Bob Britt Quits Bob Dylan Band After 7 Years, Leaving Austin Lineup Unclear

Q: Is Bob Dylan's band in turmoil after two guitarists abruptly departed during his summer tour?

Yes. Bob Dylan’s touring band appears to be in clear upheaval after two guitarists left during the current summer run, though the exact cause remains unconfirmed. The strongest evidence is the back-to-back departures of electric guitarist Doug Lancio and acoustic guitarist Bob Britt in the middle of the tour, which is unusual for Dylan’s road band. Lancio’s exit was first noticed when he was absent from the June 17 Santa Barbara show and Julian Lage appeared in his place. Britt then appeared to confirm his own departure with a deleted social media post reading “Sayonara Bobby,” followed by “I quit.” He later reportedly said he was not fired and left voluntarily for private reasons. That does not prove internal conflict, but it does point to instability. Fans and some reports have described the timing as abrupt, and there has been no official explanation from Dylan or his camp about why either guitarist left. That silence has added to speculation. The uncertainty around Lage reinforces the sense of flux. He has continued to play with Dylan, and reviews have praised his performances, but his own solo dates conflict with some Dylan tour stops. That suggests he may be a temporary substitute rather than a long-term replacement. So while “turmoil” is a strong word and not fully verified, the available facts support saying Dylan’s band is in significant transition and operating with unusual mid-tour uncertainty.

3 articles · Updated · Rolling Stone · Jun 29

Bob Britt said he "quit" Bob Dylan’s band voluntarily for private reasons, confirming his exit in a Facebook message after posting "Sayonara Bobby."
Austin’s June 29 show is now in flux because recent replacement Julian Lage has a booked event in Brooklyn the same day, leaving only bassist Tony Garnier and drummer Anton Fig publicly confirmed.
Doug Lancio had already disappeared from the tour about two weeks earlier, raising the likelihood Dylan either brings Lancio back or debuts another newly hired guitarist in Austin.
Dylan has typically toured with at least two guitarists since 1992, so a stripped-down lineup would be unusual even if the set list is expected to stay largely unchanged.