Kronos Quartet Enlists Ringo Starr, Iggy Pop, Willie Nelson & More For Bob Dylan Covers
Also among the contributors to the renditions of “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” are Tom Morello, Allison Russell and Laurie Anderson.
By Nate Todd Jul 16, 2025 • 9:50 am PDT
Photo by Danica Taylor
San Francisco string ensemble Kronos Quartet shared two, star-studded renditions of Bob Dylan’s imagery-laden nuclear warning song, “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.” The covers — featuring Ringo Starr, Iggy Pop, Willie Nelson and more — arrive on the 80th anniversary of the first detonation of a nuclear weapon in New Mexico and ahead of the anniversaries of the use of nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The “Hard Rain” covers come in two varieties: “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” and “Hard Rain (Drone).” The former is a more conventional cover. Along with Willie and Iggy, the first version features singers Satomi Matsuzaki (Deerhoof), Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields), Tanya Tagaq, Dai Wei, Gustavo Santaolalla, Laurie Anderson, Asha Bhosle, Slowspin, Zanai Bhosle, Peni Candra Rini, Sara Parkman and Lollise.
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The music on the first version is provided by Kronos Quartet, who recorded their parts in Japan, members of Belle & Sebastian, Patti Smith Group and Deerhoof. Adding to the atmosphere is a backing Brooklyn artist choir made up of Arthur Moon, Frankie Cosmos, Constant Smiles, Raia Was, Anjali Rose, Lou Tides, Xenia Rubinos and Taraka Larson.
“Hard Rain (Drone)” is a spoken word rendition featuring Ringo Starr, Ocean Vuong, Sampa The Great, Dai Wei, Sleaford Mods, Nadya Tolokonnikova (Pussy Riot), Satomi Matsuzaki (Deerhoof), Iggy Pop, Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields), Charlotte Gainsbourg, Willie Nelson, Laurie Anderson and Mahsa Vahdat. Music is provided by Kronos, Laurie Anderson, Shahzad Ismaily, Elia Einhorn and Suhail Yusuf Khan.
“A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” and “Hard Rain (Drone)” arrived along with a B-side, a raga by Terry Riley titled “Komal Reshab Asavari.” Listen to all three below:
The Nobel Laureate Assembly for the Prevention of Nuclear War reached out to Kronos Quartet to foster the Dylan covers. Kronos bandleader David Harrington detailed the collaborative effort:
“Owen Gaffney of the Nobel Prize Outreach invited Kronos to reimagine ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ to mark 80 years since the Trinity Test of July 16, the bombing of Hiroshima August 6 and Nagasaki Aug. 9, 1945. That invitation set into motion a chain reaction of effort unique in our work. Kronos performed in Stockholm’s R1 KTH Reaktor Hall. We tried to make a unified musical/scientific response to the danger we all face. That performance on May 10, 2025, a safer time, led to today and the release of ‘Hard Rain,’ two new versions of Bob Dylan’s classic to show its power and contemporary relevance.
Even though we live in perilous times, there are also thrilling, courageous voices and wondrous instruments of celebration. Bob Dylan’s words and music give us all a collective response to the fear of nature’s annihilation. Kronos has been joined by participants from 15 countries ages 7–92 representing all humanity, along with producer Elia Einhorn and the activist music company Red Hot. Here we are: reenergized as we face an uncertain future because we were able to create ‘Hard Rain’ together.”
Kronos Quartet is set to perform for the Nobel Laureate Assembly for the Prevention of Nuclear War tonight (July 16) at the University of Chicago with special guest Allison Russell. Find show info below:
