Bob Dylan to Play First China Shows

Legend tried to play last year, but was rejected

Bob Dylan could soon find himself stuck inside of Shanghai with the Beijing blues again.

The trail-blazing troubadour will play concerts in those two cities next month, his first ever shows in the Middle Kingdom, according to AFP. Dylan's bid to play concerts there last year was rejected when the 69-year-old bard refused to sign a culture ministry pledge not to get political and "hurt the feelings of the Chinese people." But something gave and now the government will let him in. Tickets start at $42 and go up to $300 for VIP seats.

"These Bob Dylan concerts are destined to be one of the year's major tours and a musical event of depth, grace and greatness," Gehua-LiveNation, the Taiwanese promoter of the shows, said.

Selected Reading: AFP, BobDylan.com, TheAtlantic.com.

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