Flagging The Double Es Newsletter Feb ’26 | Bobby Down Under | RAY PADGETT

Bob Dylan Hosts a Late-Night Sing-Along in a Hotel Bar

1986-02-07, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand

RAY PADGETT FEB 7 ∙ PAID

Auckland Star, New Zealand

The second show of the True Confessions tour took place in Auckland, New Zealand, two nights after the by-all-accounts underwhelming opening in Wellington. But, in between the two shows, there was a notable performance to a much smaller audience. 

At the Park Royal Hotel in Wellington, where the entourage was staying, many of the musicians gathered around the hotel piano late one night to jam. In Rolling Stone, Anthony DeCurtis reported what happened:

After the show, Dylan and the gang repaired to the Park Royal Hotel, where, shortly after midnight, Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench commandeered the piano at the hotel bar for an impromptu songfest that featured Dylan, Petty, Stevie Nicks (who was backstage at the show) and backup singer Debra Byrd. Their repertoire included “Save the Last Dance for Me,” “You Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Sincerely,” “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted,” “Daddy’s Home,” “Get a Job” and “Poison Ivy.” Sometime after three, everyone drifted off to bed.

Amazingly, someone managed to record this hotel jam.

Who? How? I have not been able to figure that out (anyone know?). It certainly wasn’t recorded in any official capacity, because, frankly, the sound quality stinks. It sounds like the tape recorder is maybe in the person’s coat pocket. Very distant and muffled, with occasional loud scratching noises that sound like fabric shifting against the mic.

As a result, Dylan’s voice is not really distinct. Though, from what you can hear, it doesn’t sound like he was taking the lead. The most immediately audible elements are Tench’s piano and the women (Nicks and Byrd, per Rolling Stone) singing. Occasionally you catch a male voice—could be Dylan, or Petty, or Tench, or someone else who just happens to be hanging out and singing along—but it’s hard to make out. What I’d give to hear Bob actuallytry to sing “Charlie Brown” or “Get a Job.” Alas.

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