After being together for the best of part of 20 years, The Band decided to call it a day in 1976. While the reasons for doing so were typical of the era, namely drug abuse, their playing being affected by intoxicants and a collapse in inner-band relations, their farewell show, The Last Waltz was anything but ordinary.
It remains one of the finest goodbyes a group has ever delivered; an all-star, lavish evening which was immortalised by Martin Scorsese’s great concert film of the same name.
Held on Thanksgiving day, November 25th, 1976, at San Francisco’s hallowed Winterland Ballroom, The Last Waltz was explicitly advertised as The Band’s “farewell concert appearance”. Given that the group had been so influential, some of the era’s most prominent names were on hand to make it one to remember and say goodbye to an undisputed juggernaut.
Managed and produced by Bill Graham – the impresario behind Bay Area countercultural heroes such as Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane – and musically directed by John Simon, The Band’s original record producer, from the top down it was certain to be a success. Furthermore, both of The Band’s former bosses Bob Dylan and Ronnie Hawkins featured on stage, as did the likes of Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, Neil Young, and others.
As expected, the night had an upbeat atmosphere and ample hard-partying. Despite Band guitarist Robbie Robertson claiming the cocaine they used on the night “wasn’t very good”, it can’t have been that bad, as famously, a white rock protruding from Neil Young’s nostril had to be edited out in post-production. Moreover, aside from the classic rock ‘n’ roll hijinks, there was also another aspect that separated it from the usual concert, and was a real touch of class.
As part of the $25 tickets – expensive for the era – the approximately 5,000 guests were treated to an expansive Thanksgiving celebration. The audience attended in their smartest attire, and before the show, took seats at long tables decked with pristine white tablecloths, and admired the dancers, waltzing around the room.
It was like something from a hippie fairytale. Bill Graham, a notably proud man, sported a white tuxedo and top hat, and happily mingled with the crowd, giving them insight into organising such an extravagant affair.
Although the all-star cast of musicians was one to write home about, so was the feast. It included turkey, salmon, pumpkin pie, potatoes, and of course, copious amounts of alcohol. This set a precedent for the evening to come, and for those who were there, solidified The Last Waltz as an evening like no other.
Editors’ Picks
- 1970s Rock
- Bob Dylan
- Concert Films
- Eric Clapton
- Joni Mitchell
- Martin Scorsese
- Neil Young
- Robbie Robertson
- The Band
- The Last Waltz
