But what’s the name of the Band?

But what’s the name of the Band?

In Memoriam

Robbie Robertson, leader and guitarist for The Band

Wednesday 8/9/23

When a Rock legend dies these days, memories flood over me. I first absorb the news like everyone, and then I think, did I ever photograph them – either in the 70’s as a wide eyed concert photographer or more recently in the last 12 years of my “comeback to photography,” or at least did I ever see them live?

Today I remember Robbie Robertson of The Band.

I was at Woodstock in ‘69 and so technically I saw The Band there, but if you have read my story
“One Man’s Road to Woodstock,” on my website, then you know much of what I saw there I don’t remember, but hey I was there. My memories come from seeing the movie over and over. As we approach the anniversary (this year it’s 54 years), it’s cool to know we were both there for that historic event along with about “we were half a million strong” (Joni Mitchell).

Some years later in ‘73 there was another epic Rock Festival called “Watkins Glen,” and there we were once again at a historic live music moment with the largest crowd ever to witness a rock concert at that point, with approximately 600,000 of our friends. This event consisted of only three bands, The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers, and The Band. Three bands in three days. The Dead and The Allman Brothers took extended jams to a new level and no one left for three days. All the bands jammed and once again Robbie and I were both there for the great memory. On a side note this event was touted as being bigger than Woodstock in terms of live acts showing up and adding to the bill. That didn’t happen, and I have learned that I am not the only one who had fantastic tickets for Led Zeppelin at the Garden’s “The Song Remains the Same Concert,” for which we sold (10 tickets) in order to go to the Glen for that historic event. It remains one of the DeadHeads’ favorite live Dead shows and it was historic for Robbie and me.

The next time I saw The Band, I was in Florida and was a concert photographer but didn’t have a camera for Bob Dylan’s show at the Hollywood Sportatorium. It was 1974 and I had never seen Dylan live. It was touted as the big comeback tour for Dylan and for the Band. Dylan looking majestic was decked out in a white suit and hat. Backed by The Band, it couldn’t have been more perfect. It was another amazing moment for this avid live music nut and burgeoning concert photographer. Maybe I just wasn’t approved to photograph this show, who knows, but there I was again this time seeing Bob Dylan and The Band. The joke conversation by novice concert goers was “Bob Dylan’s band is great, No it’s The Band. What Band ? His Band? NO The Band!” Like an Abbott and Costello skit – hey what Band is on first? I don’t know.

I knew of course about Robbie from my fascination with Michael Bloomberg back in the 60’s who famously was there to help Dylan “go electric”. The story goes, when Dylan asked Bloomfield to form a band with him, Bloomers declined and referred Dylan to Robbie and his band. They then were just simply called The Band. Who knows how accurate that is at this point, only Dylan does, but I like the story. Thanks Robbie and all the guys. This was memorable and indelible in my archives of South Florida live music events. Historic.

Seeing The Band several times, but never photographing them, would inspire an impromptu trip to Nashville in 2019. My good friend Jesse Finkelstein, owner of Blues Radio International with whom I collaborated on numerous in-studio interviews, live music events, and made great friendships with so many musicians over the years, including legends such as Bob Margolin and Muddy Waters. Bob was there for the original “Last Waltz,” captured in Martin Scorsese’s epic documentary of the final performance of The Band with many special guests, including Muddy Waters. Bob would be one of the artists on hand for the show called, “The Last Waltz Nashville,” remembering the original Last Waltz and recreating much of it, in November of 2019. Jesse is friends with Bob and through that connection so am I. Jesse suggested I do an “on the road” coverage of the event for my music magazine, SFL Music Mag. When I heard Robbie Robertson would actually be at this one and Bob got us tickets, it was a no brainer. The artists on board for this tribute were a who’s who of new and old including:

Darius Rucker, Michael McDonald, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Nathaniel Rateliff, Warren Haynes, Jamey Johnson, Lukas Nelson, Margo Price, Don Was, John Medeski, Cyril Neville, Dave Malone, Bob Margolin, Terence Higgins, and Mark Mullins & The Levee Horns, with Robbie Robertson
(11.23.19 jskolnickphotography)

Finally I got to photograph Robbie Robertson of The Band, after all these years, and with all those famous musicians along with him. Another historic event for Robbie and me.

Sadly, he won’t be with us to celebrate the Woodstock Anniversary next week. But I will think of Robbie and all those who we’ve lost and remember when we saw them in their prime.

Thanks for the memories Robbie Robertson. What band? THE BAND.