10 Greatest Music Gigs You Wish You Could Have Been At
7. Bob Dylan - Free Trade Hall, Manchester
This gig from 1966 features what has often been described as the most famous heckle in rock history, when a member of the audience screams 'Judas' at Dylan part way though his electric set. Dylan had endured a lot of criticism from the self-righteous folk crowd, who felt that he'd deserted them and betrayed his roots by playing electric music. He opened up this gig with an acoustic set then returned with full band after the interval.
The charges were nonsensical - Dylan had never been exclusively acoustic anyway. Having been harangued by crowds in America at a number of shows prior to this tour, Dylan had become tired of the accusations of sell-out and was ready to meet any challenge head-on.
It is fortunate that this show was recorded, to be released many years later as part of Dylan's official bootleg series. As the shout rings out Dylan responds 'I don't believe you, you're a liar', before turning to the band and instructing them to 'play it loud!' (with expletive deleted!) As a cultural landmark this is a show anybody would have wished to witness, never mind the fantastic musical performance that still survives in the recording.