KRONOS QUARTET & ESTEEMED COLLABORATORS RELEASE TWO RENDITIONS OF BOB DYLAN’S
“A HARD RAIN’S A-GONNA FALL”
FEAT. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM
RINGO STARR, IGGY POP, ALLISON RUSSELL, WILLIE NELSON, LAURIE ANDERSON, ASHA BHOSLE, OCEAN VUONG, STEPHIN MERRITT, AND DOZENS MORE
FULL CHOIR OF BROOKLYN ARTISTS
INCLUDING FRANKIE COSMOS, XENIA RUBINOS, LOLLISE
PRESENTED BY RED HOT ORG
AND THE NOBEL LAUREATE ASSEMBLY FOR THE PREVENTION OF NUCLEAR WAR
KRONOS QUARTET PERFORMING TONIGHT,
JULY 16, 2025
FOR THE LAUREATE ASSEMBLY AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
On the pieces, leader of Kronos Quartet, David Harrington shares:
“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.”
Red Hot Organization elaborates: “In 1962 the world was on edge. Russian nuclear bombs were 90 miles from the US border. The Cuban Missile Crisis didn’t end the world, but it sure felt like it could. So much so that Bob Dylan wrote ;A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall,’ and expressed the dread people were feeling. Sixty years later the world is still on edge. America bombed nuclear facilities in Iran in June. And there are more nuclear weapons than ever, each with a capacity to destroy life on Earth.
Red Hot is proud to be part of and distribute these new versions of Dylan’s song by the Kronos Quartet with an amazing group of singers and musicians. Over the past 35 years Red Hot has been in the forefront of fighting for diversity and equal access to health care. Let’s hope humans don’t become extinct and there’s nothing left to fight for.”
On 16 July 1945 the world’s first nuclear bomb was detonated in New Mexico at 5:29 am. Three weeks later, on August 6th, the United States detonated a nuclear bomb over Hiroshima and a second over Nagasaki on August 9th. The two weapons killed between 150,000 and 246,000 people. Since then, nuclear weapons have never been used in conflict. Though never used in war since, the risk of nuclear conflict—whether by intent or accident—remains dangerously high.
Today, on the 80th anniversary of that first test, the Nobel Laureate Assembly for the Prevention of Nuclear War brings together Laureates and nuclear experts to confront this crisis. The event concludes with a powerful performance by Kronos Quartet with special guest Allison Russell and the release of two renditions of Nobel Laureate Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.” *Kronos Quartet recorded their parts in Japan, fleshing the final versions out to feature nearly 50 other artists from around the world. The project was introduced with a cosmic and existential Raga collaboration with Terry Riley, who was inspired by David Harrington of Kronos’ ethos and mission, titled “Komal Reshab Asavari.”
The A-Side of “A Hard Rain’s A -Gonna Fall” is a striking rendition to Dylan’s original. In order of appearance, singers including Allison Russell; Iggy Pop; Satomi Matsuzaki (Deerhoof); Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields); Tanya Tagaq; Dai Wei; Gustavo Santaolalla; Laurie Anderson; Asha Bhosle; Slowspin; Zanai Bhosle (Asha’s granddaughter); Peni Candra Rini; Sara Parkman; Lollise; and Willie Nelson trade lines. They are supported by buoyant strings, performed by Kronos Quartet, members of Belle & Sebastian, Patti Smith Group, and Deerhoof. A backing Brooklyn artist choir made up of Arthur Moon; Frankie Cosmos; Constant Smiles; Raia Was; Anjali Rose; Lou Tides; Xenia Rubinos; and more heightens the catharsis.
The back half, “Hard Rain (Drone),” is more singular and disconcerting. A bed of droning strings and harmonium are topped by spoken word performances of Dylan’s poetic lyrics, courtesy of readers 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; Mahsa Vahdat; and the one and only Ringo Starr. In addition to an instrumental ensemble comprised of Kronos Quartet; Laurie Anderson; Shahzad Ismaily; Elia Einhorn; and Suhail Yusuf Khan. Both versions present a fervent communal statement, using music as a means for resilience in the face of troubling times.
*A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall was originally recorded by Bob Dylan in one take on 6 December 1962 shortly after the Cuban missile crisis (16-28 October 1962), though the song was written before the crisis.
Photo by Val Wilmer / Redferns
Red Hot is proud to be part of and distribute these new versions of Dylan’s song by the Kronos Quartet with an amazing group of singers and musicians. Over the past 35 years Red Hot has been in the forefront of fighting for diversity and equal access to health care. Let’s hope humans don’t become extinct and there’s nothing left to fight for.”
The singles are released in association with Strange Attractors Records, a new Stockholm-based label created by Owen Gaffney and Per Olsson (Stockholm Resilience Centre) with a manifesto to release 50 songs for the love of the biosphere.
Photo by Danica Taylor
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For 50 years, San Francisco’s Kronos Quartet has reimagined what the string quartet experience can be. One of the most celebrated and influential groups of our era, Kronos has given thousands of concerts worldwide, released more than 70 recordings, and collaborated with many of the world’s most accomplished composers and performers across many genres. Through its nonprofit organization, Kronos Performing Arts Association (KPAA), Kronos has commissioned more than 1,100 works and arrangements for quartet. Kronos has received more than 40 awards, including the Polar Music, Avery Fisher, and Edison Klassiek Oeuvre Prizes. |
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Integral to Kronos’ work is a series of long-running commissioning collaborations with hundreds of composers worldwide, including Terry Riley, Aleksandra Vrebalov, Tanya Tagaq, Philip Glass, inti figgis-vizueta, Fodé Lassana Diabaté, and Steve Reich. In its most ambitious commissioning effort to date, KPAA has recently completed Kronos Fifty for the Future. Through this initiative, Kronos has commissioned—and distributed online for free—50 new string quartet works written by composers from around the world. |
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In recordings, Kronos has collaborated with artists including Wu Man, Zakir Hussain, Asha Bhosle, Mahsa Vahdat, and Nine Inch Nails. Kronos has performed live with the likes of Paul McCartney, Allen Ginsberg, Rokia Traoré, David Bowie, Rhiannon Giddens, Caetano Veloso, and The National, among many others. |
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The quartet tours for several months each year, appearing in celebrated venues, including Carnegie Hall (New York), Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City), the Barbican (London), the Muziekgebouw (Amsterdam), Shanghai Concert Hall, Suntory Hall (Tokyo), and the Sydney Opera House. |
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Kronos’ expansive discography on Nonesuch includes three Grammy-winning albums—Terry Riley’s Sun Rings (2019), Landfall with Laurie Anderson (2018), and Alban Berg’s Lyric Suite (2003)—along with dozens of other acclaimed releases. Kronos’ most recent recording is Songs and Symphoniques: The Music of Moondog (2023), a collaboration between Kronos and the Ghost Train Orchestra revisiting Moondog’s vital and uplifting music for a new generation; Outer Spaceways Incorporated (2024): a release dedicated to Sun Ra that features collaborations from Laurie Anderson, Marshall Allen, Laraaji, Armand Hammer and more; and the latest being WITNESS (2025): in collaboration with Pulitzer Prize finalist Mary Kouyoumdjian which integrates testimonies from resilient individuals of the Lebanese Civil War and Armenian Genocide. Kronos’ work has also featured prominently in many films, including the “live documentary” A Thousand Thoughts, written and directed by Sam Green and Joe Bini, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018. |
Produced by Elia Einhorn, David Harrington and Mark Yoshizumi
Original song : A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
Lyrics and song by Bob Dylan
Dwarf Music, Universal Music Publishing
Kronos arrangement by Paul Wiancko
Kronos Quartet: David Harrington, Gabriela Diaz, Ayane Kozasa, Paul Wiancko
Hard Rain Singers (in order of appearance):
Allison Russell
Iggy Pop
Satomi Matsuzaki
Stephin Merritt
Tanya Tagaq
Dai Wei
Gustavo Santaolalla
Laurie Anderson
Asha Bhosle
Slowspin
Zanai Bhosle
Peni Candra Rini
Sara Parkman
Lollise
Willie Nelson
Hard Rain Musicians
Quentin Baxter brushes, tambourine, washboard, big drum
Jay Dee Daugherty Drums
Elia Einhorn 12 string guitars, harmonica, harmonium, choir, choir conductor Chris Geddes Hammond L-100 organ
Suhail Yusuf Khan Sarangi
Gustavo Santaolalla Ronroco
Greg Saunier Additional drums
Hard Rain Choir Singers
Anjali Rose
Arthur Moon
Elenna Canlas
Constant Smiles
Elia Einhorn
Frankie Cosmos
Owen Gaffney
Taraka Larson
Lizzie Lieberson
Lollise
Lou Tides
Mayteana Morales
Per Olsson
Conwy Phillips
Raia Was
Xenia Rubinos
Slowspin
Hannah Winkler
Original song : A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
Lyrics and song by Bob Dylan
Dwarf Music, Universal Music Publishing
Music by Elia Einhorn, David Harrington
Drone concept by John Carlin
Hard Rain (Drone) Readers (in order of appearance):
Ocean Vuong
Sampa The Great
Dai Wei
Sleaford Mods
Nadya Tolokonnikova / Pussy Riot
Satomi Matsuzaki
Iggy Pop
Tom Morello
Stephin Merritt
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Willie Nelson
Laurie Anderson
Mahsa Vahdat
Fenway
Ringo Starr
Hard Rain (Drone) Musicians
Kronos Quartet: David Harrington, Gabriela Diaz, Ayane Kozasa, Paul Wiancko
Laurie Anderson Synthesizer and violin
Elia Einhorn Harmonium
Shahzad Ismaily Synthesizers
Suhail Yusuf Khan Sarangi
Hard Rain (Drone) Singers
Anjali Rose
Elenna Canlas
Taraka Larson
Lollise
Mayteana Morales
Hannah Winkler
Traditional raga
Arranged by Terry Riley after Pandit Pran Nath
Terry Riley Voice
Sara Miyamoto Tamboura and voice
Hard Rain EP Credits:
Hard Rain and Hard Rain (Drone) mixed by Mark Yoshizumi
Komal Reshab Asavari mixed by Sara Miyamoto on Terry Riley’s front porch
Engineered by Mark Yoshizumi at Gary’s Electric and Studio G
and Scott Fraser at Studio A, Senju Campus of Tokyo University of the Arts
Additional Engineers:
Ludvig Algovik at Sonika Studios
Marco Buccelli at Gary’s Electric Studio
Steve Chadie at Pedernales Recording Studio
Elliott Elsey at Truphonic Recording
Luke Farnell and Dock Street Studios.
Urian V Hackney / Box Audio
Joel Hamilton at Studio G
Max Hare at Figure 8
Lauren Marquez at Electric Lady
Komal Reshab Asavari mastered by Mark Yoshizumi
Hard Rain and Hard Rain (Drone) mastered by Heba Kadry
Layout by Chris Capuozzo
Cover image taken from a spy plane aerial photo of Russian nuclear missile silos in Cuba, 90 miles from Florida circa 1962.
Released by Red Hot in association with Strange Attractors
Frankie Cosmos appears courtesy of Sub Pop Records
Tanya Tagaq appears courtesy of Six Shooter Records
Special acknowledgment to the Nobel Prize Committee and the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists for making this project possible.
Deep appreciation to Owen Gaffney, Per Olsson, and Daniel Holz.
Big thanks to Gary’s Electric Studio & Mexican Summer.
Thank you to Toru Kamekawa, Kazumi Minoguchi at Senju Campus of Tokyo University of the Arts, Sumiko Ito, Brian Scott, and Amy & Conwy Phillips.