The Band is definitely an amazing band. This past Thanksgiving was the 36th anniversary of their "The Last Waltz" concert - their final concert as a band before breaking up.
The Band started in 1964 and in 1965 they were hired to be the back-up band for Bob Dylan on his US and world tours. On Thanksgiving Day in 1976, the Band, consisting of Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, and Robbie Robertson, got together at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, CA for one final concert entitled "The Last Waltz" and was described as their "farewell concert appearance".
At 5:00 p.m., the audience of 5,000 was served turkey dinner and at 9:00, the Band started their show, opening with "Up on Cripple Creek". Eleven more of their most famous songs followed including "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down".
But the concert wasn't over yet as many other famous performers made appearances. Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, Muddy Waters, The Staples, Ringo Starr, Ron Wood, Dr. John, Paul Butterfield, and Ronnie Hawkins were all included in this important night.
After five-hours, The Last Waltz came to an end. Robbie Robertson said, "We knew this was the most powerful musical experience of our days together and a very satisfying and beautiful way to bring it all to a conclusion."
