HISTORY MYSTERY: When turning points in rock...

HISTORY MYSTERY: When turning points in rock are discussed, folkie Bob Dylan’s going electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival is invariably mentioned. But few rock fans have ever seen or heard recordings of that seminal event--since Dylan himself asked for film of it to be withdrawn from circulation nearly 30 years ago.

The moment reappears as part of the upcoming “History of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” a 10-part TV documentary series produced under the auspices of veteran documentarian Andrew Solt and music veteran Quincy Jones. Orders are being taken at (800) TIME-VID, and the show will air in L.A. on KCOP Channel 13 March 8-12. Series creator Jeffrey Peisch, a former rock journalist, was able to secure Dylan’s permission to air the film as the centerpiece of an episode titled “Plugging In.” (He was not, however, able to get Dylan to go on camera to comment about it.)

The footage, though crudely shot in grainy black-and-white, reveals a wild scene worthy of the legend that has grown around it: Dylan, backed raucously by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, spits out a furious version of “Maggie’s Farm,” while the rabid fans in the audience can be heard booing.