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June 1, 2006

Dylan and the Gospel of Judas

Bob Dylan was mistaken for Judas Iscariot forty years ago. The lasting memory of Dylan’s moniker was brought home recently when I listened to the “Bob Dylan Live 1966 – The “Royal Albert Hall” Concert” recording. The two CD set features a strong non-political set of acoustic songs feature Dylan solo. The fun begins when he comes back after intermission and introduces The Gospel of Dylan; Electric guitars, backing band and an attitude.

On May 17, 1966, Bob Dylan played a concert at Manchester, England, (not the Albert Hall in London, as the original bootleg was titled) and brought a feisty concert to a close with a shattering version of “Like a Rolling Stone”, which was loud, ferocious and angry. What provided Dylan the extra level of vexation that night was the endearing adulation of a single fan who yelled “JUDAS” loud and clear. Dylan had put up with some fans walking out and others yelling to “turn it down” through out the second set. The Judas fan was the catalyst for his anger to boil. Dylan’s replied “I don’t believe you”, and sitting at the piano yelled to the band to play LOUD. The shattering version of “Like a Rolling Stone” was the anger boiling as he showed his disdain when singing “how does it feeeeel.” Through out the British tour Dylan’s fans were yelling back at him to “turn it down”. They would clap while he tried to speak and turned their back and walked out. It was almost a year since Dylan walked out on stage at the Newport Folk Festival and went electric. Audience reaction was tepid then but, the Judas moniker was the one that history remembers. The press called it the “Big Let Down”

Is that ferociousness still around? Fans, Bands, or do we care as music is so easily available now. One thing that hasn’t change is that most of the music is bad, just like most media.

Posted by nick on 9:45 AM | Comments (6)