Bob Dylan’s First Experience Going Electric – Guitar.com
Where Bob Dylan famously ‘went electric’ in the 1960s was not actually the first time he picked up an electric guitar. In fact, the roots of Dylan’s iconic move to electrification can be traced back to his teenage years in the small mining town of Hibbing, Minnesota. Growing up in this isolated and cold place, Dylan began his musical journey playing piano, guitar, and harmonica during his high school years.
Despite rarely mentioning his hometown in public, Dylan’s memoir, Chronicles: Volume One, gives a glimpse into the rugged and bleak atmosphere of Hibbing. The town, lacking a rabbi and with early bedtimes, seemed like a place stuck in the Middle Ages. However, it was here that Dylan was first exposed to music through the radio and his peers. In the late 1950s, Dylan, then known as Bobby Zimmerman, played in bands like The Cashmeres and The Golden Chords – the latter making a loud and unapologetically electric impression at a high school talent show with their rock and roll cover, “Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay,” marking the moment when Bob Dylan first ‘went electric.’
During this time, Dylan idolized Little Richard, bringing the same energy and spirit as his hero to the stage. The fervor and intensity of their performance hinted at the groundbreaking switch to electric instruments that would come to define Dylan’s later career. Dylan’s early foray into electric music in Hibbing laid the foundation for his eventual transition into the electrifying folk-rock sound that shocked the world in the mid-1960s.
While the Newport Folk Festival moment in 1965 often steals the spotlight as the turning point for Dylan, his Hibbing roots reveal a lesser-known but equally significant chapter in his journey. The controversy and backlash that accompanied Dylan’s move to electric music in 1965 mirrored the tensions he faced in Hibbing, where he stood out from the traditional musical landscape with his bold, electric performances.
Dylan’s authenticity and refusal to conform to expectations have been constants throughout his career, from his early days in Hibbing to his groundbreaking electric performances in the 1960s. The story of the first time Bob Dylan ‘went electric’ sheds light on the enduring spirit of an artist who has always stayed true to himself, even when faced with controversy and resistance. This transformative moment in Dylan’s musical evolution continues to resonate with fans and scholars alike, illustrating the timeless and universal appeal of his uncompromising artistry. Dylan’s journey from the mines of Hibbing to the stages of the world reflects a trajectory marked by innovation, defiance, and an unwavering commitment to his singular vision.