The legendary Bob Dylan and his band will rock Forest Hills Stadium in Queens this summer. NY1's Roger Clark filed the following report.
It was July 1965 when Bob Dylan sent shockwaves through the music world, playing an electric set at the Newport Folk Festival, where fans were expecting a traditional acoustic performance.
"He did that, and then his very next gig was right here at Forest Hills," said Mike Luba of Madison House.
Where he also plugged in and played electric at the historic stadium where the U.S. Open tennis tournament was held for years.
The legendary troubadour returns to Forest Hills for the first time since that well-documented show on July 8, almost 51 years later.
"Dylan is one of the true road warriors ever. So he spends a lot of time on the road. And I think this will have some some real special significance for him as well," Luba said.
Singer-songwriter and Forest Hills resident Eytan Mirsky is a Dylan fan who says countless others like him were inspired by the man gave us songs like "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Like a Rolling Stone."
"He brought in ambiguity and irony and, you know, mystery to lyrics," Mirsky said. "Before, you had, 'Love, love me do. You know I love you.' Things like that. He definitely brought a lot of complexity into it."
Dylan is just one of the big nights planned here this summer. Queens hometown legend Paul Simon is also playing a pair of shows.
Concerts are back at the stadium for the fourth season after a complete overhaul of the aging structure. The venue had been silent for nearly two decades.
"There's all sorts of good stuff happening here," Luba said. "It feels alive and vibrant, which we are really excited about."
For information on tickets to see Bob Dylan and other shows here this summer, head to foresthillsstadium.com.
NY1 is the exclusive media sponsor of Forest Hills Stadium this year. Follow us on Twitter @NY1 for more insider access and ticket giveaways.