Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Last Waltz’ Returns to Theaters for 45th Anniversary, Revisiting One of the Most Famous Concerts in Rock and Roll History
variety.comSteven Gaydos Executive VP of Content By the time Martin Scorsese‘s music documentary “The Last Waltz” premiered in 1978, the legendary Americana music progenitors the Band, whom the film explores, had gone from “Cahoots” to kaput for two years.
The 1976 farewell concert at the center of the film was already a piece of rock and roll history by the time the film debuted.
Seeing it Oct. 5 at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles in celebration of its 45th anniversary, it’s clear how much history and American music culture was also saying “Good Night” with Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Levon Helm and the Band’s unofficial leader Robbie Robertson (who called the group “The Brotherhood.”) To help sort out the importance of “Waltz’s” place in rock history was music historian Harvey Kubernik, who shared his recollections of attending the concert at the Winterland Theater in San Francisco; music rights firm CEO/founder Olivier Chastain, who had bonded professionally and personally in the last years of tRobbie Robertson’s life; and Rhino Records president Mark Pinkus, who helpfully described current efforts to marshal social media marketing to help bring awareness of music from over a half-century ago to the 21st century audience.
Veteran music journalist Pamela Chelin moderated the discussion. Rather than seeming like an artifact, “Last Waltz,” which Chastain announced will return to theaters in an upcoming 800-screen release Nov.
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