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On May 17, 1966 — 57 years ago today — in the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England, a fan shouted the word “Judas” to Bob Dylan on stage

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On May 17, 1966 — 57 years ago today — in the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England, a fan shouted the word “Judas” to Bob Dylan on stage

Frank Beacham
May 16, 2023
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Bob Dylan before concert

On May 17, 1966 — 57 years ago today — in the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England, a fan shouted the word “Judas” to Bob Dylan on stage.

The fan was angered that Dylan had “gone electric” by picking up a 1965 black Fender Telecaster guitar instead of his acoustic model. That infamous shout and Dylan’s contemptuous response — “I don’t believe you.” “You’re a liar!” — are cited by many authorities as the watershed moment in Dylan’s career.

Dylan then shouted to the members of the band to "Play it fuckin' loud!," where they then finished off the set with "Like a Rolling Stone."

Dylan’s reply served as a declaration that the onetime folk singer’s controversial foray into electric rock music was the right thing to do, and that history would bear him out.

Here is the famous moment in Manchester

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