Singer/songwriter Gary Solomon was just 19 when he found himself in the crowd at The Last Waltz—The Band’s iconic 1976 farewell concert. Filmed by Martin Scorsese and widely considered the best concert film of all time, it was stacked with legends like Robbie Roberston, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, and Neil Diamond. In this episode, Gary shares what it was like to witness that historic night firsthand, and digs into other iconic shows that shaped a generation—from Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue to Simon & Garfunkel’s 1981 Central Park reunion. This is music history through the eyes of someone who lived it.
Things we talked about in this episode:
The Last Waltz documentary (1978); live show from 1976
The Band: Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson & Richard Manuel)
Bob Dylan and The Band during The Last Waltz
Joni Mitchell and Neil Young sing “Helpless” during The Last Waltz
The Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco
Gary Solomon’s upcoming dates for The THE BAND Band
Episode Credits:
