Craig Harris dives deeply into The Band, including the myths and confusions surrounding its members, and provides a wide-ranging account from their apprentice-ship with Ronnie Hawkins and collaboration with Bob Dylan to the present. A half-century after The Band's original lineup, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson, and Levon Helm last played at the star-studded Thanksgiving 1976 concert "The Last Waltz," their blend of folk, blues, country, Dixieland, and rock 'n' roll is revered as a root of Americana music. Though they are no longer with us, their influence remains strong. Harris interweaves original and previously unpublished interviews with the late Robertson, Danko, and Hawkins, as well as producer/sideman Aaron "Professor Louie" Hurwitz, drummer Rick Ciarlante, the Helm Band's Larry Campbell and his wife Teresa Williams, and others. Recordings, concerts, festivals, film appearances, and Robertson's soundtracks for Martin Scorsese and others are closely assessed. But this isn't just a story celebrating the group's countless hits, successes, and victories. Despite their lasting impact, The Band's journey was far from smooth. Drug and alcohol abuse, poor health, bankruptcies, and bitter conflicts over songwriting credits took their toll.

Craig Harris looks at it all.