The Band: A History

The Band: A History sits down with Mrs. Henry, the California-based rock group who is heading out on the road with their show Music From The Band.

The Band: A History sits down with former guitarist of The Band Jim Weider.

The Last Waltz dragged on. With the concert wrapped and filming complete at the MGM soundstage, Martin Scorsese wanted to now add a series of interviews to further contextualize the footage shot. With the go-ahead and more budget from the studio interviews were filmed.

Full-on post-production of The Last Waltz took place over an eighteen-month period from the winter of 1977 through the spring of 1978. It was a monstrous undertaking with many moving pieces between the studio, producers, technicians, crews and the musicians.

Assembling in the studio at various points during 1976 through 1977, The Band put together a plan for Islands. It was described later by Robbie as being similar to The Who’s Odds & Sods album. In essence, it was a hodgepodge of older recordings along with some newer cuts to complete their eight album record deal with Capitol.

With the break-up of his band and his family, Levon Helm did what he knew best, make music. While The Band was all but extinct, Helm continued to tell journalists they’d keep making music. However, he started putting together a new band, and he moved back east to set up permanently. As he recalled, “I decided to remain in Woodstock. I loved the town and the people and the way of life too much to sell my house and relocate.”

“I was looking for a simpler, fresher routing... But I really like this new group. I can go out and perform the record now.” Rick Danko was now out on his own. Nearly two decades with The Band left him wanting more. More music, more touring and more control.

The Band: A History sits down with writer, columnist and author Jude Warne to discuss her recent essay on The Band's 1970 studio album Stage Fright, which is part of a larger scholarly study of The Band entitled Rags and Bones: An Exploration of The Band published by the University Press of Mississippi. You can find Rags and Bones: An Exploration of The Band here and visit Jude's website here.

“Sitting around my house in Malibu and walking around the beach. I’ve been doing that for a long time, and frankly, I’m tired of it.”

He is genuinely the most original, brilliant and moving keyboard players that has ever operated within rock ’n’ roll.”