Original vintage circa 1965 glossy 7.75 x 10 silver gelatin contact sheet photograph by David Gahr, featuring 34 images of Bob Dylan and the Butterfield Blues Band's electric soundcheck at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival—the historic show that saw Dylan 'go electric' before an audience of folk fans. Every photo shows Dylan looking cool in shades and a polka-dot shirt, wielding his iconic Fender Stratocaster electric guitar. Also seen are Michael Bloomfield playing lead electric guitar, Sam Lay on drums, Jerome Arnold on bass, and Al Kooper on organ—famed for his improvised Hammond B2 riff on 'Like a Rolling Stone.' Reverse bears “A Kodak Paper” watermarks, three David Gahr copyright stamps, and a handwritten caption. In fine condition, with a few frames highlighted in grease pencil.
Bob Dylan's iconic and controversial 'plugged in' set at Newport on July 25th, 1965, was highlighted by loud, rousing renditions of 'Maggie's Farm' and 'Like a Rolling Stone.' Received by the folk-loving audience with a mix of boos and cheers, Dylan was said to have 'electrified one half of his audience, and electrocuted the other.' This was a seminal moment in the history of modern music.
