BOB DYLAN: His Newport Electric Guitar Is Played There 50 Years Later
The Fender Stratocaster Bob Dylan played when he went electric for the first time at the Newport Folk Festival 50 years ago this weekend (July 25th, 1965), returned there this weekend.
No longer in Dylan's possession, the historic instrument is now owned by Jim Irsay, who's also known as the owner of the Indianapolis Colts football team. He bought it for slightly under a million dollars when Dylan's daughter put it up for auction a couple of years ago. The curator of Irsay's guitar collection accompanied it to Newport and planned to let some of the artists there play it.
On Saturday, Americana artist Jason Isbell became the first, according to his Instagram post, which was accompanied by a photo of him playing the historic guitar. Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith is also reported to have played it during Sunday night's festival closing Dylan tribute.
Also at Newport- Brandi Carlile covered Led Zeppelin's "Goin' to California" at the Newport Folk Festival. It's a new addition to her repertoire that she first played at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia last Wednesday, according to Setlist.fm.
The Decemberists closed their Newport Folk Festival set by covering Woody Guthrie's folk anthem "This Land Is Your Land."
Replacements and Guns N' Roses bassist Tommy Stinson was joined by guitarist Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi All-Stars and bassist Catherine Popper of Jack White's Peacocks, among others, during his solo set at Newport.
The Bob Dylan tribute that closed the Newport Folk Festival Sunday night was devoid of big name stars, but it did have the ring of authenticity when Al Kooper, who played organ with Dylan on that historic occasion 50 years ago, took the stage to perform "Maggie's Farm" with the L.A. group Dawes. The song was the first of the three electric songs Dylan played on July 25th, 1965 and Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith had the Dylan guitar.
The rest of the tribute lineup was:
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, who started things acoustically with "Mr. Tambourine Man."
Willie Wilson, who performed "All I Really Want to Do," also acoustically.
Ireland's Hozier and his band, joined by Klara Soderberg of First Aid Kit, who did “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues.”
Deer Tick members John McCauley and Ian O’Neil, who played "Outlaw Blues."
England's Robyn Hitchcock, who released a double live album of Dylan covers in 2002. He took on "Visions of Johanna," which he called “possibly the greatest song ever written.”
The performers, including Kooper, who played its iconic organ part, led the crowd in singing
"Like a Rolling Stone."
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, who joined them for the closing number, "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35," better known by its chorus, "Everybody must get stoned." (The Providence Journal)
SHEERAN: You Bastard!
Ed Sheeran will put down his guitar later this year to sharpen a different kind of ax -- for his role in the new FX medieval drama The Bastard Executioner.
Ed, who hinted at a "really dark, really gory" acting role in a series of tweets earlier this spring, will play Sir Cormac, an ambitious and deadly protégé of a high-ranking church elder who joins forces with a journeyman killer-for-hire. The drama is the newest offering from Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter -- who hired Sheeran to record a tune for that show's second-to-last episode.
FX hasn't revealed how many episodes will feature Ed, but has called it a recurring role. (Hollywood Reporter)
KEITH RICHARDS: Bridges to Greener Pastures
Keith Richards supports the legalization of marijuana. In the new issue of England's Mojo magazine, He says, “I smoke regularly, an early-morning joint. One of the most pleasant things to watch is a map of America where it goes green, green, green.”
Nearly two-dozen states already have laws legalizing marijuana in some form, but Connecticut, where Keith lives, has only legalized it for medical use.
SMASHING PUMPKINS: Uncomfortable Question and Photo
Billy Corgan had a testy exchange at a recent VIP Q-and-A held before a Smashing Pumpkins show in Denver.
One of the attendees earlier this month asked Corgan his thoughts about Soaked in Bleach, a film that claims Kurt Cobain did not commit suicide but was murdered by his wife Courtney Love. Corgan got defensive and said, "Are you legitimately asking me this question here?” The fan responded, “If you care to answer it.” Corgan countered, “No, I don’t care to answer because I think it’s — what does that have to do with me?”
Watch the whole exchange on YouTube.
In other Corgan news, he doesn't seem to like rides at Disneyland. Us Weekly ran an amazing photo -- that's gone viral -- of Corgan on a train at the park with the caption, “From a rat in a cage to the House of Mouse! Smashing Pumpkins rocker Billy Corgan took his Mellon Collie self to the Happiest Place on Earth, aka Disneyland, where he traveled back in time to the Wild, Wild West of the 19th century.”
U2: Experiment Worked
The Edge says one result of U2's controversial decision to give away their last album, Songs of Innocence, can be seen at their concerts. "They know the lyrics to the new album, and it's amazing, they're singing along to every song. And so these news songs have really landed. They're part of the language now."
That language will continue to be spoken in New York this week as U2 is down to the last three nights of an eight-night run at Madison Square Garden: tonight (Monday), Thursday and Friday, which concludes the North American leg of the Innocence + Experience tour.
On Sunday at the Garden, Lady Gaga became the latest surprise guest to join the band on stage, playing piano and singing "Ordinary Love" with Bono and the boys.
Make sure you listen to the ‘RNR Podcast with Bob Waugh chatting with The Edge and Adam Clayton.
NEIL YOUNG: Monsanto Fires Back
Neil Young's frequent target this year, Monsanto, has some issues with his documentary short, Seeding Fear.
The film Young released Thursday looks at the life of farmer Michael White, who Monsanto sued -- and settled with -- for patent infringement. A Monsanto spokesperson tells Rolling Stone, "Mr. White is not transparent in describing his actions or the situation. He actually admitted to knowingly planting, producing, saving, cleaning and selling Roundup Ready soybeans illegally.
All of this information is available in court documents."
The spokesperson continues, "Protecting patents and copyrights can be difficult in any business -- including the entertainment industry. Mr. White's actions are equivalent to pirating an album, producing thousands of copies and selling bootleg copies -- all while knowing what you're doing is illegal and that it will result in criminal charges if caught."
Young has not yet replied.
