INDUSTRY NEWS

Positively Wall Street

In the year just past Bob Dylan sang for Pope John Paul II, released a critically acclaimed CD, and appeared on the cover of Newsweek. And, umm—oh yeah—he played at Applied Materials’ 30th anniversary party. When you’re one of the most successful equipment vendors in the microchip biz you can rent the San Jose Arena and hire rock icon Dylan and his son Jakob’s band, The Wallflowers, to perform exclusively for 12,000 delighted employees and guests.

Applied had no official comment on the November 14 performances. Corporate spokesman Jeff Lettes called the party “an employee-focused event to celebrate 30 years of success. As a part of the [celebration] full- and part-time employees were given a special stock option award for 200 shares of Applied common stock.” Audience members also received binoculars, presumably to grab close-up views of Bob and Jakob, or maybe just to keep a close eye on the soaring value of their Applied securities.

Local media, of course, got wind of the show. The Gen Xers in the audience were more attuned to Dylan fils  than Dylan père, reported one such cohort. An enthralled boomer said, “Bob told us, ’The next time you do something like this I’d love to come back.’” Everyone leapt to their feet for “Like a Rolling Stone,” but a leading indicator of how the times are a-changin’ came after chairman/CEO James Morgan spoke. “The biggest ovation,” recalled one music lover, “was for Morgan when he announced the stock options.”

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