70s The Last Waltz Farwell Performance of the Band t-shirt Large

Chest 20 in.

Length 27 in.

Content: 100% Cotton

Tag Brand: Hanes

This amazing vintage find is an original promotional t-shirt advertising Martin Scorsese's 1978 film, The Last Waltz. The movie is considered one of the greatest documentary concert films ever made, and it centers around a farewell concert staged by the beloved Canadian-American rock band, The Band.

The Band originated as a group of musicians called the Hawks, who served as the backing band for rockabilly singer, Ronnie Hawkins. They backed folk legend Bob Dylan for some time, before releasing their own records as The Band in the late 60s. Over the years, The Band managed to have a major influence over the evolution of rock music and helped to inspire other groups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Some of their most memorable hits included "The Weight" "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", and "Up on Cripple Creek".

The group chose to retire from touring in the mid 70s. They were discouraged when their latest release, Northern Lights- Southern Cross, didn't have much commercial success, and also by a serious neck injury sustained by pianist and vocalist Richard Manuel. Their farewell concert, dubbed The Last Waltz, turned out to be a major Thanksgiving event. An audience of 5,000 was served a turkey dinner at the Winterland Ballroom in November of 1976, and The Band was supported by an impressive list of guest musicians. Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan, who were integral parts of the group's history, both made appearances, and other guest performers included Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Dr. John, Muddy Waters, Ron Wood, Neil Diamond, Bobby Charles, and Paul Butterfield.  

The Last Waltz wasn't just intended to be a concert, but was crafted to be more of a celebration, paying tribute to The Band's many years of live performances. The various guest musicians were all people who had influenced the group over the years, and the Winterland Ballroom was aptly chosen as the venue, as it had been where The Band made their debut as a group back in 1969. The group's tour manager, Jonathan Taplin, pitched the idea of having Martin Scorsese direct the concert film. The director had a notable love of music, and had worked on the 1970 documentary Woodstock, and he eagerly accepted the job.

Fits like a modern unisex adult large. There are light spots and a repair on the back right shoulder, see pics.






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