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May 12, 1963…Bob Dylan, Ed Sullivan & The Koch Brothers? Yep!

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Eyes Of A Generation.com

May 12, 1963…Bob Dylan, Ed Sullivan & The Koch Brothers? Yep!

After seeing this photo, many swear they remember seeing Bob Dylan on the Sullivan show, but it never happened…it almost did though.

In May of 1963, Bob Dylan was still an aspiring young musician who was preparing for the release of his second album “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”. At this point in his career, Dylan had received little national attention, but it seemed that was all about to change when he received an invitation to perform on “The Ed Sullivan Show”.

Dylan decided to perform “Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues”, a satirical blues number skewering the conservative John Birch Society, and the red-hunting paranoia associated with it.

A few days earlier, Bob auditioned the song for Sullivan who seemed to have no issue with it. However, on the day of the show during the dress rehearsal, an executive from the CBS Standards and Practices department decided Dylan could not perform the song due to its controversial nature.

When the show’s producer, Bob Precht, informed Dylan of the decision, Dylan responded saying, “No; this is what I want to do. If I can’t play my song, I’d rather not appear on the show.” Rather than choose a new song, Dylan walked off the set of the country’s highest-rated variety show.

The story got widespread media attention in the days that followed helping to establish Bob’s reputation as an uncompromising artist. The publicity Bob Dylan received from this event probably did more for his career than the actual performance would have.

Speaking of The John Birch Society, did you know Fred Koch, father of the right wing billionaire sons Charles and David Koch, was a leader of the John Birch Society from its founding in 1958 until his death in 1967? In fact, Charles Koch followed his father’s footsteps into the John Birch Society. Charles, and his brother have spent millions fueling a John Birch Society-like “Tea Party” peopled with right-wingers. much like Birchers of decades past.

In many ways, the playbook deployed by the Kochs today, through myriad organizations, resembles a more sophisticated (and expensive) playbook of the John Birch Society back then.

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11 responses to “May 12, 1963…Bob Dylan, Ed Sullivan & The Koch Brothers? Yep!”

  1. John Leone

    Marconi B/W cameras at CBS.

  2. Michael Denke

    Bob needs a song about the Koch Brothers…pronounced Crotch!

  3. Michael Bruchas

    Somehow Dylan’s archives are now at the University of Tulsa’s Helmerich Center for American Research. In Tulsa! Lyric sheets, charts and all of his film prints.
    I am an alum and I know of no ties other than his concerts in Tulsa at Cain’s and elsewhere…

  4. Jeff Kreines

    One one of the official bootleg albums, he introduces it with the title and then says, in reference to the Sullivan show, “and there ain’t nothin’ wrong with this song.”

  5. Ed Marshall

    Not a loss !!!

  6. Robert Barker

    According to the Supreme Court the Koch’s never lost their money, therefore they never lost the Freedom of Speech.

  7. Michael Scott Ferguson

    I’m a ‘JBS family’ survivor, and I approve this message.

  8. David Crosthwait

    CBS, the “Tiffany Network” along with Ed, had show standards. They chose the material that went on the show. You either made the grade or you didn’t. Look at what happened to Jackie Mason and Jim Morrison. You either followed the rules or you were out. That prime time show went into homes across America. I watched it. Familes watched it. I respected Ed.

  9. Bruce A Johnson

    I picked my mom up at the Appleton WI airport a few years back abd took her to Culvers for dinner (if you don’t have Culvers in your neighborhood, you should!). While we are eating I look out the window and what do I see but the national HQ of the John Birch Society! Yes, it still exists. Maybe not too surprising that Appleton also gave the world Joe McCarthy back in the 50’s.

  10. Marc Wielage

    Also funny that the record label would have no problem putting the song out, but the network wouldn’t allow the same song to be performed.

  11. Michael Carraher

    What’s curious is Dylan’s new album coming out was on Columbia Records, at the time owned by guess who? CBS/Columbia used the Sullivan show effectively to promote record sales (but didn’t shut out artists on other labels). Strange that corporate would play hardball with one of their artists, unless they already had figured that they’d sell more records with a walk-out.

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