50 years later, Dylan’s electric guitar returns to Newport

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2002, file photo, Bob Dylan plays an electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I. Dylan played a Fender Stratocaster at the historic 1965 Newport Folk Festival, marking the first time he had "gone electric" publicly. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who bought that historic guitar at auction for nearly $1 million, is sending it back to Newport 50 years later for its celebration of one of the most important moments in rock history the weekend of July 24-26, 2015. (Dave Hansen/The Daily News via AP) FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2002, file photo, Bob Dylan plays an electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I. Dylan played a Fender Stratocaster at the historic 1965 Newport Folk Festival, marking the first time he had "gone electric" publicly. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who bought that historic guitar at auction for nearly $1 million, is sending it back to Newport 50 years later for its celebration of one of the most important moments in rock history the weekend of July 24-26, 2015. (Dave Hansen/The Daily News via AP)

By Associated Press July 25, 2015 2 min read

The guitar that Bob Dylan used to go electric at the Newport Folk Festival 50 years ago is back in Newport.

“Dylan’s guitar is home,” festival producer Jay Sweet said through a spokeswoman Friday, the opening day of this year’s three-day outdoor festival.

Dylan used the Fender Stratocaster in his performance on July 25, 1965, when he strode on stage in a leather jacket and launched into the song “Maggie’s Farm.” The performance drew a mix of boos and cheers from the audience, from some who were thrilled by the performance and others who felt abandoned by someone who until then had been best known for singing protest songs with an acoustic guitar.

The moment is considered one of the most important moments in rock history.

Jim Irsay, owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, bought the guitar in 2013 for $965,000. It was the most expensive guitar ever sold at auction. The curator of his rare guitar collection brought it to the festival Friday.