Dylan Meets Electricity

I must admit, I have a soft spot in my heart for people who buck the system. I remember the iconic image of Johnny Cash flipping the bird at the Grand Ol’ Opry. Who could forget Jimi Hendrix playing the national anthem at Woodstock? But one of my favorites is Bob Dylan going electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. And the guitar was at the center of it all.

Bob Dylan was folk’s darling son, and beloved by folkies far and wide. His fans had come to know him as the seminal folk, artist of a generation. Other prominent folk artists had embraced him as the torchbearer for their genre – acoustic folk music. But the times they were a changin’!

Dylan had played the Newport Folk Festival several times to rave reviews from fans and artists alike. But in 1965 he had a revelation: I’m going electric! Some say he was miffed at the dismissive way the Paul Butterfield Blues Band was introduced that year in one of the workshops (they played electric blues). This prompted him to assemble some members from that band, and other musicians who would help him debut his electric set at the festival.

He came out and did a few acoustic numbers just like old times. Then, his band took the stage. These musicians had electric instruments, and Dylan was now wielding a Fender Stratocaster. As the band kicked into the loudest music the festival had ever heard Dylan snarled out “I ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s farm no more!” And so the darling son of the acoustic folk scene had committed the cardinal sin: going electric.

As the first song ends you can hear a large part of the crowd booing in dismay at what they must have considered to be the ultimate betrayal. Undaunted, Dylan and band launch into Like a Rolling Stone. After the short, electric set Pete Yarrow tried to appease the crowd by begging Dylan to come out and play a few acoustic tunes, which he did – grudgingly.

I think the thing that attracts me to this moment so much is Dylan’s resolve, knowing he’s pissing off at least half of his fanbase. You can plainly see that he’s affected, but undaunted. He and the band press on to complete their short, electric set and shift the musical paradigm forever.