The Last Waltz-The Band - Martin Scorsese film, 1978

On November 25, 1976, the Band played what was billed as its farewell concert at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco; the event was attended by numerous guests such as Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, Ronnie Wood, Neil Diamond, Bobby Charles, Dr. John, Emmylou Harris, Ronnie Hawkins, and the Staple Singers; all directed by the band's record producer, John Simon. The concert was filmed by Martin Scorsese, who used it to make a documentary about the Band entitled "The Last Waltz", and which was released on April 26, 1978; the film is regarded as one of the greatest concert films ever made. The triple vinyl soundtrack was taken from the film. A memorable moment of the documentary is "I Shall Be Released", performed by the Band with Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr and Ronnie Wood and "Mannish Boy" with Muddy Waters. "This lifestyle will kill you" says Robbie Robertson, a surrender to the advancing time. The Last Waltz could be the musical celebration of the end of an era or the beginning of a new one: to quote Robertson, “the beginning of the beginning of the end of the beginning”.