Chapter 01 — Today in music
On a day like today May 17
1966
‘Judas!': the night Dylan was heckled and answered with history
On May 17, 1966, at Manchester's Free Trade Hall, an audience member shouted 'Judas!' at Bob Dylan for going electric. Dylan replied 'I don't believe you, you're a liar' and ordered The Hawks to play 'Like a Rolling Stone' at punishing volume. That instant, recorded forever, sums up the battle between folk purity and artistic freedom. Freedom won.
Bob Dylan
1949
Bill Bruford is born, the drummer who taught rock mathematics
On May 17, 1949, Bill Bruford was born in England — founding drummer of Yes and a key piece of King Crimson. He left Yes at the height of 'Close to the Edge' because repeating himself bored him, a gesture that defines his career: watchmaker precision, jazzman swing and zero complacency. Required listening for any drummer who wants to think while playing.
Bill Bruford
Yes
King Crimson
One ephemeris a day, one editorial a week. Zero spam, pure archive.