The Fat Angel Sings

 THE BAND took the stage for The Last Waltz.

It was Thanksgiving Day then, and a who’s who of music history got on stage to show their gratitude for the group. Eric Clapton, Neil Young,Muddy Waters, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison (Official) and The Staple Singers all lent their talents, among others. 

It was nearly 40 years ago, back on November 25th, 1976, on Thanksgiving Day at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, The Band (Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson ) performed a concert known as The Last Waltz. The Last Waltz was advertised as the Band’s “farewell concert appearance”, goers saw The Band joined by more than a dozen special guests, including Bob Dylan, Paul Butterfield, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Hawkins, Dr. John, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Wood, Neil Diamond, Bobby Charles, The Staple Singers, and Eric Clapton. The musical director for the concert was the Band’s original record producer, John Simon.
More than likely we’ve all seen the documentary film titled “The Last Waltz” which includes excerpts of the concert and the Martin Scorsese interviews, which is a great work, but I thought today we might just like to go to the full 4hr.+ concert. 

And to think this was all captured on film by Martin Scorcese? Maybe the Greatest concert film of all time.