The Band - The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down

I'm just about 40 years late to the discussion. Why did they "retire" in 1976? Did Robertson and Helm hate each other? Drugs?

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I'm just about 40 years late to the discussion. Why did they "retire" in 1976? Did Robertson and Helm hate each other? Drugs?

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The Last Waltz was RR's idea. The others were willing to simply put The Band on hiatus for awhile but RR insisted it be a supercolossal This-Is-It Hollywood Grand Finale.

Helm only wanted two special guests: Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan. RR however insisted on including everybody and his brother, even someone like Neil Diamond who had nothing to do with The Band.

Al this was done to get the maximum of publicity for the concert film. RR had been doing coke with Martin Scorcese, who convinced him he could be a movie star. The Last Waltz was essentially RR's glorified screen test -- that's why he's on camera so much, and shown singing even though his mike was disconnected.

The story goes that Helm and Ronnie Hawkins first saw a pre-release screening of TLW on the Warners lot. After the screening the lights came on but Helm just sat in his chair, speechless. But the inimitable Hawkins just laughed it off, telling Helm something like, "You have to admit Levon, Robbie never sounded better!"

I just saw Levon playing a role in a Markie Mark movie, Shooter or something like that.

Catch that doc about Levon. Ain't In it For My Health. Great program.

Isn't that thr group jason isbell wrote danko manuel about?

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Al this was done to get the maximum of publicity for the concert film. RR had been doing coke with Martin Scorcese, who convinced him he could be a movie star. The Last Waltz was essentially RR's glorified screen test -- that's why he's on camera so much, and shown singing even though his mike was disconnected.

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I'm not sure it was disconnected, but the live takes of the vocals for the fellas were pretty bad, except for Levon. They had to re-record most of them in post-production. Some of the instrument tracks, too.

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But the inimitable Hawkins just laughed it off, telling Helm something like, "You have to admit Levon, Robbie never sounded better!"

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Some version of this is almost certainly true.

Even though it's always in the discussions of best rock documentary, once you know the back story of The Last Waltz, you begin to realize it's really not that good. Here's a fun article on the show - LINK

I'm going to be up around Woodstock in a few, I hope to head over to West Saugerties and drive passed the Big Pink house.

... likely RR would have still penned everything in his name. Just one side, but in the flick 'Ain't In it For My Health.'

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thanks to Twenty 49, for the name

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Levon really goes off on how Robertson didn't know noth'n, how they taught him about music down here and the south, and then he put his name on what everyone was a part of.... Would be cool to know the whole tale. ETA: and his hatred for the suits (music exec's - the music industry)

Pretty secure type, he took the money, and said I've had enough... Like another of my hero's, John Hartford who after making a bushel full, decided he rather just keep playing music his way.

RR is a flaming a-hole.