By 1965, Bob Dylan had already risen to prominence as one of the leading songwriters fueling America's folk music revival. The reception to his albums was widely described as electric, a phenomenon that cemented his reputation as the voice of an entire generation.
Then came July 25, 1965 — a day that would catch everyone off guard. At the Newport Folk Festival, Bob Dylan strode onto the stage dressed head to toe in black: leather jacket, boots, and jeans. But it wasn't his outfit that turned heads — it was what he was carrying. Instead of the acoustic guitar everyone associated with him, he gripped a Fender Stratocaster.
A palpable restlessness rippled through the audience as Bob tuned and tested his Fender Stratocaster. Before long, a group of backup musicians joined him on stage.
Once everything was ready, the band launched into their set. Bob delivered his opening line from his favorite music with full force: "I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more!"
The audience was deeply divided. According to the New York Times, a contingent of folk song purists responded with loud boos, viewing what Bob was doing as the worst form of heresy. One purist, Pete Seeger, is reported to have tried to cut the sound cables using an ax.
But, the music went on.
The sheer intensity of the sound was too much for some in attendance. Certain audience members stood stunned by the hostile reactions unfolding around them, while others seethed with anger and dismay. Yet amid all of this, there were those who couldn't help themselves — they wept, danced with abandon, and cheered with everything they had.
Feeding off the energy of the dancers, Bob seemed to lean directly into his critics. He launched into his brand new radio hit "Like a Rolling Stone," and with every chorus, he confronted his opponents head-on, demanding of them: "How does it feel?"
Once again, the response was anything but unified. After performing only three songs, Bob walked off the stage. The crowd's screams grew even louder as he departed. Some felt deeply betrayed by what they had witnessed. Others were simply grateful — thrilled that they had at least gotten to watch their idol perform.
At last, Bob reappeared on stage — this time holding a borrowed acoustic guitar. He offered a farewell to the crowd, playing "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue…."