 In 1986 and 1987 , Dylan toured with Tom Petty and the <unk> , sharing vocals with Petty on several songs each night . Dylan also toured with the <unk> Dead in 1987 , resulting in a live album Dylan & The Dead . This received negative reviews : Allmusic said , " Quite possibly the worst album by either Bob Dylan or the <unk> Dead . " Dylan then initiated what came to be called the Never Ending Tour on June 7 , 1988 , performing with a back @-@ up band featuring guitarist G. E. Smith . Dylan continued to tour with a small , evolving band for the next 20 years . 
