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