Did you know a famous rock star once hated Bob Dylan’s music? Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia did not like Dylan’s folk songs at first, and he did not even like the sound of his voice. But something huge happened that made Jerry change his mind completely. He went from disliking Dylan to loving him. What could have caused such a significant flip?
Jerry Garcia’s opinion shifted when Bob Dylan made a major change. In 1965, Dylan started playing electric guitar instead of just acoustic. This new rock sound shocked many folk music fans, but not Jerry Garcia. He heard something truly special in this new sound. He thought songs like “It Is All Over Now, Baby Blue” had amazing poetic beauty and felt this new music truly spoke to a younger generation. It turned him into a real believer in Dylan’s talent.
Jerry Garcia’s Thoughts on Bob Dylan
Not everyone felt the same way as Jerry. Some people were very angry about the change, and a famous folk singer named Pete Seeger had a famous reaction. He was so upset that a story says he wanted to cut the power cables.
The truth about Pete Seeger’s reaction is more complex. He was backstage during Dylan’s electric performance at the Newport Folk Festival, and the sound quality was apparently terrible. You could not hear the words, and Seeger was mostly frustrated that nobody could understand the important lyrics. His famous anger was not just about the electric guitar but about the bad audio, and he still preferred Dylan’s older protest songs.
Pete Seeger & his (re-)actions during Bob Dylan’s electrified performance at Newport 1965
These two videos show two very different reactions to the same event. Jerry Garcia found new beauty in Dylan’s electric music while Pete Seeger was frustrated by the performance. Together, they show how Dylan’s big change split opinions. It was a moment that confused some people but inspired many others.
You can follow the official Bob Dylan pages online for more on his music history, where they share news, stories, and music from his long and incredible career. See why he remains a music legend.