Why Bob Dylan Stayed Behind His Piano in Bangor, Maine

Bob Dylan's reason for staying behind his piano during his Bangor concert has finally been explained.

Why Seeing Bob Dylan in Bangor Was Nearly Impossible

Friday's Outlaw Music Festival frustrated many concert-goers when legendary performer Bob Dylan sat behind his piano, making it nearly impossible to see him.

READ MORE: What to Know Before Attending a Waterfront Concert

I've heard many people say they went to see Bob Dylan, thinking it might be their last chance in Bangor, Maine. But the bright candelabras on the front of the piano and the black hoodie that Dylan wore made seeing him virtually impossible.

Some people left, while others voiced their displeasure because they felt they had been cheated out of the Dylan experience.

The ironic thing is that's exactly what they got.

Why Bob Dylan Stayed Behind His Piano in Bangor, Maine is About Pictures

Bob Dylan is a rebel who has always found ways to challenge authority and protest against the norms.

For several years, Dylan had been forbidding the taking of any pictures or videos at his shows. And he actually enforces it in smaller venues with security patrolling the aisles.

Rolling Stone magazine says he was so upset at a show in Austria six years ago that he stopped performing and asked the audience if they wanted him to play or pose.

Why Bob Dylan Stayed Behind His Piano in Bangor, Maine, Explained

Dylan wants people to go to his concerts to enjoy the music, not spend their time trying to capture the perfect photo.

Once he joined the Outlaw Music Festival, however, the idea of policing photo-takers became impossible due to the size of the venues. So Bob Dylan made himself the invisible man, donning a dark hoodie and staying behind his piano for the show.

According to the Rolling Stone article, Bangor is the first place Dylan changed the stage setup to prevent pictures.

If you felt cheated out of the Dylan experience in Bangor, you shouldn't. You got it in classic Bob Dylan fashion from a legendary rebel who still refuses to follow the rules.