8. Bob Dylan Goes Electric
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu3GT6FXpOs Bob Dylan is as divisive as an artist can be; you either "get" him, or you don't. For those who do the former, he's is a lyrical genius and songsmith beyond compare; the voice of not just his generation, but arguably every generation since. And for those freaks and heathens who don't get him, he's a nasal pot-smoking hippy with songs that all sound the same (contain your rage, internet hippies). The point is, it's easy to find people who don't like Bob Dylan because they don't "get" him, but it's rare to find a music fan with a grievance against the man. Appreciation generally falls into one of two circumstances: you've either seen him live at some point within the last ten years, or you were at/know about the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. The Newport Jazz Festival had strong attendance figures in the years preceding 1959 when its founder George Wein, founded the Folk Festival to tap into the growing movement. Dylan had performed there in '63 and '64 to enthusiastic crowds, so having him there again the next year seemed to be good old business as usual. But as soon as his name was announced and the opening twangs of "Maggie's Farm" rang out in an unusually amplified fashion, the boo's of angry hippies could be heard mixed in with the cheers. Bob had apparently been offended by the attitude of the festival organisers towards the electric movement, and reportedly said "f**k 'em, I'll do it", assembling an electric backing band at the last minute on a petty whim. In fairness to the aforementioned angry pretentious hippies, the negative audience reaction has since been blamed on everything from bad sound quality to a short set, but still the myth remains. The fact that Bob Dylan of all people went electric sent shockwaves through the music industry, inspiring artists and record labels alike that the electric movement wasn't just a fad, but the future of music. The audience reaction certainly had an affect on Bob: he closed his set with acoustic numbers (to thunderous applause) and didn't return to the festival until 2002, and even then he returned disguised with a wig and fake beard, as a nice little wink to the fans who know their history. Incidentally, the guitar Dylan played on that fateful day recently raised interest in its own right. It was featured on U.S. TV show History Detectives after it surfaced in New Jersey, and sold in New York last December for $965,000, making it the most expensive guitar ever sold in auction.
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Stephen Maher has been a rock star, a bouncer, a banker and a busker on various streets in various countries. He's hung out with Robert Plant, he was at Nelson Mandela's birthday and he's swapped stories with prostitutes and crack addicts. He once performed at a Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras by accident. These days, he passes the time by writing about music, wrestling, games and other forms of nerdery. And he rarely drinks the blood of the innocent.
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