Spent last night rewatching The Last Waltz, the film by Martin Scorsese which depicts the final concert by The Band.

Filmed on Thanksgiving Day in 1976, it captured the last appearance of the original lineup with guest appearances by Neil Young, Dr John, Ronnie Wood, Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, Ring Starr and others. It was released two years later to great acclaim.

The Band proper was formed in 1967 and consisted of Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel and would go on to be one of the most influential bands in American history. They were effortlessly talented and cool as any publicity photo would show and this film is widely considered the greatest film of a music concert ever recorded.

Scorsese’s skill as a filmmaker is plain to see, the range of shots from the back of the hall to as close to the group as was possible to get gives the film an immersive feel, the set list is impeccable, the sound and musical performance as good as it gets and the concert footage is interspersed with interviews with the band.

If I had a criticism it would be the sense that Robbie Robertson, who produced the film, gets the lion’s share of the interviews and live footage with Danko alongside him. Garth Hudson, in particular looks cold shouldered and Robertson seems intent on telling us that sixteen years on the road is enough. And it was, he refused to tour ever again. By 1983 they had reformed without him and when, in 1986, Manuel committed suicide, any hope of a full reunion was over.

1976 was an interesting period in music and the assembled guest stars had, with the exception of Ronnie Wood from the Rolling Stones, seen their popularity peak some years earlier. I have long considered that period in rock music to be the hangover from the late sixties and early seventies when the drugs and drink had finally bettered many of them. In the UK, the advent of Punk and New Wave along with a politically charged approach to music and art in general proved a testing time for the rock establishment and the Band were feeling that hangover as much as anyone.

But this film depicts a one last hurrah, a reminder of their greatness and a style of music uniquely American. Scorsese captured the moment perfectly and few signed off better.