Monday, October 21, 2013

Rocktober Video #15: "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan

In today's age of nonchalance, crossovers, blending of genres, and a relative lack of emotion or loyalty regarding certain genres, it is nearly impossible to imagine fans of a particular artist being so passionate that they would pay money go to his concert and call him out for being a traitor.  But that's what happened to Bob Dylan -- the greatest songwriter in rock history -- in 1966 at a concert in Manchester.  Between songs, someone shouted out "Judas" because he was playing an electric guitar.  Someone was so upset with Dylan for betraying his folk roots that they openly likened him to the man who sold out Jesus.  But that's not even what makes it remarkable.  It's Dylan's reaction that makes this performance legendary.  Rather than sit there and take it, he calls the guy a liar, and then turns to his band -- which was The Band, mind you -- says "play it fucking loud" and busts into one of the greatest rock and roll songs of all-time, "Like a Rolling Stone."  And that, my friends, is what rock and roll is all about.

The video isn't fantastic, since it appears to be from a documentary or something, but it's all I could find with the full song.  And it's just a great rock and roll moment.

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