How We Got Bob Dylan to Sing “Happy Birthday” for Brian Wilson

“The Answer Is Always No Unless You Ask”

This weekend, we saw the new Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” and it was great. Here is a video Bob made for us a few years back and there’s a great story behind it. 

IN 2022, for our client Brian Wilson’s 80th birthday, we were able to get Elton John, Barry Gibb, John Fogerty, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carol King, Joe Walsh, Lyle Lovett, Quest Love, Fleet Foxes and others to send us short videos wishing Brian a happy 80th birthday that we edit into a single video for Brian. They all responded enthusiastically and sent us their videos within a few days. 

I thought it would be great if I could get Bob Dylan to participate, knowing he and Brian had a great mutual respect for each other. I was able to track down Bob’s road manager and gave him a call. After my pitch, he flatly refused saying “Bob would never do anything like that – why would you ever think he would?” I told him that was the answer I expected, but I had to ask. After we talked for a little bit, he became more conciliatory and just said “I’m sorry man, but you can understand, right?” I said of course and thanked him for his time.

A few days later, Bob’s road manager called back. This time he was apologetic – in fact he said Bob “reprimanded” him for saying no without asking him first, and that he’d do anything for Brian. The next day we got Bob’s video, and it wasn’t just a message, but him singing “Happy Birthday” to Brian. Needless to say, Brian loved the video and was very touched by it. We’ve actually read from a few Dylanologists that this is Bob’s last video to date of him singing solo with just a guitar.

And it all happened because we asked.