Musician caused enormous controversy in the folk scenario of the time after simply performing using guitar instead of guitar
One of the most prominent moments in biography A complete unknown It is the reproduction of the controversial show of Bob Dylan in the 1965 edition of Newport Folk Festivalheld in the city of the same name in the American state of Rhode Island. During the traditional Folk music event, the artist decided to perform with a band using electrical instruments, abdicating guitars to give way to guitars.
It seems bullshit today, but it was a “heresy” in those days. Rock divided opinions in the midst of more traditional portions of society – and folk was seen as a refuge for those who still wanted to hear music considered traditional.
Despite some purposeful changes to fit the plot, A complete unknown It reproduces with some faithfulness to Dylan’s revolutionary presentation at the event. Still, Rolling Stone Brazil Revisits this story, even to present some details that, of course, would not give time that the movie highlights.
Antecedent
Founded in 1959, Newport Folk Festival had a second edition in 1960. He paused and returned in 1963, when Bob Dylan was among the attractions and obtained great reception by playing “Blowin ‘in the Wind” with Joan Baez and the trio Peter, Paul and Marybesides other artists. At the next event, he played “With God on our side” and “Mr. Tambourine Man” And it also pleased, but began to divide opinions by his personality, say, “playful.”
Bob Dylan & Joan Baez Performing “It Ain’t Me Babe”, Newport Folk Festival, Rhode Island, 1964 pic.twitter.com/jrplgt0c2l
– Irix 🇵🇸 (@queerbobdylan) January 4, 2025
Also in 1964, Johnny Cash He did a show with electrical instruments, clearly inspiring Bob in his future posture. However, Cash was already seen as a rebel. Dylan, in turn, had become a kind of “darling” of that generation, including helping to renew interest in folk music especially with albums The Freewheelin ‘Bob Dylan (1963) and The Times They are a-changin ‘ (1964).
Inspired by this cash movement and especially for the new moment that Rock and Roll lived, Dylan launched in 1965 BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOMEwith part of the tracks recorded alongside rock instrumentalists. Ie: in electric format. From this work came songs like “Subterranean Homesick Blues”,“Maggie’s Farm”,“She Belongs to Me”And“On the Road Again”.
A few months later, the Newport Folk Festival of that year happened. Shortly before the presentation that would enter the story, Dylan learned that the organizer of the event, Alan Lomaxcriticized Paul Butterfield Blues Bandone of the attractions, for presenting itself with electrical instruments. Annoyed, the artist decided to change the programming: he would do an acoustic set at the festival, but a day earlier, decided to play with guitars and supported by rock musicians. The band was quickly assembled and Dylan rehearsed with his colleagues only once the night before.
Bob Dylan’s show at Newport Folk Festival
Sunday, July 25, 1965. Time to make history. Climbing between two more traditional attractions – Cousin Emmy and Georgia Sea Island Singers – Bob Dylan took the stage next to Barry Goldberg (piano/organ) and three members of the then criticized Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Mike Bloomfield (guitar), Jerome Arnold (low) and Sam Lay (battery). Furthermore, AL KOOPER played keyboard in “Like a Rolling Stone”.
It was the first time Dylan would perform in electric format. The set featured five songs in two distinct sections. First, they played “Maggie’s Farm”,“LIKE A ROLLING STONE”And“Phantom Engineer”(A previous version of“It takes it to Lot to Laugh, It takes it train to Cry”) As a band, with guitars and everything else. Then Bob returned alone to an acoustic bis, performing “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”And“Mr. Tambourine Man”. A very small performance, almost half of what should have lasted.
The reaction was divided, to say the minimum. Parts of the audience booed the presentation practically from the first compasses of the opening song. But you can also hear applause. Not everyone repudiated. When Dylan and the band left the scene after “Phantom Engineer” – In what seemed to have been the end of the show – the master of ceremonies himself, Peter Yarrowhe begged for the return of the artist, who, apuses aside, had left not having a correct tone harmonica.
The final part of the set, with “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”And“Mr. Tambourine ManDylan played lonely on the guitar received huge acclaim. No boos in this part.
The reasons for the boos
It is not unanimous the version that Bob Dylan received boos for being presenting with electrical instruments. There are those who argue that many people reacted negatively to the bad quality of sound, especially vocals, who sounded distorted.
Bob Dylan – Like A Rolling Stone (Newport, 1965) pic.twitter.com/qggtlcua9q
– Jukebox Nonstop (@jukeboxnonstop) February 4, 2025
Also musician PETE SEEGERinterpreted by Edward Norton in A complete unknownI wanted to cut the sound of Dylan precisely for the issue of quality. In a letter sent to 1990 to Bob, he even said that for decades he was unfairly accused of trying to end his friend’s set due to the electrical instruments. “I denied it so many times… In fact, I was furious with the distorted sound, because no one could understand the letter of ‘Maggie’s Farm‘”declares in one of the excerpts.
A complete unknown It also portrays the initiative of a fan at the Newport Folk Festival in calling Dylan “Judas! for being supposedly “betraying” the movement. This happened, but not at this event, but during a concert in Manchester, England, in 1966.
Bob Dylan – Maggie’s Farm
Dylan Annuring There’s A New Bob In Town, Bloomfield Burns It Up, and Not Giving A Fuck What Folkie Boo-Bays Think Eitter. PETE SEEGER DIDN’T LIKE IT. BOB COULDN’T CARE LESS.
‘Let’s go!’
Newport Folk Festival. 1965.pic.twitter.com/3yiwtmrkxx
– 𝙱𝚘𝚋𝚋𝚢’𝚜 𝙷𝚎𝚎𝚕 (@salvadadafti) December 23, 2024
Post-Newfolk
The Newport Folk Festival continued to happen annually until 1969. Then he had a new break, returning in 1985 and continues to this day. Bob Dylan would return to the event stage just 37 years later, in 2002. Interestingly, he performed wearing a wig and a lie.
Immediately after his show at the 1965 event, the artist followed with his revolutionary proposal to unite folk and rock. Their tours held that year and in 1966 continued to receive mixed reactions – including the aforementioned occasion in Manchester, with a scream of “Judas” that extracted from the artist the answer “I don’t believe you, you are a liar” and the reaction to your support band: “Touch very loud!”.
In the tour, whose repertoire was divided between acoustic and electric formats, the musician was accompanied by the support band The Hawksthat not long later would become The band. It was not the initial plan: from the group in question, he brought only the guitarist Robbie Robertson and the drummer Levon Helmbecause I had kept al kooper on the keyboard and hired the bassist Harvey Brooksduo that played in Highway 61 revisited (1966). However, Kooper abandoned the tour early on due to negative reactions.
Both Al and Harvey were replaced by other members of The Hawks/Futura The Band: Rick Danko (low), Richard Manuel (piano) and Garth Hudson (organ). Over time, Helm also worried about the hostility of the audience and left, having his place occupied by Bobby Gregg, Sandy Konikoff and Mickey Jones. The fact is that Levon would return when The Hawks became the Band and also made history with his own albums, which would become roots rock classics.
Speaking of recorded material, Bob’s records during this period are also among the most important of his career. Highway 61 revisited (1965) and BLONDE ON BLONDE (1966) present tracks such as “LIKE A ROLLING STONE”,“From Buick 6”,“Tombstone Blues”,“Deolation row”,“One of US Must Know (Sooner or Later)”,“Rainy Day Women #12 & 35”Among many others that have been consecrated as classic.
Dylan promoted a change even in the Newport Folk Festival. In the 1966 edition, there were several shows with electrical instruments, from attractions such as Chuck Berry, Howlin ‘Wolf and LOVIN ‘SPOONFUL. Unlike Bob, they were not booed.
+++ Read more: Woody Guthrie’s real fate after a complete unknown
+++ read more: was Bob Dylan involved with a complete stranger? Find out
+++ Read more: Bob Dylan manifests himself on rumor that he prohibits people from looking at him
+++ Read more: Damon Albarn’s harsh opinion (Blur) about Bob Dylan to ban cell phones on shows
+++ Read more: Bob Dylan despises TV series and says he prefers to meditate and pray
+++ click here to follow Rolling Stone Brasil @rollingstonebrasil on Instagram
+++ Click here to follow journalist Igor Miranda @igormirandasite on Instagram
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
