“Follow that!”
That’s reportedly what Neil Diamond said to Bob Dylan after exiting the stage during The Band’s Last Waltz performance. A slightly bemused Dylan retorted, “What do I have to do, go on stage and fall asleep?”. Game, set, match, Zimmy.
RIP — Rick Danko (1942-1999)
The Band’s bassist had one of the most unique voices in rock music. A heartfelt yearning and emotion was felt in every note he ever sang, Rick died 10 years ago today at the age of 57.
Here’s Rick with “When You Awake”:
R.I.P. — Bill Graham (1931-1991)
Legendary San Franciscan concert promoter Bill Graham died on this date in 1991 after his helicopter crashed following a Huey Lewis concert. A charismatic and controversial personality, Graham helped define the San Francisco music scene in the late 60′s, opened the Fillmore, East and West, was a permanent fixture at every Dead New Years show, organized The Band’s “Last Waltz” and even co-starred as “Lucky” Luciano in Warren Beatty’s Bugsy. RIP Uncle Bobo.
36 Years ago today…
The Allman Brothers Band, The Grateful Dead and The Band held what many estimated as the largest outdoor rock show. Over 150,000 tickets were sold, but over 600,000 devotees showed. The festival actually started on the 27th, as the band’s sounchecked in front of a live audience, including the Dead’s two set marathon “soundcheck”. Here’s more info from Wiki.
The Band — “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
From The Last Waltz.
Bob Dylan & The Band — “Hwy 61 Revisited”
From the Isle Of Wight, August 31, 1969.
Happy Birthday — Richard Manuel
Richard Manuel of The Band was born on this date in 1943. The keyboardist/vocalist was instrumental in the success of the group in the early years, but his issues with drugs/alcohol led him down a dark path. Manuel hanged himself in a Winter Park, FL hotel room after a gig in 1983. He had been clean for some time and was touring with a Robbie Robertson-less incarnation of The Band, that included the rest of the gang, when his demons and addictions returned. Manuel took his life on March 4, 1983.
Here’s Richard shortly before his death singing “The Shape I’m In”:
The Band — “Time To Kill”
Excellent song from 1970′s Stage Fright.
The Band — Washington, D.C. (8/16/76)
Mid-August 1976 found the band members Robbie Robertson and Richard Manuel, tired and burned out of constant touring. Their legendary retirement shows, captured in “The Last Waltz” was but a mere three months away. This show finds them mustering their collective strength and flexing their musical muscle. Taken from a pre-FM recording.
01) Don’t Do It
02) Shape I’m In
03) It Makes No Difference
04) The Weight
05) King Harvest
06) Twilight
07) Ophelia
08) Tears Of Rage
09) Forbidden Fruit
10) This Wheel’s On Fire
11) The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
12) Genetic Method
13) Chest Fever
14) Up On Cripple Creek
15) W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
Levon Helm remembers The Last Waltz
Here’s a little insight on what went down between Robbie Robertson and Levon leading up to The Last Waltz and what transpired on that historic night in 1976. Click here to read his take from 1994.
SOME TIME in September 1976 we got word that Robbie Robertson and our management wanted to put it away. Robbie had had enough, and they decided to kill The Band and go out with a bang. I thought it might be a joke, but Robertson was dead serious. In fact, they had a plan. Robbie wanted us to play a farewell show in San Francisco, where it all started for us, around Thanksgiving. He wanted everyone we’d played with along the way – from Ronnie Hawkins to Bob Dylan – to perform, but without their own musicians. We would be the back-up band for our guests. They were already lining people up: Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Ringo, Eric Clapton, Allen Toussaint. It was gonna be the concert of the century, maybe the show to end the whole so-called rock era. That’s what they told me, anyway. (more…)
Rick Danko — “It Makes No Difference”
This is one of my desert island songs.
The Band — The “Real” Last Waltz
Head over to Hidden Track and check out the complete SBD 241 minute real last show of The Band (11/25/1976).
The Band — Jersey City, NJ (8/1/1973)
Back To Memphis
Lovin’ You Is Better Than Ever
The Shape I’m In
The Weight
Stage Fright
I Shall Be Released
Don’t Do It
Endless Highway
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Across The Great Divide
This Wheel’s On Fire
Life Is A Carnival
Share Your Love
Up On Cripple Creek
Chest Fever
The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
32 Years Ago Today…
The Band performed their legendary farewell show at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. Promoter Bill Graham provided a Thanksgiving meal for those in attendance and The Band treated their fans to a show that included more than a dozen special guests, including Paul Butterfield, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Ronnie Hawkins, Dr. John, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Wood and Neil Young. Here are some videos of the occassion taken from Martin Scorsese’s landmark concert film.
Up On Cripple Creek:
It Makes No Difference:
Neil Young’s Helpless:
Eric Clapton — “Sign Language”
In Clapton’s autobiography Clapton, he talks of this Bob Dylan penned song and his penchant for the lyrics. Apparently Bob wrote the song in one brief sitting and offered it to Eric. It was recorded at the legendary Shangri-La studio featured in The Last Waltz and featured on Eric’s 1978 release No Reason To Cry.
The Band — Don’t Do It
Don’cha break my heart, please! Don’t do it! From Rock Of Ages (1972), here’s a version from the Academy Of Music in late ’71.
The Band — I Shall Be Released
The Band performing “I Shall Be Released” in the excellent “Festival Express“.
The Band — 8/16/1976
A little post bi-centenial Band action for ya, courtesy of our new friend Tim at Music Junkie. Mid-August 1976 found the band tired and burned out of constant touring (sound familiar?). Their legendary retirement shows, captured in “The Last Waltz” was but a mere three months away. This show finds them mustering their collective strength and flexing their musical muscle. Taken from a pre-FM recording. Download here.
The Band — The Weight
An oldie but a goodie. I hate that this song is/was a Cingular commercial. This is for Rick.
The Band — Cripple Creek
Here we have The Band performing “Up On Cripple Creek” from Martin Scosese’s 1978 epic concert film, The Last Waltz. With an unparalleled artist roster, this is amongst the best concert films of all time. Who’s in it you ask? Well, we have Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, (deep breath), Dr. John, Ringo Starr, Van Morrison, The Staple Singers, Emmylou Harris and of course, The Band.
Rick, Janis & Jerry
Rick Danko (The Band), Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
Imagine riding across the Canadian countryside in 1970 with your favorite bands. Well, this DVD, Festival Express, captures the excitement, the camraderie and logistical limitations that existed on this run of shows. The lineup included The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Buddy Guy, The Band, Traffic, Delaney & Bonnie, etc., etc. Sadly, Joplin was not long for this earth and left our planet shortly after the completion of the short run. Apparently the booze ran freely and judging by the following clip, all imbibed.
Enjoy this clip that illustrates the fraternity that the music business used to and should be.
