Bob Dylan’s Rotating Guitar Chair Spins Again In Cincinnati

Bob Dylan shuffled the lineup for his touring band once again on Friday for his show in Cincinnati. Guitarist Jad Tariq made his Dylan debut at PNC Pavilion At Riverbend as part of Bob’s quintet with guitarist Joel Paterson, drummer Anton Fig and bassist Tony Garnier.

The Memphis-based Tariq filled a spot Julian Lage held two nights earlier in Chicago. Lage missed Dylan’s shows in Cincinnati on Friday and Pittsburgh on Sunday to fly to Europe for a pair of previously scheduled shows. Apparently, Dylan decided to bring in Tariq rather than revert to the one-guitar lineup he employed on his five shows before Lage rejoined the tour on July 6.

Bob Dylan went into his Long Hot Summer Tour ’26 with guitarists Bob Britt and Doug Lancio. The first lineup shuffle came when Lage replaced Lancio on June 17 in Santa Barbara.

Bob Britt abruptly quit the tour on June 27. With Britt gone and Lage unavailable, Dylan recruited Joel Paterson as his lone guitarist from June 29 through July 4. Lage was back on July 6 and 8 to share guitar duties with Paterson.

In typical fashion, Bob Dylan hasn’t addressed any of the changes to his touring band. Questions about the lineup remain both short and long-term. Dylan’s summer tour continues through August 1 and will be followed by a fall run across Europe. Lage has a busy fall planned with his own project.

Jad Tariq was raised in Trumbull, Connecticut. The guitarist, who began his career at just 12 years old, moved to Memphis at 18. In Memphis, he performs frequently leading his own band, and also as a sideman to artists such as John Paul Keith, Wyly Bigger, Benton Parker, Earl “The Pearl” Banks, Jon Hay and many others.

Stream an audience recording of Jad Tariq’s first show as a member of Bob Dylan’s band: