With the show underway and a plethora of performances next up included Neil Young, who had the unfortunate experience of sporting a massive cocaine booger in his nostril as he floated through his set of numbers before more performances took place including Joni Mitchell, a controversial Neil Diamond, the electrifying performance of Van Morrison, who almost got to scared to go on stage, a collection of performances from beatniks, Hells Angles and poets, and their old friend Bob Dylan who was being difficult the night of the Waltz and almost didn't appear.
At the close of the concert, the sudden rush of triumph and sadness washed over the exhausted group as they left the stage. Drenched in sweat, blood and tears, they had just completed the ultimate marathon, not only had they played over forty songs with their peers and friends, they had just completed the marathon that was their humble beginnings in Southern Ontario in 1957 when Robbie Robertson met Ronnie Hawkins and Levon Helm that eventually led to Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson change the face of rock music.
The Band that left the stage wouldn’t perform live in the same iteration again, it was the end of an era, The Band, was the behemoth behind the curtain, never showy, never boastful, but always impactful. As the evening faded into the morning, the concert that was The Last Waltz was complete, but it was just the beginning of what it would become and what audiences today remember of the legendary moment of history.
Produced, hosted and edited by Tyrell William Lisson. Additional writing and research by Oscar Ashley.
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