George Harrison’s opinion on The Band

Formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada back in 1967, The Band became one of the most influential Canadian bands of all time. Their self-titled 1969 album is the most famous one from their discography. It’s known for hits like “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”, “Up On Cripple Creek” and “Rag Mama Rag”. Over the decades many famous musicians talked about the band and one of them was George Harrison.

The late Beatles guitarist and singer talked about The Band in an interview for VH1 Classic Albums back in 1997 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage).

George Harrison’s opinion on The Band

“It was very kind of Country, hillbilly. A little Rhythm and Blues, a little Rock and Roll and a lot of that kind of Country or hillbilly kind of feeling. I’ve got a jukebox in my house and they’re albums are on it. I only put music in there that I don’t wanna keep changing.”

“I want stuff that there is a long life to it. That’s why I valued The Band’s music. I think, in that context when you have all these different voices coming and going it carries an album. It makes it hold the interest and I like that a lot. But I don’t think when I first heard it I was really aware of what was really going on. I was just absorbing the sound. I was just being carried along by what I was hearing,” George Harrison said.

For George Harrison, their records were “uniquely sophisticated”

George really respected The Band and their musicianship, he had already praised them in an interview with Musician Magazine back in 1987.  “To this day you can play ‘Stage Fright’ and ‘Big Pink,’ and although the technology’s changed, those records come off as beautifully conceived and uniquely sophisticated. They had great tunes, played in a great spirit, and with humor and versatility.

“I knew those guys during that period and I think it was Robbie Robertson who invited me down. He said, ‘You can stay at Albert’s [Grossman, Dylan’s manager]. He’s got the big house.’ I hung out with them and Bob,” George Harrison said.

As Harrison said, they were Bob Dylan‘s backing band in the 60s. Their classic line-up had Rick Danko (Bass and vocals) Garth Hudson (Keyboards), Levon Helm (Drums and vocals), Richard Manuel (Piano and vocals) and Robbie Robertson (Guitar). The group was active from 1957 to 1977 and then from 1983 to 1999.

With Bob Dylan they recorded three albums: “Before The Flood” (Live – 1974), “Planet Waves” (1974) and “The Basement Tapes” (1975). As The Band, they released 10 studio albums during their career, the final one being Jubilation (1998). However, on that final record the only original members were Rick Danko, Levon Helm and Garth Hudson. Hudson was the last original The Band member who was still alive. He sadly passed away on January 21, 2025 at the age of 87.

Rick Danko had passed away in 1999, Levon Helm in 2012, Richard Manuel in 1986 and Robbie Robertson in 2023.