My rock education is very backwards. Started with U2 in the mid 80's. Nothing much else until I discovered PJ after Vs. THEN started becoming educated on all the classic rock stuff.
Point being, U2's version was the only version I knew for about 10 years....and liked that a ton.
Then heard Hendrix, and....well.... uh...... Hendrix? yeah.... then U2's just didn't sound right.
THEN found out that Bob Dylan wrote the song (ha...so dumb) and I don't really like his version that much (not to take away from him, because you can't diss the man who is responsible for so much rock greatness)
Then heard DMB's, and recognize the talent of the band (very, very good), but can't get past the fans. Dumb reason for not liking a band, I suppose, but years of hearing nothing but DMB in college blasting from every Jeep Wrangler sort of turned me off.
Learned today that PJ did it and just about shat on myself. Pardon the expression, but when PJ does AATWT, you're allowed to have an accident in your pants. :-)
Can't wait to hear it.
1995: Milwaukee/Summerfest 1; 1998: Indianapolis, Greenville, Knoxville; 2000: Lisbon, London 1 & 2, Detroit, Alpine Valley, Chicago; 2006: Chicago 1 & 2, Summerfest 1 & 2 (w/ Tom Petty), Sydney 1 & 3, Melbourne 1, 2 & 3; 2007: The Vic, Lollapalooza
I agree with that. I watched that youtube video, but I missed the part that "rocks". I never liked DMB, but after watching that I think I totally hate them.
Thanks for sharing, that was cool. I have always loved DMB cover of that song.
On another note, I am surprised that so many Pearl Jam fans seem to hate DMB? First let me state that I am about as die hard a PJ fan as it gets, but I saw DMB for the first time at Fenway Park, and it was a great time. Great sing-alongs, cool fans and good crowd energy (no one sat during the show). It would seem like a lot of fans would like DMB if they went to a show...
Seems even those knocking DMB are giving his Watchtower props. I'll take the other side ... I happen to like DMB and saw some great shows this summer. But his Watchtower is cheesy.
I'm a monster Hendrix fan, but that alone wouldn't prevent me from saying someone else covered the song better...I've heard covers from U2, Richie Havens, Dave Mason (of Traffic - who also played on the Hendrix version), XTC, TSOL, DMB, Indigo Girls, Neil Young and of course Dylan's original...none compare to Jimi. I can't wait to hear Pearl Jam's version!
Jimi did a great job with the track and I'm sure others have as well, but Dylan has, and can, still play the $#!t out of this track. If you scour the bootlegs during various parts of his many tours and many lineups, you will find some amazing takes on this song. It is his song! Everyone else's interpretation of it is in fact open to interpretation.
Heard the PJ version and I have to say it is about a six. Have heard DMB's version and it is about a seven. Have heard the U2 version and it is about a six.
Now I will give one example of Dylan's take that just plain blew the roof off. October 28, 2001 in Milwaukee as a 2nd encore (which Dylan VERY RARELY DOES). UNBELIEVABLE! If you can find it, check it. Dylan and his band were on fire with this version.
Personally I think PJ should stick with their version of Master's of War as that is done in fine form nearly every time I hear them do it.
192xxx 6/26+27/98, 10/8/00 (IB), 6/21/03, 9/3+4/11 (PJ20) - East Troy 6/29/98, 10/9/00, 6/18/03, 5/16+17/06, 8/23+24/09, 8/20+22/16, 8/18+20/18, 8/29+31/24 - Chicago 6/6/03 - Las Vegas 10/5/04, 9/18/22 - St. Louis 6/29/06, 10/20/14 - Milwaukee 11/19/13 - Phoenix 4/26/16 - Lexington
It would seem like a lot of fans would like DMB if they went to a show...
This might have been true 5-10 yrs ago. Unfortunately, in my experience, the fans have made the shows less bearable to attend over the years. Not to mention how much the latest studio album blew. I still love all of the other stuff and I've actually been a huge fan of their version of AATWT for quite some time. But around these PJ parts, you're going to find a lot more DMB-haters simply based on the fact that it's a cool thing to do (yet they all will argue that it's b/c DMB is boring, shitty, lame, gay, annoying, etc).
So which version did they do? Dylan's, Hendrix, or my personal favorite, the DMB version?
Totally agree with you.
Just last week I commented to a friend (after watching DMB, Live in Central Park) that I thought their version of Watchtower was the best, by far. I've heard Pearl Jam cover it before, I've heard Neil cover it before, I've heard PJ AND Neil cover it, but in MY OPINION, DMB do it best. And PJ is my most favorite band in the whole world. They cover a mean Cortez too. (DMB, that is)
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Point being, U2's version was the only version I knew for about 10 years....and liked that a ton.
Then heard Hendrix, and....well.... uh...... Hendrix? yeah.... then U2's just didn't sound right.
THEN found out that Bob Dylan wrote the song (ha...so dumb) and I don't really like his version that much (not to take away from him, because you can't diss the man who is responsible for so much rock greatness)
Then heard DMB's, and recognize the talent of the band (very, very good), but can't get past the fans. Dumb reason for not liking a band, I suppose, but years of hearing nothing but DMB in college blasting from every Jeep Wrangler sort of turned me off.
Learned today that PJ did it and just about shat on myself. Pardon the expression, but when PJ does AATWT, you're allowed to have an accident in your pants. :-)
Can't wait to hear it.
4/26/03 Pittsburgh 5/3/03 State College 7/12/03 Hershey 10/1/04 Reading 9/28/05 Pittsburgh 5/20/06 Cleveland 6/23/06 Pittsburgh 6/22/08 DC
friends don't let friends listen to good charlotte
I agree with that. I watched that youtube video, but I missed the part that "rocks". I never liked DMB, but after watching that I think I totally hate them.
Thanks for sharing, that was cool. I have always loved DMB cover of that song.
On another note, I am surprised that so many Pearl Jam fans seem to hate DMB? First let me state that I am about as die hard a PJ fan as it gets, but I saw DMB for the first time at Fenway Park, and it was a great time. Great sing-alongs, cool fans and good crowd energy (no one sat during the show). It would seem like a lot of fans would like DMB if they went to a show...
http://www.youtube.com/results?search=Pearl+Jam+Watchtower&search_type=search_videos&search=Search
(Shawn Smith's official website, but not Thee Shawn Smith)
Heard the PJ version and I have to say it is about a six. Have heard DMB's version and it is about a seven. Have heard the U2 version and it is about a six.
Now I will give one example of Dylan's take that just plain blew the roof off. October 28, 2001 in Milwaukee as a 2nd encore (which Dylan VERY RARELY DOES). UNBELIEVABLE! If you can find it, check it. Dylan and his band were on fire with this version.
Personally I think PJ should stick with their version of Master's of War as that is done in fine form nearly every time I hear them do it.
6/26+27/98, 10/8/00 (IB), 6/21/03, 9/3+4/11 (PJ20) - East Troy
6/29/98, 10/9/00, 6/18/03, 5/16+17/06, 8/23+24/09, 8/20+22/16, 8/18+20/18, 8/29+31/24 - Chicago
6/6/03 - Las Vegas
10/5/04, 9/18/22 - St. Louis
6/29/06, 10/20/14 - Milwaukee
11/19/13 - Phoenix
4/26/16 - Lexington
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Totally agree with you.
Just last week I commented to a friend (after watching DMB, Live in Central Park) that I thought their version of Watchtower was the best, by far. I've heard Pearl Jam cover it before, I've heard Neil cover it before, I've heard PJ AND Neil cover it, but in MY OPINION, DMB do it best. And PJ is my most favorite band in the whole world. They cover a mean Cortez too. (DMB, that is)
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=424D97032B393DA8
Decide for yourself which is best but dont simply ride it off bc it's a cover or just because its DMB...
it closely resembles u2's version from 'rattle & hum.'