In 1966, Bob Dylan stunned the world and divided audiences by introducing his new electric sound.
On a tour that would later be dubbed the ‘Judas’ tour, Dylan’s first date was at the then Colston Hall, and he received a hostile reaction to his new direction.
A now iconic moment in music history, the tour was captured by photographer Barry Feinstein, including a now iconic image of Dylan waiting for the Aust ferry to get to Wales after playing the concert in Bristol.
Read a transcript of the original press reviews from the Evening Post and Western Daily Press below to get a sense of how this iconoclastic moment resonated in Bristol.
The concert is commemorated on our Story Wall, next to Simons’ Bar on the Ground Floor at Bristol Beacon – be sure to stop by and see it the next time you visit us and learn more about the history and heritage of Bristol Beacon.
This archive material is from the Charles Lockier archive, which is held at Bristol Archives and was catalogued as part of our Transformation project. This work, and the Story Wall, were made possible thanks to funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund.
If you have any memories of this concert you’d like to share, we’d love to hear them – get in touch!
Header image of Bob Dylan in Bristol © Barry Feinstein
Fan reactions to ‘Dylan goes electric’
Night of disillusionment for the Dylan fans
From Michael Green’s Saturday Pops, Evening Post, 14 May 1966
It seems the first night of Bob Dylan’s sell-out tour was not a sell-out with the audience. Complaints about the show generally and Dylan’s backing group particularly showered on the head of Colston Hall manager Mr. Ken Cowley. “A number of people walked out,” he said. And a lot of people wanted to know who to write and complain to. “Some people even asked where they could get their money back.”
No interviews
Those actually complaining were only a small percentage of the audience, he pointed out. But said there was a general feeling of dissatisfaction. Dylan gave no press interviews and saw no fans. He was whisked off in a car before the National Anthem. Dylan supporters were indignant that they wrote to the Evening Post after the show. Marilyn Johnson (18) og 6 Alfred Road, Bristlington, writes:
In honour of those who walked out
“I was seated in the front row of Bristol’s Colston Hall, watching in anticipation as Bob Dylan arrives on the stage. The lights faded and he broke the silence with his opening song. Dylan’s performance until the interval did him great credit; his words were sung from his heart, and together with his acoustic guitar playing he revealed his outstanding gift of poetry. After the interval we waited for the second-half of the concert to commence. After the interval we waited for the second-half of the concert to commence. At last the stage door opened, but unexpectedly a group with electric instruments walked out, followed by Dylan who also carried an electric guitar.”
My heart sank as they proceeded to produce the most dreadful din I have ever experienced… I endured about 10 jangled-up, deafening and ruined versions of previously good compositions, with great disappointment and growing anger.”
Marilyn Johnson (18), Brislington
Has fame spoilt Dylan?
Western Daily Press, 12 May 1966
Bob Dylan, folk-singer prophet of the modern generation, parted company with many of his fans at the Colston Hall, Bristol, this week. His long-awaited second appearance in the city turned out to be a noisy, blaring, ear-splitting disaster.
The fans were lulled into a false sense of security during the first half, with Dylan accompanying himself on acoustic guitar and harmonica that have become his trade-mark. But in the second half he was joined by a pianist, organist, drummer and two guitarists, who proceeded to bombard the audience with wave upon wave of amplified notes.”
Western Daily Press, 12 May 1966
Your memories
We asked you to get in touch if you attended Dylan’s ’66 tour and had any thoughts or feedback to share on this iconic moment of music history.
See below for just a few of our favourite submissions:
I would have been 15 years old then going to see my idol in the early sixties in Bristol. We were in the balcony looking down on him. For me both sets were just as good – music and art are about exploration.”
Nigel Robertson
Out of all the huge number of gigs I’ve been to in my life (I was 17 at the time) this was my top experience (along with seeing Jimi Hendrix at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970) – and I still have the ticket!”
David Whiting
I still recall the shock felt by the audience that evening, anger even…”
John Gittens
At some break in between songs someone else shouted ‘say something!’ to which Dylan drawled into the mic ‘what d’you want me to say?’ and continued straight on with the next song…”
Alan Snook
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