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Watch Baroness Play First Full-Band Song Since Accident
... way out on everyone on a different way," said Baizley. "We were all affected in different ways. Getting back to rehearsals and even the concept of touring has been, at times, challenging. The most immediate challenge I faced was physical. But my anticipation and excitement is building. It's been fun playing music and practicing again. We started doing this because we enjoyed the outlet. There was something rehabilitative just in the pure rehearsals. We're excited to pay again. Our lives and livelihood were nearly taken away from us." Watch Baroness Play First Full-Band Song Since Accident ... [ read more ]
OKLAHOMA CITY BAND, WARR ACRES RAISE FUNDS TO HELP THE TORNADO VICTIMS
... together as a family. ABOUT WARR ACRES Driven by a passion to share a dynamic message and fueled by an energetic, pop/rock sound, what began nearly ten years ago has now regenerated into the fresh, eclectic sound of Warr Acres. Warr Acres, as evidenced by its lyrics and music, is inspired by the life and ministry of Victory Church and leadership of Pastor Mark Crow, reflecting a mission to inspire believers worldwide to reach a city, change a nation, and touch the world. ### For more info on Warr Acres visit the JFH Artists Database. OKLAHOMA CITY BAND, WARR ACRES RAISE FUNDS TO HELP THE TORNADO VICTIMS ... [ read more ]
Third Man Records Digs Up Unreleased Material from Pre-Death Band RockFire Funk Express and the Underwear Heads
... originally existed only as a sleeve without a record, since the vinyl was defective and all copies were thrown out. The recordings, which date back 30-plus years, were eventually tracked down in the form of an early-generation master. The material reportedly includes "silly drum machine punk, outre experimental tape manipulation and art rock spaciousness." It was also be out on May 28. The song "Tangin" is below. Both 7-inches are available to pre-order from Third Man's online store. Third Man Records Digs Up Unreleased Material from Pre-Death Band RockFire Funk Express and the Underwear Heads ... [ read more ]

The Band

(1967-1977)
The Band
Robbie Robertson (guitar)
Levon Helm (drums, vocals)
Richard Manuel (piano, vocals)
Rick Danko (bass, vocals)
Garth Hudson (organ)

Artistfacts®:  You can leave comments about the artist/band at the bottom of the page.

Their vocals were often 3-part harmonies with Helm, Manuel, and Danko.
They rented a big, pink house in upstate New York, where they recorded their first album, Music From Big Pink.
Robertson, Danko, Manuel, and Hudson are Canadian. Robertson is Canadian by birth, but his heritage is half-Jewish and half-American Indian.
They were playing clubs as The Hawks when Bob Dylan asked them to be his backup band on his first electric tour. They were often booed by audiences who felt Dylan had sold out his folk fans.
Robertson is an executive with Dreamworks. He used to be Martin Scorsese's roommate.
Their second album, The Band, was recorded at Sammy Davis Jr.'s house, which they had rented.
Dylan's manager, Albert Grossman, suggested they use the name The Band when they recorded on their own to play up their anonymity.
Woodstock was a bad experience for The Band, who were the only local act - they lived nearby and had to contend with tourists for the next few years. They were paid more for their performance then many other artists, including Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, The Grateful Dead, and The Who. They played the last night and left right after their set.
Songwriting credits and royalty payments were a contentious issue for The Band. Robertson was listed as the composer on most of the songs, even though the others helped write them. As a result, Robertson continues to get most of the royalties from the songs.
They played the Watkins Glen Festival on July 28, 1973 along with The Allman Brothers and The Grateful Dead. With over 600,000 people, it was the largest US concert ever.
The Band performed their last concert on November 24, 1976 at Winterland in San Francisco. In 1978, the movie The Last Waltz, about this concert, was released. November 24 was the same day Eric Clapton had played Cream's farewell concert in 1968. It was partially because of The Band's music that Clapton decided to leave Cream. (thanks, James - Tracy, CA)
Levon Helm inspired the name for the title character in Elton John's "Levon."
They are a huge influence on Eric Clapton, who was in Cream when Music From Big Pink came out. Clapton formed Blind Faith with the idea of making music with more direction and fewer extended solos, which were the trademark of Cream. The Band played on his albums No Reason To Cry (1976) and August (1986). (thanks, Joey - Athens, GA)
Regarding their split, Robertson said (in Q magazine): "I was responsible for the break up of The Band. But did I do it on a whim? I don't think so! Drugs and alcohol were the real destruction of The Band – but that's always underplayed."
When they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, only three members were there. Levon Helm chose not to attend and Richard Manuel had died. When they played, Eric Clapton joined them to fill in the sound.
In 1969, these guys became the first Canadian band to appear on the cover of Time magazine. They were heralded as "The first to match the excellence of the Beatles."
Helm has gone on to an acting career. He played Loretta Lynn's father in Coal Miner's Daughter and appeared in The Right Stuff.
Levon Helm and Garth Hudson played drums and Hammond organ on Norah Jones' song "What Am I To You." (thanks, Lee - Mobile, AL)
Plagued by drug and alcohol problems, Manual hanged himself after a show in Florida in 1986.
Levon Helm was honored in Woodstock, New York, as the town saluted him by making May 20th, 2006 "Levon Helm Day." Helm has lived there since the '60s, and he got the key to the city as part of the honor.
Helm and his band do a regular monthly gig called a "Midnight Ramble" at his barn, which is also a recording studio. The shows often attract special guests, and Elvis Costello and Steely Dan singer-keyboardist Donald Fagen have made appearances. (thanks, Stevie Lee - radio personality @ 1077 WSFR - Louisville, KY, for above 2)
Robertson has contributed songs or worked as a music consultant on many movies, including The Departed, Gangs Of New York, Any Given Sunday and The Color Of Money. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

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Comments:

Rest In Peace, Mr. Helm. :( We will miss your beautiful voice.
- Mary, Chandler, AZ
In fact, The Band did NOT breakup over songwriting royalty disputes. Another fact is that Levon Helm is the ONLY member of The Band to ever dispute the songwriting credits and this was NEVER mentioned until he had his biography written for him in 1994. One final fact about this is that The Band split the publishing equally among all 5 members.
- david shannon, Los Angeles, CA
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, from The Last Waltz is a true masterpiece.
- Ryan, Hamilton, ON
I can't lie Levon has the best voice but the group made it work. I just listen to his draw as he sings lyrics that pull me from the day.
- brose, oklahoma city, OK
Hey Tom the entire Band Watkins Glen is available in somewhat limited circulation. I have it. It's a rough audience recording but complete and listenable. The soundcheck is included as a soundboard recording. However I have always wished that Capitol Records would have released the entire thing legitimately, not like what was done on the bogus LIVE AT WATKINS GLEN. What a cheat that was.
- Barry, New York, NY
Does anyone out there know how I can get an actual CD of the Watkins Glenn 1973 set of the Band?
- Tom, Long Island , NY
my favorite song from the band is King Harvest!! Damn, that blew me away!! Great intelligent lyrics!!
- noril, manila, Other
I meant to say that I love Levon Helm's voice.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC
I love Levon Helm's, and "The Last Waltz' is awesome. Enough said.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC
I love The Band! However, it was suprising to hear that only ONE member of The Band was actually from the South! And it also suprising to hear that the other members were Canadian...and that they (yes they, not just Robbie, right?) wrote incredible tunes such as Up on Cripple Creek, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and The Weight that I thought must be inspired by Southerners. The harmonies are amazing, and I really like Levon's voice; it adds the southern ring to the songs. "The Last Waltz" is a must see for all Band fans, and there is another movie I recently saw that just came out called "Festival Express" that features them as well.
- Kelly, Burbank, CA
The Band performed a great set at the famous Watkins Glen Summer Jam in July 1973. It was during their set when a guy named Willard Smith from Syracuse, NY made a fatal parachute jump into the crowd. Also, the Watkins Glen rainstorm occurred during their set.
Although an album called THE BAND LIVE AT WATKINS GLEN came out in 1995, this was merely studio songs with overdubbed live sounds. However, their entire set does circulate as an audience recording.
- Barry, New York, NY
Robbi Robertson is half native
- Paul, Squamish, Canada
My fave song by The Band is "The wait". I like it because of its simplickty. What i mena is it's just one of those songs you can sing along to. Probably a good driving song too.
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC
Did harmonies for Roger Waters' "The Wall Live in Berlin."
- NickC, Ft. Wayne, IN
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down is a rock and roll song written by Robbie Roberston who played the guitar in The Band and the song was first recorded by The Band in 1969.
- Abdiel, Rock Hill, SC
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