William McKeen in his office at Weimer Hall.

In an office covered with oddly framed posters, including an early shot of Bob Marley and a commemorative print from the Rolling Stones VooDoo Lounge tour, it is hard to feel scholarly while fighting off the flashback.

After scanning the walls, the eye is drawn to a work desk that resembles a kitchen table. It is covered with Bob Dylan bootlegs and some scattered papers.

This is not your typical office, and William McKeen is not your typical professor.

McKeen, the chair of the journalism department, is a music historian and pop culture guru. He teaches a popular honors course, the History of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and also wrote biographies of the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Hunter S. Thompson and Tom Wolfe.

McKeen can recall several concerts at the UF but it was a specific concert that had a profound effect on him. It was Roger McGuinn, the ‘60s folk icon and founder of the Byrds, in a solo acoustic performance that truly impressed McKeen.

“It was one of those moments when a musician actually gave me chills,” McKeen says.

McGuinn opened the show with a faultless version of the Bob Dylan song “My Back Pages.” His music filled the New South Music Hall, known today as the Palace, and created an atmosphere of calm and intimate brilliance. The rest of the show fell into place with a chilling performance that only one man and his guitar can provide in a small dark theater.

When the Rolling Stones came to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Nov. 27, 1994, it just happened to be the eve of McKeen’s journalism-school buddy, Jon Roosenraad’s birthday.

“The Stones are Jon’s favorite band, and they played the night before his 50th birthday,” McKeen says. “He saw that as a sign from the rock ‘n’ roll gods.”

McKeen, Roosenraad and their crew of friends started tailgating, near the stadium, before noon to prepare for the late-evening show. The sun was shining, drinks were pouring and food was being enjoyed by all.

“We’d been partying all day,” McKeen recalls.

In mid-afternoon a newcomer passed around a tray of brownies. McKeen plunged in to one of his favorite foods.

By the time the show started around 9 p.m., McKeen started feeling odd and couldn’t quite figure out why. He didn’t pay attention at first. The show was too good. Mick Jagger was practically spitting on him because of his prime seats.

“My girlfriend said she never saw me act the way I acted at that concert, which was totally uninhibited,” he says.

He was baffled until years later when his friend from the party group casually mentioned what was in the brownies.

“Now I remember why the show was really so good,” McKeen says.

Story by Jedd Ferris