Monday, July 25, 2005

This day in music history.

July 25, 1965, With the Paul Butterfield Blues Band as his back up band, Bob Dylan unveils his new electric music in public for the first time. Performing at the Newport folk Festival he walks out on stage wearing leather and carrying an electric guitar. After three songs. ('Like a Rolling Stone', 'Maggies Farm', and 'It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes a Train To Cry') the audience was heckling and booing so loudly the band was forced to leave the stage. After a short break Dylan is convinced to go back out with his acoustic guitar, Bob returned to the stage alone with the audience screaming for "Tambourine Man," Dylan said: "OK, I'll do that one for you." The older song had a calming effect on the agitated audience and won strong applause. Then Dylan did "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue", singing goodbye to Newport. Dylan would not play at the festival again for 37 years.
Pete Seeger later referred to Dylan as Judas, when Dylan was asked about choosing the folk festival to unveil electric music he said "I did a very crazy thing, but it was honest. It was honest."
From "Its All Over Now, Baby Blue" by Bob Dylan
Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
Strike another match, go start a new
And it's all over now, Baby Blue.