One of the most iconic vocalists (and multi-instrumentalists) to ever grace the stage, Levon Helm was a driving force behind some of The Band’s greatest music. On what would have been Helm’s 83rd birthday, we wanted to take a moment and celebrate the great drummer’s life.

Helm was inspired by bluegrass legend Bill Monroe to become a musician at the age of six, and his family, fortunately, supported that decision. He would join Ronnie Hawkins‘ backing band in the late 1950s at the age of 18, splitting time between performances and high school. By bringing in Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson, Helm’s musical universe was greatly expanded. When Bob Dylan asked the band to back him, his universe expanded even wider.

It would be another few years before The Band officially formed, as Dylan’s retraction from the public eye forced his backing musicians to regroup. When they released Music From The Big Pink in 1968, The Band became an overnight sensation. They would go on to release ten albums in their career, but perhaps none of their work is more recognizable than their final performance, The Last Waltz.

With guest appearances from Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Muddy Waters, Dr. John, Van Morrison, Paul Butterfield, and many more, The Last Waltz would be the final performance from the original configuration of The Band. The concert was immortalized in the lauded concert film of the same name, though the film only shows snippets of the historic performance. Today, with Levon Helm on our minds on his birthday, enjoy some pristine footage from The Band’s The Last Waltz, below:

The Band – 11/25/76 – Full Video [The Last Waltz show]

[Video: George]

The Last Waltz Setlist & Notes: 

0:00:00 – Introduction / Up on Cripple Creek
0:05:54 – Shape I’m In
0:10:15 – It Makes No Difference
0:17:28 – Life Is A Carnival
0:22:50 – This Wheel’s On Fire
0:27:24 – The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
0:31:18 – Georgia On My Mind
0:35:02 – Ophelia
0:39:15 – King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
0:43:24 – The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
0:48:13 – Rag Mama Rag
0:52:33 – Introduction / Who Do You Love (with Ronnie Hawkins)
0:57:47 – Such A Night (with Dr. John)
1:03:01 – Down South in New Orleans (with Dr. John)
1:06:34 – Mystery Train (with Paul Butterfield)
1:13:29 – Caledonia (with Muddy Waters)
1:21:20 – Mannish Boy (with Muddy Waters)
1:28:00 – All Our Past Times (with Eric Clapton)
1:33:35 – Further On Up The Road (with Eric Clapton)
1:39:10 – Helpless (with Neil Young)
1:46:00 – Four Strong Winds (with Neil Young)
1:50:24 – Coyote (with Joni Mitchell)
1:57:01 – Shadows And Light (with Joni Mitchell)
2:02:36 – Furry Sings The Blues (with Joni Mitchell)
2:07:46 – Dry Your Eyes (with Neil Diamond)
2:12:08 – Tura Lura Lural (with Van Morrison)
2:16:13 – Caravan (with Van Morrison)
2:22:05 – Acadian Driftwood (with Joni Mitchell and Neil Young)
2:29:18 – Poem (Emmett Grogan)
2:30:19 – Poem (Hell’s Angel Sweet William)
2:34:05 – JOY! (Lenore Kandel)
2:35:27 – Prologue to The Canterbury Tales (Michael McClure)
2:36:55 – Get Yer Cut Throat Off My Knife / Revolutionary Letter #4 (Diane DiPrima)
2:39:51 – Transgressing The Real (Robert Duncan)
2:41:44 – Poem (Freewheelin Frank Reynolds)
2:42:55 – The Lord’s Prayer (Lawrence Ferlinghetti)
2:44:05 – Genetic Method
2:51:04 – Chest Fever
2:56:28 – The Last Waltz Suite: Evangeline
3:02:30 – The Weight
3:07:23 – Baby Let Me Follow You Down (with Bob Dylan)
3:10:36 – Hazel (with Bob Dylan)
3:14:32 – I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) (with Bob Dylan)
3:19:29 – Forever Young (with Bob Dylan)
3:25:09 – Baby Let Me Follow You Down (Reprise) (with Bob Dylan)
3:28:35 – Everyone Comes Onstage
3:31:41 – I Shall Be Released (with Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr & Ron Wood)
3:36:27 – Instrumental Jam 1 (The Band with friends)
3:47:50 – Instrumental Jam 2 (The Band with friends)
4:05:49 – Don’t Do It
4:12:51 – Bill Graham Outro

Personnel:
The Band:
Rick Danko – bass, fiddle, vocals / Levon Helm – drums, mandolin, vocals / Garth Hudson – organ, piano, accordion, synthesizers, soprano saxophone, violin / Richard Manuel – piano, organ, drums, clavinet, dobro, vocals / Robbie Robertson – guitar, piano, vocals

Horn Section:
Richard Cooper – trumpet, flugelhorn / James Gordon – flute, tenor saxophone, clarinet / Jerry Hay – trumpet, flugelhorn / Howard Johnson – tuba, baritone saxophone, flugelhorn, bass clarinet / Charlie Keagle – clarinet, flute, saxophone / Tom Malone – trombone, euphonium, alto flute

View Entire Setlist & Notes

Happy birthday, Levon Helm! We miss you.

[Originally published 5/26/16]