SethP77
08-04-2002, 12:10 PM
from the Fall River Herald News at http://www.heraldnews.com
The Herald News is my hometown politically, culturally and socially conservative newspaper - a circulation under 30,000 or so...
*Dylan returns to Newport*
BRIAN CAROVILLANO, Associated Press Writer August 02, 2002
NEWPORT, R.I. -- It was a watershed event in popular music: Bob Dylan, folk music's young minstrel, taking the stage with an electric guitar slung over his shoulder.
To the die-hard folkies at Newport on July 25, 1965, it was an outrage.
Thirty-seven years later, Dylan is coming back, headlining Saturday's program at the Apple & Eve Newport Folk Festival.
His long-awaited return stirs memories of the day when he "plugged in," was booed mercilessly, by most accounts, and in the process knocked down barriers between folk and rock.
By the mid-'60s, Dylan was being called the "voice of his generation." His poignant lyrics became the soundtrack to the civil rights movement, and he gave voice to rising anti-war sentiment over Vietnam.
But Dylan had begun to branch out musically as early as 1964. His third album, "Another Side of Bob Dylan," contained few songs with political overtones; many were love songs.
The 1965 festival was Dylan's third appearance at Newport, and his Sunday afternoon set was the most anticipated of the weekend.
Still, no one seemed prepared for Dylan to walk onstage toting a Fender guitar, accompanied by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. They tore into a raucous version of "Maggie's Farm," and the crowd was stunned.
Some say the booing that followed was for Dylan, while others claim it was really over the poor sound quality.
According to some accounts, Pete Seeger had to be physically restrained from using an ax to cut the power cable.
Dylan played just three songs and left the stage to an avalanche of catcalls.
A few minutes later, he returned, this time alone with an acoustic guitar and harmonica. He played two songs: "Mr. Tambourine Man," and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," the latter a fitting requiem for his career as a folksinger.
Dylan has never spoken publicly about his reception at Newport, and declined to be interviewed for this article.
For 37 years, he never came back to the festival.
When organizers announced that the 61-year-old would be part of this year's lineup, tickets sold out faster than in any year in recent memory.
These days, Dylan is known for a businesslike approach to performing live, and some doubt he'll acknowledge the historical significance of his appearance Saturday.
"I wish that I could believe that he attached as much significance to his return to Newport as the fans and the media do," Riley says. "I'm pretty sure that for him, it's just another gig."
"i feel like a soldier, look like a thief" - strummer/jones
The Herald News is my hometown politically, culturally and socially conservative newspaper - a circulation under 30,000 or so...
*Dylan returns to Newport*
BRIAN CAROVILLANO, Associated Press Writer August 02, 2002
NEWPORT, R.I. -- It was a watershed event in popular music: Bob Dylan, folk music's young minstrel, taking the stage with an electric guitar slung over his shoulder.
To the die-hard folkies at Newport on July 25, 1965, it was an outrage.
Thirty-seven years later, Dylan is coming back, headlining Saturday's program at the Apple & Eve Newport Folk Festival.
His long-awaited return stirs memories of the day when he "plugged in," was booed mercilessly, by most accounts, and in the process knocked down barriers between folk and rock.
By the mid-'60s, Dylan was being called the "voice of his generation." His poignant lyrics became the soundtrack to the civil rights movement, and he gave voice to rising anti-war sentiment over Vietnam.
But Dylan had begun to branch out musically as early as 1964. His third album, "Another Side of Bob Dylan," contained few songs with political overtones; many were love songs.
The 1965 festival was Dylan's third appearance at Newport, and his Sunday afternoon set was the most anticipated of the weekend.
Still, no one seemed prepared for Dylan to walk onstage toting a Fender guitar, accompanied by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. They tore into a raucous version of "Maggie's Farm," and the crowd was stunned.
Some say the booing that followed was for Dylan, while others claim it was really over the poor sound quality.
According to some accounts, Pete Seeger had to be physically restrained from using an ax to cut the power cable.
Dylan played just three songs and left the stage to an avalanche of catcalls.
A few minutes later, he returned, this time alone with an acoustic guitar and harmonica. He played two songs: "Mr. Tambourine Man," and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," the latter a fitting requiem for his career as a folksinger.
Dylan has never spoken publicly about his reception at Newport, and declined to be interviewed for this article.
For 37 years, he never came back to the festival.
When organizers announced that the 61-year-old would be part of this year's lineup, tickets sold out faster than in any year in recent memory.
These days, Dylan is known for a businesslike approach to performing live, and some doubt he'll acknowledge the historical significance of his appearance Saturday.
"I wish that I could believe that he attached as much significance to his return to Newport as the fans and the media do," Riley says. "I'm pretty sure that for him, it's just another gig."
"i feel like a soldier, look like a thief" - strummer/jones