<P> By 1965, Bob Dylan had achieved the status of leading songwriter of the American folk music revival . The response to his albums The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan and The Times They Are a-Changin' led to him being labelled as the "spokesman of a generation" by the media . In March 1965, Dylan released his fifth album, Bringing It All Back Home . Side One featured Dylan backed by an electric band . Side Two featured Dylan accompanying himself on acoustic guitar . On July 20, 1965, Dylan released his single "Like a Rolling Stone", featuring a rock sound . On July 25, 1965, Dylan performed his first electric concert at the Newport Folk Festival, joined by guitarist Mike Bloomfield and Barry Goldberg of the Electric Flag . Some sections of the audience booed Dylan's performance . Leading members of the folk movement, including Irwin Silber and Ewan MacColl, criticized Dylan for moving away from political songwriting and for performing with an electric band . </P> <P> At the 1963 Newport Folk Festival, Dylan had been received enthusiastically when he performed "Blowin' in the Wind" with Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary, and other Festival performers . At the 1964 Newport Folk Festival, Dylan performed "With God on Our Side" and "Mr Tambourine Man". Positive reviews of Dylan's 1964 performance were accompanied by criticisms of Dylan's antics and dismissive nature, one critic saying that "Being stoned had rarely prevented his giving winning performances, but he was clearly out of control ." </P>

Who set off a wave of controversy with his performance at the 1965 newport folk festival