Author Topic: Newly found Last Waltz photos from the SF Chronicle (Read 206 times)

dfung60 · « **on:** January 28, 2016, 01:55:58 PM »

There's an article on the San Francisco Chronicle website with a set of 40+ photos that were taken at The Band's Last Waltz concert at Winterland. They were lost in the Chron's photo archives and recently discovered. The Chron has a paywall on the article, but this link was working when I posted it:

http://www.sfchronicle.com/thetake/article/Long-lost-photos-from-legendary-S-F-concert-6788689.php?t=9a9372e28fca22c765&cmpid=fb-premium#photo-9286299

An amazing show, and the Scorsese movie is still amazing today. I was still a kid in Iowa when this show happened and I never saw a show at Winterland (it closed about 3 months after I started college here). I remember seeing the BGP ads in the pink section as the end drew near.

Enjoy!

David Fung

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2016, 02:07:30 PM »

Thanks for posting these, David. How often do you see almost all Fenders on sage with a Gibson bass? While I didn't make it to the Last Waltz (I was supposed to have a ticket, but ... long story), I did get to see the Dead in Winterland numerous times. I wish I had a piece of the floor as I melted into it on more than one occasion! Also flew around the rafters a few times. I miss the old hall.

Bill, tgo

dfung60 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2016, 06:25:55 PM »

Bill - Indeed! I started playing bass around 1973. I took my first bass lessons in the upstairs practice room at Eschbach's Music House in Ames, IA from a very nice guy who's name I don't remember anymore, but I still do some of the warmup exercises he taught me to this day. Eschbach's was a regular small town music store with band instruments, sheet music, but they were also a Gibson dealer. When I was waiting downstairs for my lesson time, I used to look up at that natural finish Ripper bass hanging on the wall thinking it was quite the instrument! It had to be good because Greg Lake was not only my favorite bassist, but a Ripper endorser, too.

I have two Rippers now, with my blonde one having had a full restoration, so it looks as nice as the one on Eschbach's wall. Got a black fretless too, but never have even seen a sunburst like Rick's.

The Musicman guitar amps are pretty keen too!

DF

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2016, 08:19:31 PM »

David, to assure you never watch The Last Waltz the same way again, read Levon Helm's book This Wheel's On Fire.

Peter

lbpesq · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2016, 09:20:39 PM »

I know exactly what you mean. Levon's book is one of my two favorite rock autobiographies, along with Phil's book. It did put a dent in my feelings about Robbie Robertson. The whole Neil Diamond/Muddy Waters thing was very unfortunate. But it's still a damn fine movie.

Bill, tgo

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2016, 06:52:03 AM »

Good find, David. Thanks for posting the link.

David Houck · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2016, 02:48:09 PM »

Yes; Levon's book is a great read. And yes; it does give one a different perspective of The Last Waltz.