On July 20, 1965, folk music icon Bob Dylan took the stage at the Newport Folk Festival with an electric guitar, marking a significant turning point in his career and music history. The performance shocked and divided the audience, as Dylan had been known for his acoustic folk music up until that point.
Dylan's decision to "go electric" was seen as a betrayal by many of his die-hard folk fans, who booed and jeered during his performance. The set included electrified versions of his songs "Maggie's Farm," "Like a Rolling Stone," and "Phantom Engineer," backed by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
The reaction from the crowd was so intense that Dylan left the stage after only three songs. He later returned with an acoustic guitar to perform "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" and "Mr. Tambourine Man," in an attempt to appease the disgruntled audience.
This event marked a significant shift in Dylan's musical style and a pivotal moment in the history of rock and folk music. It demonstrated Dylan's willingness to evolve as an artist and challenge the boundaries of traditional folk music. The "electric Dylan" controversy became a defining moment of the 1960s music scene and paved the way for the fusion of folk and rock that would shape the future of popular music.
Despite the initial backlash, Dylan's electric set at Newport is now regarded as a groundbreaking and influential performance that changed the course of music history. It showcased his versatility as an artist and his ability to push the limits of what was expected from a folk musician, cementing his status as one of the most important figures in 20th-century music.
