News Digest

50 years after rocking the world of folk, Dylan’s electric guitar is played again

The guitar that Bob Dylan used to go electric 50 years ago has been played again at the festival where he shook the folk world. Singer-songwriter Jason Isbell was given the honor of playing Bob Dylan’s historic guitar at the Newport Folk Festival. The Fender Stratocaster has been under wraps in the private collection of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who bought the guitar in 2013 for $965,000. But Isbell was allowed to take his turn on the instrument this weekend, saying afterwards: Nobody had played it since [the 1965 concert], until today. My entire being went electric.“

It’s actually a good playing guitar. It is such an important part of musical history, and Dylan was our generation’s Shakespeare, so it’s our way to give back and share.

Guitar collection curator Chris McKinney

Dylan used the instrument in his performance on July 25, 1965, when he strode on stage in a leather jacket and launched into the song Maggie’s Farm. The performance drew a mix of boos and cheers from the audience; some were thrilled by the performance and others felt abandoned by someone who until then had been best known for singing protest songs with an acoustic guitar. This weekend’s festival is paying tribute to Dylan’s performance in a number of ways, including a still-secret line-up of about a dozen acts on Sunday that will not be revealed until they step on stage. The festival is also hosting a discussion of a book out this month that examines the performance, and what led up to it, Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night that Split the Sixties, by Elijah Wald.

Dylan’s guitar is home

Newport Festival producer Jay Sweet