Bob Dylan Goes Electric

[@otisgibbs]

"There’s a movie about me opening soon called A Complete Unknown (what a title!). Timothee Chalamet is starring in the lead role. Timmy’s a brilliant actor so I’m sure he’s going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me. The film’s taken from Elijah Wald’s Dylan Goes Electric - a book that came out in 2015. It’s a fantastic retelling of events from the early ‘60s that led up to the fiasco at Newport. After you’ve seen the movie read the book." -Bob Dylan I recorded this interview on May 8th, 2016 in a hotel room in Knoxville, Tennessee. Elijah is out there digging up history every day. He's doing the heavy lifting and we should be grateful for his efforts. Go check out his website, pick up a book and tell him Otis sent ya! www.elijahwald.com/

[@ScottJ-id6gu]

Love your work Otis. Have you referenced, or written about, this particular interview (recording) at any time since 2016?

[@caseysmith544]

People said the same thing about Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel when they went and remixed the song Sound of Silence off Wednesday Morning 3 Am and he did it Electric for the album The Sound of Silence. People were not happy mainly because of this being pre 1964 and how attitudes to any kind of Rock or electric guitar music that was not Jazz was founded in fear.

[@jimmaculate5]

Dylan actually said that? Doesn't sound like him (to me at least). Great talk here. I enjoyed immensely the Beers Family, Len Chandler at the Philadelphia Folk Festival in 64, 65, maybe 66 (it was a long time ago). Never made Newport but heard about Bob when Joanie was bringing him out.

[@whiskeycitydiggers]

@@jimmaculate5 Bob's been tweeting lately.

[@farmerhatfield9684]

Sometimes I still listen to the Thanks For Giving a Damn podcasts, the ELECTRIC doesn't have to be cut off or out for me to listen to them. Absolute gold. Much love to you Otis Gibbs and Miss Amy. Happy holidays to you both

[@broscosmoline]

I had to chuckle when Elijah Wald reports getting a query (something like), "hey, the anniversary of the Beatles on Sullivan is coming up, can you write the *anti*-beatles book for it?" I guess he has a rep for counter-narrative. Wald once gave a great talk in Toronto around the publication of Escaping the Delta, whose drift is (imho) against the grain of valourizing iconoclasts like Robert Johnson, and instead demonstrating the ways that blues was much more popular in that era than is generally understood. He's a clear-eyed, perceptive, non-hagiographic music historian, and i loved hearing this interview. All his books are gems.

[@jeffhovey1810]

Thank you Otis Gibbs Stay safe and Happy Holidays to you sir and your family too!

[@mairianncullen8753]

Excellent interview, Otis. Thank you so much.

[@brianbrino4310]

Thank You for just giving so much musical American history and all the interesting persons participating and giving so much in the construction of musical history!❤

[@garymarkwood8181]

So great . Thanks, Otis- saw the movie, as I will again. This is exciting time for Bob Fans. New and old .

[@farmerhatfield9684]

Sometimes I still listen to the Thanks For Giving a Damn podcasts, the ELECTRIC doesn't have to be cut off or out for me to listen to them. Absolute gold. Much love to you Otis Gibbs and Miss Amy. Happy holidays to you both

[@otisgibbs]

----- Otis Tour Dates ------- 02/27/25 -Iduna -Drachten, Netherlands 02/28/25. -De Schalm. -Westwoud, Netherlands 03/02/25. -Private Event. -Sint Willebrord, Netherlands 03/05/25 -TivoliVredenburg -Utrecht, Netherlands 03/06/25 -Cultural Centre De Zeepziederij -Bree, Belgium 03/07/25. -Popuppodium. -Almelo, Netherlands 03/08/25 -Lutherse Kerk -Groningen, Netherlands 03/09/25. -Walhalla -Rotterdam, Netherlands ------ Details at otisgibbs.com ----------

[@rickfisher9594]

"..or some other me" classic Bob :) Great stuff as usual Mr. Gibbs!

[@michaelv401]

Another good one, Otis! I saw the movie, got a little annoyed but realized it’s just like a cliff notes for people who may be unaware. If someone sees this movie and does a deeper dive the it’s worth it. I think the actors did a good job, music sequences seemed pretty authentic. Gonna read the book, soon.

[@lenkeesee5038]

ELECTRIC! I read this book right after it came out. Great writing, I was highly entertained! Wonderful research, lots of connections to other artists and assorted historical figures. Thanks Otis!

[@seb-57]

Electric . Thank you very much for posting

[@tkreitler]

Electric. Great interview. I don't watch many movies but I'll watch this one.

[@ministerofdarkness]

Elijah's book really sets the record straight about the Newport '65 concert. Would totally love to hear Dylan's day set.

[@_TheAtticTapes_]

Anytime you talk about Dylan, I watch. 🔥 you’re a beast Otis !!!

[@allenhatfield4149]

Thank you Otis Gibbs. Much love to you and Miss Amy. The ELECTRIC doesn't have to be off for me to listen to The Thanks For Giving A Damn podcast. Happy holidays to you both. I know it would be a huge amount of work, but it would truly be great to have all the podcasts uploaded to yt. Can't find the country built shows anywhere.

[@libertywilly7519]

Another good one Otis 👍

[@whiskeycitydiggers]

Electric! Great listen. I'm gonna have to check out your podcast archive, I love all the excerpts you've shared here.

[@tommyraper3895]

Great stuff Otis, thanks for sharing!

[@williamdavis8161]

Great episode, adds a lot of context!

[@scottkidwell3601]

Great interview, and kudos to setting the record straight. I was only aware of the mythos around Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival. I ordered the book from an independent bookseller, and I may even venture out to see the movie. Thanks, Otis and Elijah 🙏🏻🤍

[@bobblehead67]

Great stuff, Otis. All Wald's books are worth a read. There's a cool account of Newport '65 in legendary record producer Joe Boyd's memoir, White Bicycles. Boyd was stage manager at the gig.

[@jeffhovey1810]

Things have changed is a great song . Look at the lyrics as you listen to the song. That was in 2000.

[@jeffersonspace]

Electric. Thanks Otis - interesting interview!

[@jeffsmith1945]

Thanks Otis! We just saw the movie yesterday! Great movie! Happy New year ❤

[@sethtravins3647]

The first time I met Pete Seeger I was 12 and a big Dylan fan as well as a Seeger fan. So I asked him about wanting to take an ax to the PA. He told me he couldn’t hear the words, “Maggies Farm was a great song, but was drowned out by the electric instruments!” This was 1988 or 1989 so his tune could have changed in 25 years….

[@georgecoventry8441]

Yes, the folk audience back then was extremely intent on hearing every word, and many could not hear the lyrics through the loud electric music. I don't think the sound system was handled very well, so there was a lot of distortion.

[@georgecoventry8441]

Great interview! Thanks!!!!

[@J.T.Hatchet]

Thanks for digging this back up and posting, Otis. Fascinating insights and look under the hood.

[@James-p8u]

I’m sorry I just got to this, Holidays n all, but what an incredible interview Otis, Well Done, Thank U 😊

[@donmcallister3745]

Just bought the book for myself for Christmas 🎄🎅🏻🎄 … Merry Christmas 🎁🎄🎁 Everyone… I hope Santa treats you well…Peace 🕊️… thanks Otis… for an entertaining year…🌻

[@christophercampbell1677]

Happy holidays otis. Thanks. This is spot on about dylan.

[@wittry2]

I love all the Bob Dylan stories. Great listening. I’ve watched the press conference from 65 in San Francisco. Great stuff. Where is the story on him hanging around his old house? Dylan is the best.

[@wittry2]

-->Stupid Bob Dylan fan. There are lot of us it seems.

[@caseysmith544]

​@@wittry2 The ones I find the most interesting are the facts about The Band that split in 1969 becuse the backing band was making its own music that they wanted Bob Dylan but he was refusing to be on the albums as a singer. Bob Dylan he, felt The Band wanted to be on its own and Bob Dylan was not going to be Bob Dylan and The Band plus Dylan felt the band was better in talent then he was.

[@wittry2]

@@caseysmith544 There are some great interviews with Robbie Robertson discussing Dylan and the Hawks and The Band.

[@positively_broad_st3780]

Electric interview and insight! Thanks!

[@Freeontheland2030]

Merry Christmas Otis I hope the new year is good to you and the Mrs.

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you Otis

[@Joshua_Stephens]

Thank You for this.

[@bradrehn1007]

What a great informative interview! I tryst the book is equally fascinating.

[@paulofreire7520]

Great interview 👍🏻

[@gmb858]

"Tangled Up in Blue" is not folk, it's not the blues, it's Dylan doing what he did best, "telling stories."

[@pierheadjump]

⚓️ Thanks Otis 🌈 Elijah 😎 Electric 😁

[@mslaerik66]

Hey Otis look for the PBS show "History Detectives" if you can they have an episode where that guitar was found and it's amazing story (another crazy Bob story)

[@otisgibbs]

I was fortunate enough to get to play that guitar about ten years ago. That was a good day. ❤

[@mslaerik66]

@@otisgibbs holy smokes amazing ! haha

[@vinnievineyardandtheviciou9937]

ELECTRIC 😂 great video

[@markisskajellafetti]

Thanks Otis. Nice talk with that Elijah fella. Seen the tour dates. You ever come west of the Mississippi? Like how about Joshua Tree? Peace

[@bglrj]

He did WHAT????

[@sethtravins3647]

Does anyone know what became of the bass player Jerome Arnold? He seems to have disappeared after the early 70s.

[@Caperhere]

Electric. Afraid I listened to my parent’s records of Peter, Paul, and Mary to learn about popular Dylan songs.

[@Zavijava1]

Electric indeed

[@matchedbook1]

Electric! Thanks for posting this Otis.

[@InDoLence13]

I'm sure contemporary context is key, but I struggle to understand why it's said Dylan "destroyed" the festival? Very disappointed Seeger was so upset. One would think he'd understand that just because one hires a dancing bear, it's ok if the bear wants to play a plugged in guitar instead.

[@PaulReed-lj2ym]

👍

[@joekellysux]

Electric

[@88belfry]

Where is Highway 51?

[@poochpalace627]

It runs right by my baby's door From up Wisconsin way down to No Mans Land

[@poochpalace627]

I have a Beers family album

[@coastercook]

Electric

[@Lea99Jones]

The pervasive focus on Dylan's switching over to electric guitar and "the band" ignores the fact that for him to sing live over that noise forced him to change his style of singing. His electric shows had him **yelling** his lyrics over the band. So all the nuance of his acoustic vocalizations just went away. His solo performances in subsequent years were just as "Dylanesque" as they had always been. But you look at the albums that came out after he went electric, starting with "bringing it all back home," "Highway 61 revisited," and "blonde on blonde," his writing was no less brilliant, his lyrics no less hilarious and incisive, and his vocals no less nuanced.

[@christophercampbell1677]

It seems pop fans suck js and I agree

[@otisgibbs]

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[@sethtravins3647]

The first time I met Pete Seeger I was 12 and a big Dylan fan as well as a Seeger fan. So I asked him about wanting to take an ax to the PA. He told me he couldn’t hear the words, “Maggies Farm was a great song, but was drowned out by the electric instruments!” This was 1988 or 1989 so his tune could have changed in 25 years….

[@craigcoffield3142]

Electric

[@tiltedflip4491]

Electric

[@garymarkwood8181]

Electric