What Was the Longest Music Tour in History?

In 2016, singer-songwriter Bob Dylan made headlines around the world when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Although the Swedish Academy didn’t hear from the 75-year-old rock legend for a couple of weeks, Dylan finally stated that “the news about the Nobel Prize left me speechless. I appreciate the honor so much.” Dylan can add the Nobel Prize to his long list of achievements, including numerous Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a successful concert tour - dubbed the "Never Ending Tour" -- that has been going on since 1988. Throughout the 1990's, 2000's, and 2010's, Dylan has played between 70 and 120 shows each year.

In a 2009 interview, he explained some of the rationale behind his continuous touring schedule: “These days, people are lucky to have a job. Any job. So critics might be uncomfortable with my working so much. Anybody with a trade can work as long as they want. They don't necessarily need to retire.”

Like a rolling stone:

• In 1997, Dylan was forced to take time off after histoplasmosis, a potentially fatal chest infection, landed him in the hospital. The three-month break from the road was his longest since 1988.
• The Swedish Academy stated that it was giving the Nobel Prize to Dylan “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.”
• Dylan has since announced that he will not be attending the awards ceremony in person.