Dylan of the Day | Ray Padgett Interviews JJ Holiday of The Plugz

Guitarist JJ Holiday Talks Bob Dylan's Iconic Letterman Performance 40 Years Ago Today

Plus the months of jamming that led up to their three songs together on national TV

RAY PADGETT MAR 22

Now we looked at Bob playing with these guys a while back with the interview with Tony the bass p[layer and here’s a follow up with JJ Holiday at Flaggin' Down as well but here’s another take from Ray’s Newsletter and read on over at Flaggin’ Down . . . . . 

L-R: Tony Marsico, Bob Dylan, Charlie Quintana, JJ Holiday

Forty years ago today, Bob Dylan gave one of the most unique performances of his career. He appeared on David Letterman’s buzzy new show with a band several generations younger than him, playing raw and energetic versions of two Infidels songs and one blues cover. “Bob Dylan goes punk” is the shorthand fans use, though one of those “punks” takes issue with that description. 

I recently spoke with JJ Holiday, guitarist for the band that day alongside two members of LA group The Plugz, Tony Marsico on bass and Charlie Quintana on drums (again complicating some oft-used shorthand, “Bob Dylan and The Plugz,” Holiday was never actually in The Plugz). Despite months of on-and-off jamming at Dylan’s Malibu house and vague talk of tours that never came about, they only ever played those three songs together in public. Holiday was just 25 years old.

Last year I spoke to bassist Marsico about the experience. I tried to cover different things with Holiday rather than re-tread the same turf, so after you read this go back and read Marsico’s interview if you haven’t already. That entry also has snippets from a set of rehearsal tapes made at Dylan’s place, which Holiday referenced in our conversation. Here’s me and JJ Holiday…

Read on . . . .