Last Waltz Alert...well, at least for Canuckistanis

It's on Treasure HD. Don't know if the Yanks get it down there or not

The Martin Scorsese film about The Band's last concert in 1976 at The Winterland Ballroom in SF.

Maybe the best rock doc ever.

Here's a list of some of the performers:

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.

The name that jumps from that list is Neil Diamond.

 

Van Morrison ripped it up. On a bill that had a bunch of mega acts, in my estimation, he stole the show.

 

I recently read a great interview with Levon Helm about the show but I can't recall where it was from. He was pretty blunt about his feelings about the movie and his thoughts on Neil Diamond were great. Seems not everybody in the band wanted to quit and he wasn't thrilled that Neil was part of the show.

 

Discussed here many times but still don't understand all the tears and hand-wringing over breakup of The Band

 

Well, they were a kick-ass band that retired in their prime.

Anyway, for anybody that has time, here's the Levon Helm interview. It's pretty long, but here's a quick hit: After he said he didn't want to do the movie (or break up the band), his lawyer said there was really no way out of it so, "Do it, puke, and get out of the way.''

http://jmdl.com/library/view.cfm?id=1217

Of course, I really can't get enough of the Last Waltz. I'll watch it anytime it's on.

 

Uh, who said there were tears or hand wringing, Boom?

They happened to be a great band with a unique voice, kickass musicians and backed up The Hawk & Dylan.

What's not to like?

 

Is it the "special edition"? If not you'll be able to see a tiny ball of cocaine in Neil Young's nostril!