Sunday, January 6, 2008

The Band's Performance at Rock Hall Induction

Have you seen the video of The Band playing The Weight at the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 1994? I hadn't either. And there is probably a good reason for that. It's not very good. It features Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson (on accordion), and Eric Clapton. It sounds like a sensational lineup, right? Well, the vocals are off-key and weak, especially Robbie and Eric, and Rick looks entirely unhealthy. Levon is understandably absent, replaced by Late Show drummer Anton Fig. As a historical document, it is fascinating to watch and worth the time. What is most enjoyable about the performance is Garth's impassioned accordion playing. With his eyes closed and fingers flying he plays a solo starting just after the 2:30 mark that will leave a smile on your face.



You can watch Clapton's excellent excellent induction speech for The Band here.

1 comment:

WeightStaff said...

Hudson is God.

Rest in Peace, Rick.

Nice Piece, Robbie. Scumbag.

Eric, um. Nice Tux.

And Levon. See you in March!