Bob Dylan played a gig for just one person on Sunday (23.11.14).
The legendary singer took to the stage at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music with his touring band to sing Buddy Holly’s ‘Heartbeat’, Fats Domino’s ‘Blueberry Hill’, ‘It’s Too Late (She’s Gone)’ by Chuck Willis and an unidentified blues jam for 41-year-old Fredrik Wikingsson, who sat alone in the second row.
The fan said: "I was smiling so much it was like I was on ecstasy. My jaw hurt for hours afterwards because I couldn’t stop smiling."
The special show was part of a Swedish film series, ‘Experiment Ensam’ (‘Experiment Alone’), where people experience things alone which are usually undertaken by large crowds, such as karaoke bars or comedy clubs and Dylan was paid an undisclosed sum for taking part.
TV personality Wikingsson applauded after the first song, then found he couldn’t hold himself back.
He laughed to Rolling Stone magazine: "Nobody took notice of me [when I clapped].
"I figured that maybe it just sounded phony or weird. During the second song, ‘Blueberry Hill,’ I realised I had to say something. It was just too weird. I screamed out, ‘You guys sound great!’
"That caused Dylan to burst out laughing. Now, I have two kids and their births were great, but him laughing onstage at some lousy f***ing comment of mine was unbelievable…"
"When the show ended Dylan said, ‘Swing by anytime.’ He was highlighting the fact this was a weird thing that will never happen again. It was just so f***ing great."
Despite the empty theatre, Wikinsson – who admits to being a "wreck" before the show – spent a lot of time considering where to sit.
He explained: "I thought the first row might freak him out.
"I was like a guy picking the next-to-most expensive bottle of wine in a restaurant, which is a very Swedish thing to do. I figured the second row would be ideal."
A 15-minute documentary of the event will debut on YouTube next month.
Bob Dylan plays gig for one fan
