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Across the Great Divide: The Band and America
This is a vivid and rollicking account of The Band's journey across three decades. Spanning the history of American rock and boasting a supporting cast that includes Dylan, Janis Joplin, and U2, the book brilliantly captures the raw magic and complex personalities of a group George Harrison called “the best band in the history of the universe.”, This revised U.S. edition includes a postscript, together with an obituary of Rick Danko and a brand-new interview with Robbie Robertson.
496 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 31, 2014
Levon Helm's autobiography, "This Wheel's On Fire," ranks as one of my all time favorite rock biographies. This book is also a very good look at life inside the Band, and stands apart because it offers a kinder eye to Robbie Robertson and his acrimonious split from Helm and the other members of the Band.
November 24, 2011
One of the finest concerts I ever saw was during one of The Band's reunion tours in the early 80's with the Cate Brothers at The Stone in San Francisco, before Richard Manuel's suicide. I was in the front row and got to shake hands with Levon, Rick, and Richard, and Bonnie Raitt and Maria Muldaur came onstage at the end to sing "Willie and the Hand Jive". It was a wonderful evening. This book, on the other hand, is a bit labored, too long, and in the end rather sad since the author makes the point, again and again, that the 40+ years since the eponymous 2nd Band album have been anticlimactic and a rather sorry denouement in many ways, Levon's recent success with "Dirt Farmer" (which came out after this book was published) notwithstanding. I recommend it only for people who are from a more recent vintage and may need to know the connections that some of us who are longer in the tooth remember. In the end though, I would say buy the first two albums and maybe "Rock of Ages" and thank God that such wonderful music was ever possible.
August 11, 2017
The rise and fall of one of the most unique and interesting bands in Rock. It took a few years to all get together and become a group, but once there and firing on all cylinders produced music unlike anything heard before, some of which has stood the test of time and become classics. Unfortunately things began unraveling leading to a slow decline and fall.
Time seems to have shown that despite criticism of Robbie Robertson, that continues to this day, he was most likely on the right track. Richard Manuel was dead by his own hand by the time this book was published, Rick Danko died at the relatively young age of 55 a while later, and Levon Helm is gone also after dealing with health issues. Only Robbie and Garth Hudson now remain.
The music, however, lives on. The best that any of them did occurred when they were as one.
Time seems to have shown that despite criticism of Robbie Robertson, that continues to this day, he was most likely on the right track. Richard Manuel was dead by his own hand by the time this book was published, Rick Danko died at the relatively young age of 55 a while later, and Levon Helm is gone also after dealing with health issues. Only Robbie and Garth Hudson now remain.
The music, however, lives on. The best that any of them did occurred when they were as one.
August 29, 2007
Well, the story of The Band is so laden with bitching and backstabbing, trials, tribulations, drug addled rambling and bitterness, Barney Hoskyn's relatively impartial biog is great for getting an overview of the group's story. I read this book immediately after finishing Band drummer, Levon Helm's, autobiography which is the most unashamedly biased book I have ever read (I loved it though).
From their early days as Hawks to the tragic death of Richard Manuel, Barney Hoskyns delivers an engaging and very thorough account.
From their early days as Hawks to the tragic death of Richard Manuel, Barney Hoskyns delivers an engaging and very thorough account.
April 26, 2025
Brilliant book of the saddest tale
I’ve read two or three editions of this book. It’s the most absorbing book, even if all you know about The Band is The Last Waltz. It was sad enough when I read the first edition before either Rick or Levon had died. It’s even sadder now.
I’ve read two or three editions of this book. It’s the most absorbing book, even if all you know about The Band is The Last Waltz. It was sad enough when I read the first edition before either Rick or Levon had died. It’s even sadder now.
July 24, 2024
An interesting look into the story of The Band and their influence on rock n' roll.
September 6, 2009
My love of The Band grew as a result of reading this book. I knew the outline of their story, but this book goes into excellent detail about the group's origins as the Hawks, then backing Dylan, and then finally as their own unit.
I was always confused as to how a band seemingly at the height of its powers would walk away, resulting in The Last Waltz. Seeing as it seemed to be the motivation of Robertson, the group's primary songwriter, the author gives the sense the others had little choice, even if it didn't appear they wanted to split up themselves.
I got the impression that the group was so casual about so much of what it did, that it created some incredible music, but also created a sense that there were opportunities lost or that the story finished before the group really ran its course. I feel like The Band's story is one of unfinished business. But I guess that's the case with a lot of bands, especially great ones.
If nothing else however, it reaffirmed my love of a group that was truly a cohesive band, one in which all five members were equal contributors to the music being made (if not the actual songwriting, which fell primarily to Robertson). They were all phenomenal musicians (and three were great singers), and that is readily evident in listening to their music or even moreso, when watching (and re-watching) The Last Waltz.
I was always confused as to how a band seemingly at the height of its powers would walk away, resulting in The Last Waltz. Seeing as it seemed to be the motivation of Robertson, the group's primary songwriter, the author gives the sense the others had little choice, even if it didn't appear they wanted to split up themselves.
I got the impression that the group was so casual about so much of what it did, that it created some incredible music, but also created a sense that there were opportunities lost or that the story finished before the group really ran its course. I feel like The Band's story is one of unfinished business. But I guess that's the case with a lot of bands, especially great ones.
If nothing else however, it reaffirmed my love of a group that was truly a cohesive band, one in which all five members were equal contributors to the music being made (if not the actual songwriting, which fell primarily to Robertson). They were all phenomenal musicians (and three were great singers), and that is readily evident in listening to their music or even moreso, when watching (and re-watching) The Last Waltz.
September 2, 2015
Growing up in the 70's I wasn't a big fan of The Band. Over the years, more and more of their songs ended up on my playlists, and eventually you turn around to see just how big an influence their music was on your musical tastes. I think I listened more to bands like Blue Rodeo and Blitzen Trapper because of their affinity to The Band.
This is a sad story overall though. I read it as a parable of lost potential. It's tough to make it in the music industry, and perhaps even tougher if you are literal outsiders like The Band was in the 60's.
The author knows his material, and has written a reverent account of the beginnings, rise and eventual fall of The Band. Having reads a number of biographies of the musical artists of my era, the use of narcotics and alcohol is a recurring theme, but I think the author has either been easy on The Band, or didn't actually know the extent of their abuse.
That being said, the reviews of the creative processes leading to the albums, and the descriptions of the music itself, are satisfying. I found myself listening to the albums as he described the songs, and it added to the enjoyment and understanding of the music.
Recommended!
This is a sad story overall though. I read it as a parable of lost potential. It's tough to make it in the music industry, and perhaps even tougher if you are literal outsiders like The Band was in the 60's.
The author knows his material, and has written a reverent account of the beginnings, rise and eventual fall of The Band. Having reads a number of biographies of the musical artists of my era, the use of narcotics and alcohol is a recurring theme, but I think the author has either been easy on The Band, or didn't actually know the extent of their abuse.
That being said, the reviews of the creative processes leading to the albums, and the descriptions of the music itself, are satisfying. I found myself listening to the albums as he described the songs, and it added to the enjoyment and understanding of the music.
Recommended!
April 14, 2015
Made me want to listen to the music again - my iPod has been set to The Band for a month now. It's a balanced view of an (unusually) balanced band, although, eventually, the balance shifted. Hoskyns captures these shifts well but he also transmits a clear love for the music. It is fascinating to here how some of this wonderful music grew and evolved out of the classics of American music. If you like anything by The Band, or even if you are just interested in the period, this is a very enjoyable read. One of the best books about modern American music.
September 5, 2010
A legendary band. A legendary story. A well written book. If you want to read one book about The Band, choose this one. This Wheel's on Fire (by Levon Helm and Stephen Davis) is just one side of the story.
February 9, 2013
Very well balanced view of the tensions between Levon Helm and Robbie Robertson. This made the book very comfortable to read for those who respected and appreciated both. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on the joy each member got from playing the music.
November 22, 2017
The Band was arguably the greatest North American Rock band. If you are a fan of the Band, this book is indispensable. It ranks right up there with Levon Helm's "This Wheels on Fire."
February 23, 2022
I bought this book for research purposes, whilst preparing an article about the recently deceased singing drummer, Levon Helm. I already knew that Hoskyns is amongst the best writers on popular music working today, having also read his exemplary writings on Tom Waits ( Lowside of the Road: A Life of Tom Waits ) and the singer-songwriters of the LA/Laurel Canyon scene ( Hotel California: Singer-songwriters and Cocaine Cowboys in the L.A. Canyons 1967-1976 ). Across The Great Divide lives up to the high standards of his other books, being pretty well balanced between getting over the facts and conveying the excitement felt by someone who's clearly an admirer and fan.
Like all his other subjects (at least insofar as the books I've read are concerned), the psychological and emotional topography, appeal and excitement of the book, more or less follows the profile of Hoskyns' subjects careers: the early days and back-story are wonderfully beguiling, full of excitement and promise of things to come; this is followed by the halcyon days, in this case covering a significant chunk of the groups career, first as The Hawks, backing Ronnie Hawkins, then working with Dylan - helping him 'go electric' - and finally becoming 'The Band', and waxing their two most lauded recordings, ' Music from Big Pink ', and their second album (in my opinion easily their best, by many a country mile), originally referred to as 'The Brown Album', but now known simply as ' The Band '.
The remainder of the book is still interesting, and worth reading, but it does follow a gradual and almost inexorable downward curve, a sad but oh-so-familiar trajectory: success, indulgence, disintegration, decline, and death. The book already covered the tragic suicide of Richard Manuel, and was subsequently updated to take in Rick Danko's passing. It even has a postscript interview with Helm, added after his first brush with throat cancer. I wonder if the book will be revised again in the wake of his more recent passing?
An excellent and very enjoyable book, about a band whose highest points were indeed sublime. Still, it's a 'sad and beautiful' story, as well as an occasionally exciting and exhilarating one, and I find it intriguing from the point of view of the myth-making and reverence surroundings figures like Dylan and The Band. Thank goodness popular music has at least some writers like Hoskyns, intelligently and articulately chronicling interesting facets of a still-young art form. I'm looking forward to his imminent Zeppelin book, which will of course also cover another dead drum hero amongst the colourful protagonists.
Like all his other subjects (at least insofar as the books I've read are concerned), the psychological and emotional topography, appeal and excitement of the book, more or less follows the profile of Hoskyns' subjects careers: the early days and back-story are wonderfully beguiling, full of excitement and promise of things to come; this is followed by the halcyon days, in this case covering a significant chunk of the groups career, first as The Hawks, backing Ronnie Hawkins, then working with Dylan - helping him 'go electric' - and finally becoming 'The Band', and waxing their two most lauded recordings, ' Music from Big Pink ', and their second album (in my opinion easily their best, by many a country mile), originally referred to as 'The Brown Album', but now known simply as ' The Band '.
The remainder of the book is still interesting, and worth reading, but it does follow a gradual and almost inexorable downward curve, a sad but oh-so-familiar trajectory: success, indulgence, disintegration, decline, and death. The book already covered the tragic suicide of Richard Manuel, and was subsequently updated to take in Rick Danko's passing. It even has a postscript interview with Helm, added after his first brush with throat cancer. I wonder if the book will be revised again in the wake of his more recent passing?
An excellent and very enjoyable book, about a band whose highest points were indeed sublime. Still, it's a 'sad and beautiful' story, as well as an occasionally exciting and exhilarating one, and I find it intriguing from the point of view of the myth-making and reverence surroundings figures like Dylan and The Band. Thank goodness popular music has at least some writers like Hoskyns, intelligently and articulately chronicling interesting facets of a still-young art form. I'm looking forward to his imminent Zeppelin book, which will of course also cover another dead drum hero amongst the colourful protagonists.
May 13, 2023
Hoskyns' biography of one of the most important bands in American rock history is comprehensive and eminently readable. The story of how a bunch of Canadian wannabe rockers and one downhome Southern countryboy created some of the most breathtaking rock music ever committed to vinyl and then squandered their talents in booze, drugs and recriminations is told in four parts, neatly breaking down their career.
Drawing from interviews with all members of the band, as well as managers, collaborators and wives/girlfriends, Hoskyns does a great job of telling their story. Starting out as backing band to a Canadian rocker called Ronnie Hawkins, these five musicians would go on to tour with Dylan, create a handful of great albums (including one stone cold masterpiece), a few clunkers, before going out in the blaze of overblown pretentious glory that was The Last Waltz.
The Band were full of contradictions. Containing one driven songwriter and stellar guitarist in Robbie Robertson, three great singers in Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Levon Helm and a genius multi-instrumentalist in Garth Hudson, they also suffered from not having a singular front man as a focal point for the audience. This gave rise to allegations of aloofness where they seemed to just be "playing for themselves". In some cases this was true, but they were still a superb live band, as anyone who saw them backing Dylan, or playing their own music can attest.
They say that those who burn brightest burn half as long, and in the case of the Band the initial burst of three fantastic albums (Big Pink, The Band and Stage Fright) couldn't be maintained. They atrophied, with Robertson's songs becoming more verbose and pretentious, drink and drugs taking their toll as well. The almost mythical status they held is almost deserved, but undermined by less than great albums like Cahoots, Moondog Matinee and Islands.
But they did change the face of Rock music, providing an antidote to tripped out psychedelia with a brew of Southern myth making and potent mix of R&B and country that set them apart. The "back to basics" approach would permeate through the rock glitterati throughout the late 60s and early 70s and that was all down the the music The Band made.
This edition ends in the 1990s just after the tragic death of Richard Manuel. Hoskyns has updated the story a couple of times since. In the intervening years all but Robertson have passed, but the music still stands as a testament to their talent and an extraordinary moment in modern popular music. If you have any interest at all in American rock music, read this.
Drawing from interviews with all members of the band, as well as managers, collaborators and wives/girlfriends, Hoskyns does a great job of telling their story. Starting out as backing band to a Canadian rocker called Ronnie Hawkins, these five musicians would go on to tour with Dylan, create a handful of great albums (including one stone cold masterpiece), a few clunkers, before going out in the blaze of overblown pretentious glory that was The Last Waltz.
The Band were full of contradictions. Containing one driven songwriter and stellar guitarist in Robbie Robertson, three great singers in Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Levon Helm and a genius multi-instrumentalist in Garth Hudson, they also suffered from not having a singular front man as a focal point for the audience. This gave rise to allegations of aloofness where they seemed to just be "playing for themselves". In some cases this was true, but they were still a superb live band, as anyone who saw them backing Dylan, or playing their own music can attest.
They say that those who burn brightest burn half as long, and in the case of the Band the initial burst of three fantastic albums (Big Pink, The Band and Stage Fright) couldn't be maintained. They atrophied, with Robertson's songs becoming more verbose and pretentious, drink and drugs taking their toll as well. The almost mythical status they held is almost deserved, but undermined by less than great albums like Cahoots, Moondog Matinee and Islands.
But they did change the face of Rock music, providing an antidote to tripped out psychedelia with a brew of Southern myth making and potent mix of R&B and country that set them apart. The "back to basics" approach would permeate through the rock glitterati throughout the late 60s and early 70s and that was all down the the music The Band made.
This edition ends in the 1990s just after the tragic death of Richard Manuel. Hoskyns has updated the story a couple of times since. In the intervening years all but Robertson have passed, but the music still stands as a testament to their talent and an extraordinary moment in modern popular music. If you have any interest at all in American rock music, read this.
January 16, 2025
Stimulating and authoritative
This book about The Band first appeared at around the same time (c. 1993) as This Wheel's on Fire, the memorable account of the group's history written by Levon Helm, its drummer and singer. The two books even use the same photograph on their front covers: the classic shot by Elliott Landy (depicting the five members as stiffly-posed desperados against the backdrop of the Catskill mountains) which did so much to crystalize their image - for example, Elvis Costello says on p210 of this book, "I liked The Band because they had *beards* [...] They didn't look pretty, and they weren't *boys*.".
More pertinently, Hoskyns mentions in his preface that he was unable to interview Helm for this book because he was working on his own account at the time. As a result, this makes more use of the recollections of Robbie Robertson, the guitarist and chief songwriter for The Band. Some of these are extremely insightful - e.g., commenting on their admiration for Booker T. & the MGs, Robertson says (p80), "It seemed that there was no other band in the world who had fathomed that instead of doing a bunch of [stuff] between the verses of a song, it was better to do nothing and just come back in. They kept things real tight, and that's what we tried to do."
Further comparisons with Helm's excellent book would be odious, but Hoskyns is clearly able to take a more detached view of the group's rise and fall, giving praise where it's due (e.g. to their first two extraordinary albums) and being commendably strict where their later work doesn't come up to scratch (this includes Robertson's solo work, notwithstanding the extensive help the author received from him). Somewhat surprisingly, Hoskyns is also unimpressed with the work of fellow journalist Griel Marcus when he writes about The Band: thus, commenting on his essay in the revered collection Mystery Train - which was the introduction to the group for me, and probably many others - Hoskyns (rather gleefully) quotes Robertson as saying he had 'no idea' what he was talking about (p419). All in all however, this is an authoritative account of this important but enigmatic group, which is to be strongly recommended to anyone who's interested in finding out more about them.
Originally reviewed 1 June 2010
This book about The Band first appeared at around the same time (c. 1993) as This Wheel's on Fire, the memorable account of the group's history written by Levon Helm, its drummer and singer. The two books even use the same photograph on their front covers: the classic shot by Elliott Landy (depicting the five members as stiffly-posed desperados against the backdrop of the Catskill mountains) which did so much to crystalize their image - for example, Elvis Costello says on p210 of this book, "I liked The Band because they had *beards* [...] They didn't look pretty, and they weren't *boys*.".
More pertinently, Hoskyns mentions in his preface that he was unable to interview Helm for this book because he was working on his own account at the time. As a result, this makes more use of the recollections of Robbie Robertson, the guitarist and chief songwriter for The Band. Some of these are extremely insightful - e.g., commenting on their admiration for Booker T. & the MGs, Robertson says (p80), "It seemed that there was no other band in the world who had fathomed that instead of doing a bunch of [stuff] between the verses of a song, it was better to do nothing and just come back in. They kept things real tight, and that's what we tried to do."
Further comparisons with Helm's excellent book would be odious, but Hoskyns is clearly able to take a more detached view of the group's rise and fall, giving praise where it's due (e.g. to their first two extraordinary albums) and being commendably strict where their later work doesn't come up to scratch (this includes Robertson's solo work, notwithstanding the extensive help the author received from him). Somewhat surprisingly, Hoskyns is also unimpressed with the work of fellow journalist Griel Marcus when he writes about The Band: thus, commenting on his essay in the revered collection Mystery Train - which was the introduction to the group for me, and probably many others - Hoskyns (rather gleefully) quotes Robertson as saying he had 'no idea' what he was talking about (p419). All in all however, this is an authoritative account of this important but enigmatic group, which is to be strongly recommended to anyone who's interested in finding out more about them.
Originally reviewed 1 June 2010
August 9, 2019
This is, like, four books in one:
- joint biographies of the musicians: terrific on their early years and influences, more scattershot but still fascinating from roughly "Big Pink" through the time of writing;
- workmanlike Rock Criticism of the group's recordings and performances (capsule Allmusic-style reviews of at least three-quarters of their tracks ... why?);
- anodyne Cultural Criticism of The Band's place in pop music history "and America" (and man, if you're going to put in as many digs at Greil Marcus as this author does, you should really have something original to say);
- cringe-worthy extended interview with Robbie Robertson (with each new quote, the portrait of a self-serving, douchetastic ass comes more into focus. Amazingly, I don't think Robertson OR the author intended it that way).
The author's attempt to be a kind of disembodied eye of the group's history, with all its various conflicts, required access to the members other than Robertson. Helm, Danko, and Hudson were still alive when this was published. Hoskyns acknowledges interviews with Levon's ex, Richard's widow, and Rick's brother, but doesn't explain why the musicians themselves didn't participate. So the book comes across as Robertson's gloss on their collective project, with just enough rueful digs at the guitarist to maintain the kayfabe (He went so L.A.! Haha, weren't the 80s ridiculous?).
In which case, it would have been more interesting if the author had foregrounded his own role and any personal relationship he had to the group (had he covered them before as a journalist? gone to their shows as a kid?).
- joint biographies of the musicians: terrific on their early years and influences, more scattershot but still fascinating from roughly "Big Pink" through the time of writing;
- workmanlike Rock Criticism of the group's recordings and performances (capsule Allmusic-style reviews of at least three-quarters of their tracks ... why?);
- anodyne Cultural Criticism of The Band's place in pop music history "and America" (and man, if you're going to put in as many digs at Greil Marcus as this author does, you should really have something original to say);
- cringe-worthy extended interview with Robbie Robertson (with each new quote, the portrait of a self-serving, douchetastic ass comes more into focus. Amazingly, I don't think Robertson OR the author intended it that way).
The author's attempt to be a kind of disembodied eye of the group's history, with all its various conflicts, required access to the members other than Robertson. Helm, Danko, and Hudson were still alive when this was published. Hoskyns acknowledges interviews with Levon's ex, Richard's widow, and Rick's brother, but doesn't explain why the musicians themselves didn't participate. So the book comes across as Robertson's gloss on their collective project, with just enough rueful digs at the guitarist to maintain the kayfabe (He went so L.A.! Haha, weren't the 80s ridiculous?).
In which case, it would have been more interesting if the author had foregrounded his own role and any personal relationship he had to the group (had he covered them before as a journalist? gone to their shows as a kid?).
October 7, 2019
So 5 stars for this old Band follower and believer- but probably not 5 for all others. The author goes into intense detail - more than necessary than needed for anyone other than a Band believe like me - but it does all serve a purpose. The Band - and that name itself exemplifies its unique status in the rock pantheon, was different than all others in its unique and far too futuristic amalgamation of so many musical sources and traditions. Their ride from kick-ass R & B to superstar recording artists is almost a cliche were it not for their all too unique and rarified combination of musical talents. Listening to the Lumineers and their musical cousins now, are they even possible without the Band? The whole Americana genre is without it founding unless the Band shows up.
I am privileged to have seen them in concert several times including at the old Academy of Music on 14th St in NYC and the uniqueness of their sound , their interpretation of American life long gone - this from 4 Canadians and a Levon Helm from Arkansas - is timeless and never to be repeated. The author captures it all - the origins, the adventures with Ronnie Hawkins and Dylan - the highs lows and eventual destruction of a group too good for its own good - I ate this book up and if you want to capture or relive that special time and place look no further.
I am privileged to have seen them in concert several times including at the old Academy of Music on 14th St in NYC and the uniqueness of their sound , their interpretation of American life long gone - this from 4 Canadians and a Levon Helm from Arkansas - is timeless and never to be repeated. The author captures it all - the origins, the adventures with Ronnie Hawkins and Dylan - the highs lows and eventual destruction of a group too good for its own good - I ate this book up and if you want to capture or relive that special time and place look no further.
February 5, 2018
I"ve always liked the band, and I looked forward to learning more about them with this book. Learn more about them I did, to the point of exhaustion. There is a ton of information about them and their history, starting with working with the Hawk, Ronnie Hawkins, in this book, but it does go on and on and on. It would have been great at about two-thirds of its length.
Barney Hoskins is obviously a Band fan-boy, and his writing about the group shows it. Not everything about them and what happened to them is all rosy, but Barney treads pretty lightly over the not-so-good times and happenings. He is in love with their music (as I am) and not much there is visualized badly. Especially Robbie, musically he can do no wrong.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book and was happy to learn everything I did about the group and their history. It's worth the read, it takes some time but the information gained is probably worth it.
Barney Hoskins is obviously a Band fan-boy, and his writing about the group shows it. Not everything about them and what happened to them is all rosy, but Barney treads pretty lightly over the not-so-good times and happenings. He is in love with their music (as I am) and not much there is visualized badly. Especially Robbie, musically he can do no wrong.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book and was happy to learn everything I did about the group and their history. It's worth the read, it takes some time but the information gained is probably worth it.
August 2, 2022
a very good read. Having read both Robbie's Testimony and Levon's This wheel is on fire I was looking forward to learning more about this great band from an independent source and understanding the dynamics in the group. I missed getting into The Band when I was young, just too much other good stuff to listen to in those days. Fortunately I watched the Last Waltz and was totally blown away by that concert. They made wonderful music, no real front man, 3 different singers, terrific musicians and their name The Band is well deserved. One of my favorite 2 bands of all time no doubt
February 14, 2021
Being a huge fan of The Band, I found this music bio really lacking. Having read This Wheels On Fire and Testimony, perhaps that’s why this one just fell completely flat. I felt the author was trying too hard to be unbiased which lead me to believe they had no opinion at all. There was zero storytelling aspect, so it was a bit of a bore. For me this was just a book of facts, mixed with quotes from the members of The Band and other musicians. I got all I needed from reading Levon and Robbies books, which I highly recommend before this. I rated 2 stars because I can’t rate it 1 based on my strong love for The Band. Good overall content, poorly written.
October 1, 2018
This is a good read however after reading Robbie's and Levon's books as well as Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan bios, I've heard many of the stories retold. However I recommend it to anyone interested in the overall story of the Band.
May 2, 2019
If you are a fan of The Band then this is the book to read. It is full of band lore with interviews done through the years with all its members, plus insight into their music and lyrics. Well done!
September 21, 2025
There were a few nuggets of information in here that I didnt know. But there were a lot of historical errors. It was OK, but if you want to read a really good history of The Band, read Levon Helm's This Wheel's On Fire.
February 12, 2025
Solid book regarding a band and time in music history. Well researched and unique view into the Band’s influence upon rock music. Surprisingly, didn’t realize how much of an ass Dylan was.
March 24, 2025
A good Book about a great Band.
May 23, 2025
I can see how Robbie Robertson was fed up with the other guys; similarly, I can appreciate how the other guys thought Robbie Robertson was a pretentious dick.
March 10, 2016
Across The Great Divide: I didn't find this a rollicking account of The Band's journey at all - contrary to the books' description. The only thing I found rollicking about it was the sequence in which I chose to read the chapters - I basically chopped them up into a collage of rearranged readings. This was as near to a "rollicking" experience with Barney Hoskyns book as I could possibly get...
In this biography, it seems patently obvious how the author tries so earnestly to give a 'middle of the road' commentary of The Band, even encompassing those time frames both before and after "The Band" existed as such. The problem with what Barney Hoskins tries to do is that he actually achieves his aim; and that makes for an ultimately sterile, formulaic, and (hate to say it) boring book.
In terms of entertainment value and vivid accounts of achievement and disaster, Hoskyns' take on The Band is right up there with my recipe compilation books and sundry other reference texts: plain script.
I personally love some of The Band's music - a lot of which seemed to attract lukewarm to cool appraisal from this biographer, which I found interesting, to say the least: some of The Band's performances which were basically given a 'C average' rating by Hoskyns happen to be some of my most cherished and prized. Not that this is reason enough to criticise Barney Hoskyns work in this volume, but it does (for me) exemplify the author's penchant for unimaginative writing which arouses little more in the reader than the suspicion that the evaluation afforded The Band may come from a borrowed window of perspective - if not concerning his subject, then atleast concerning his craft... And I hope Barney Hoskyns gives it back before he attempts his next biographical work, because it seriously lacks authenticity and engagement.
In this biography, it seems patently obvious how the author tries so earnestly to give a 'middle of the road' commentary of The Band, even encompassing those time frames both before and after "The Band" existed as such. The problem with what Barney Hoskins tries to do is that he actually achieves his aim; and that makes for an ultimately sterile, formulaic, and (hate to say it) boring book.
In terms of entertainment value and vivid accounts of achievement and disaster, Hoskyns' take on The Band is right up there with my recipe compilation books and sundry other reference texts: plain script.
I personally love some of The Band's music - a lot of which seemed to attract lukewarm to cool appraisal from this biographer, which I found interesting, to say the least: some of The Band's performances which were basically given a 'C average' rating by Hoskyns happen to be some of my most cherished and prized. Not that this is reason enough to criticise Barney Hoskyns work in this volume, but it does (for me) exemplify the author's penchant for unimaginative writing which arouses little more in the reader than the suspicion that the evaluation afforded The Band may come from a borrowed window of perspective - if not concerning his subject, then atleast concerning his craft... And I hope Barney Hoskyns gives it back before he attempts his next biographical work, because it seriously lacks authenticity and engagement.
February 8, 2008
First off, I'm addicted to The Band. seriously. They are definitely in my top 3 of best bands in history in my book.
I'd always known, loosly, that The Band had existed but had never really dove into their music; kind of like my relationship with T. Rex, Patti Smith, The Grateful Dead and The Spin Doctors. (please people don't write me telling my I have to listen to any of those bands, I know, I'll get around to it... maybe not the Dead though, and also, that last one was a joke)
A couple years ago I finally sat down and watched The Last Waltz and was floored by Don't Do It, entertained by Van Morrisons hi-kicks, moved by We Shall Be Released and AMAZED by The Night They Drove Dixie Down. Since then I've been buying up all their albums on CD and vinyl and everything else I can get my hands on.
This book peeks into every little nook about the The Bands history. It is obviously written by a huge fan of The Band (the man actually later moved to The Bands once-hometown, Woodstock, NY with his family from England), but this is not a bad thing because he is still able to be critical when needed.
So, listen and pour over all their records and THEN read this book.
I'd always known, loosly, that The Band had existed but had never really dove into their music; kind of like my relationship with T. Rex, Patti Smith, The Grateful Dead and The Spin Doctors. (please people don't write me telling my I have to listen to any of those bands, I know, I'll get around to it... maybe not the Dead though, and also, that last one was a joke)
A couple years ago I finally sat down and watched The Last Waltz and was floored by Don't Do It, entertained by Van Morrisons hi-kicks, moved by We Shall Be Released and AMAZED by The Night They Drove Dixie Down. Since then I've been buying up all their albums on CD and vinyl and everything else I can get my hands on.
This book peeks into every little nook about the The Bands history. It is obviously written by a huge fan of The Band (the man actually later moved to The Bands once-hometown, Woodstock, NY with his family from England), but this is not a bad thing because he is still able to be critical when needed.
So, listen and pour over all their records and THEN read this book.
August 28, 2007
Obsession with the Band continues. This book was a disappointment. It was a very detached history of the Band. He recites where they played, what they played, recorded, etc., but there are no stories or hard opinions only facts and glossed over references to substance abuse and growing personnel problems. Only after the Last Waltz did the author begin to show some emotion toward his subjects (other than praise, which felt like a greatest hits of reviews from back in the day or previous books) with a scathing attack on Robbie Robertson. And only then did the stories of Scorsese & Robertson's cocaine binges flow (but even these lack detail, substance or sensation). For a group with so much fantastic music, a remarkable history, troubled intra-band relationships, sex, substance abuse, an abrubt end, a tortured continuation (w/o robertson), this clinical approach left much to be desired, but it does do a good job on the facts and the influence / life with Dylan.
September 11, 2013
I miss my LP of The Band (1970), acquired in 1976 from either my Uncle Billy or Andy Folio's great shop Fantasyland in Atlanta, GA. This twenty-year old book has added poignant relevance with Rick Danko and Levon Helm now dead. The first scene of this useful book invokes the tragic suicide of the late, great Richard Manuel.
I saw the version of The Band that toured in late 1980s, at Atlanta's Center Stage theater. Anyone else remember that show? My memory is peppered with fans yelling out for Robbie Robertson, who did not appear.
Then, I found their late 1990s CD satisfying, if I missed all opportunities to hear Levon Helm late in life. So, soon, I want to read Levon's book.
And listen to all that great music again. "Acadian driftwood..."
Highly recommended. Thanks, Barney Hoskyns.
I saw the version of The Band that toured in late 1980s, at Atlanta's Center Stage theater. Anyone else remember that show? My memory is peppered with fans yelling out for Robbie Robertson, who did not appear.
Then, I found their late 1990s CD satisfying, if I missed all opportunities to hear Levon Helm late in life. So, soon, I want to read Levon's book.
And listen to all that great music again. "Acadian driftwood..."
Highly recommended. Thanks, Barney Hoskyns.
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