Singer-songwriter and future folk icon Bob Dylan took the stage at the Newport Folk Festival on July 25, 1965, but instead of using his trusty acoustic guitar, he electrified the crowd by plugging in his guitar and having a full band back him. For this Throwback Thursday, let's take a look at his influence on other musicians.
Early in his career, Dylan made a name for himself in the folk community and was already influencing musicians outside the genre. The same year he exposed the world to "Like a Rolling Stone" at the Newport Folk Festival, the Byrds released an electric cover of "Mr. Tambourine Man" and folk rock was born.
As with everything new, there were an equal number of people who were upset or excited over this new development. The late folk icon Pete Seeger even discussed his controversial reaction to Dylan's performance at the Newport Folk Festival in an interview.
Regardless of where you fall on the acoustic/electric debate, there is no denying the musical legacy Dylan created with his acoustic and electric tunes. Creative people across many fields have been influenced by him. Rookie Mag editor Tavi Gevinson recently wrote about Dylan's influence on her appreciation of poetry, and Battlestar Galactica went so far as to incorporate "All Along the Watch Tower" into a major storyline. Despite years of falling asleep to various Dylan albums,that's how I learned that song is a Dylan and not a Jimi Hendrix song!
Many musicians have covered Dylan's songs throughout the years and across genres including,
- Cher: "Blowin' in the Wind"
- Bob Marley and the Wailers: "Like a Rolling Stone"
- Rise Against: "Ballad of Hollis Brown"
- Ke$ha: "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"
- Green Day: "Like a Rolling Stone"
The four disc compilation Chimes of Freedom came out in 2012 and highlights even more artists from around the world covering Dylan. It just goes to show that Dylan is an artist who will continue to influence generations to come.
What's your favorite Dylan song or cover?
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