The Story of The Band: From Big Pink to The Last Waltz

by Harvey Kubernik, Ken Kubernik

A celebration of one of the most revered groups in rock history, on the 50th anniversary of their debut album and the 40th anniversary of The Last Waltz , the legendary film of their final concert.
 
Acclaimed authors and music journalists Harvey Kubernik and his brother Kenneth pay tribute to The Band on two special the debut of their first album, Music from Big Pink , 50 years ago, and the release of Martin Scorsese’s film The Last Waltz, hailed as the greatest concert movie ever made , 40 years ago. This unofficial retrospective covers everything from their collaborations with Bob Dylan through that farewell show, which took place on Thanksgiving 1976. The Story of the Band features little-known and previously unpublished interviews with members of The Band and those who worked with them and knew them—including Ronnie Hawkins, Jerry Garcia, Andrew Loog Oldham, and Bill Graham—as well as newly discovered memorabilia and rare and never-before-seen photographs from the finest rock photographers of the era. This is the ultimate book for all fans of The Band and their era.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

Published November 6, 2018

About the author

Harvey Kubernik, a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, is a veteran music journalist whose work has been published nationally in Melody Maker, The Los Angeles Free Press, Crawdaddy, Musician, Goldmine, MIX, The Los Angeles Times, and MOJO, among other publications. As a West Hollywood and Laurel Canyon insider, he has unparalleled access to the sources, personalities, and even those who are still based in the beauty of the Canyon. Ray Manzarek was co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors and, along with other members of that seminal band, is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He continues as an active and touring rock n roll performer along with ex-Doors member Robby Krieger and has performed over the decades with Iggy Pop and poet Michael McClure. He has produced music with Echo and the Bunnymen and the band X."

Reviews

[Scott Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. I have read several books on The Band and I have found their stories so interesting. While it is like a coffee table book and the picture are really fascinating the prose was well written and insightful too. The author was a bit too much in love with his subject...but so am I! One thing I did learn is that Cher sang with Dylan and The Band at the after-party of the Last Waltz. I wonder what that sounded like.....being a Cher fan I would have loved to hear that.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks great, excellent photos, not much new info

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gloss on their rich and important history but even a gloss on them is great reading.