The Day Dylan Plugged and Sparked a Rock Revolution

When Bob Dylan went electric at Newport, he didn’t just make noise, he rewired rock ’n’ roll forever!

In the summer of 1965, Bob Dylan stepped onto the stage at the Newport Folk Festival with a sunburst Fender Stratocaster slung over his shoulder. What followed was just 17 minutes of music—but it shook the foundations of folk, and lit a fuse under rock ’n’ roll that would burn for decades.

Up to that point, Dylan was the voice of the folk revival—acoustic guitar, harmonica, protest songs, and poetry. But that night, he cranked up a band, unleashed a raw electric version of “Maggie’s Farm,” and sent the purists into chaos.

Boos echoed. Folk fans were furious. Some claim Pete Seeger tried to cut the cables with an axe. Whether legend or fact, what’s clear is this: Dylan didn’t back down. He followed it up with a searing take on “Like a Rolling Stone” and walked off stage leaving the world reeling.

That single set split a genre and united another—merging rock’s volume with folk’s lyrical weight. Suddenly, you could be loud and deep, rebellious and poetic. Dylan had rewired what music could be, inspiring everyone from Bruce Springsteen to The Clash to plug in and speak out.