''Making the Band'' is an ABC/MTV reality television series that exists in separate iterations, each iteration focusing on a specific music act. It spawned musical acts O-Town, Da Band, Danity Kane, Day26, and Donnie Klang. Except for the first iteration of the series featuring O-Town, all seasons of ''Making the Band'' have been overseen by Diddy, acting as the man of the house who makes the final decision on who will be in the band.

''Making the Band'': O-Town (2000-2002)

The first iteration of ''Making the Band'' started on March 25, 2000, and aired for three seasons, finishing on March 30, 2002.

Season one

In 1999, Lou Pearlman, the man responsible for the formation of the Backstreet Boys and the early management of *NSYNC, embarked on a nationwide talent search, cutting auditions in eight cities down to 25 young men, and eventually eight finalists. These eight young men would, as the premise for a new ABC reality show, compete for five spots in Pearlman's newest boy band creation, to be signed to his record label, Transcontinental Records.

The first season, airing on ABC, began with eight young men, and chronicled the competition between them in typical reality-show fashion. It featured on screen choreography by Ramon Del Barrio. Midway through the first season, three of the eight men were eliminated, leaving Ashley Parker Angel, Jacob Underwood, Erik-Michael Estrada (not to be confused with American actor Erik Estrada), Trevor Penick, and Ikaika Kahoano. These five were set to become O-Town and the process of producing their first CD began. Several episodes later, however, Kahoano left for reasons that weren't exactly clear. Selecting from the original group of 25 semi-finalists, the remaining four members of the band chose Dan Miller to be Kahoano's replacement. With the final member of O-Town in place, the remainder of the first season tracked the development and struggles with the new band.

Seasons two and three

The ratings of ''Making the Band'' were strong enough to warrant second and third seasons, though not on network television. ''Making the Band'' was thus relocated to cable television network MTV. O-Town's return for additional seasons marked the first time the main cast of a reality show returned for a second season.

These additional seasons continued to track the development of O-Town as a pop group, following tours, performances, and other seminal events in the band's history. Such events included the development of their second CD, ''O2'', their transition to a new record label, Clive Davis' J Records, and an ongoing struggle to "prove themselves" as legitimate artists.

The transition to MTV would be permanent: future iterations of the show also aired on MTV.

''Making the Band 2'': Da Band (2002-2004)

The second iteration of ''Making the Band'' started on October 19, 2002, and aired for three seasons, finishing on April 29, 2004.

Season one

In 2002, a new talent search had begun, this time by P. Diddy. Diddy sought to find the best rappers and singers from which to assemble a new hip-hop group. After weeks of selection and training P. Diddy chose the members of the band on the first season of ''Making The Band 2''.

Season two

For several weeks, the contestants were subject to difficult tasks, including walking from Midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn to purchase cheesecake for Diddy and aspiring rapper Ness' battle with Harlem MC Jae Millz. The finalists named themselves Da Band.

Their debut album, ''Too Hot for TV'', was released in September of 2003.

First Single: "Bad Boy This, Bad Boy That"

Second and final single: "Tonight"

The album still managed to certify gold selling 600,000 copies.

Season three

Da Band effectively ended its career at the end of the third season of the show, when P. Diddy dissolved the group during the season finale. However, he still wanted to work with Babs and Ness, calling them hip hop's next "Bonnie and Clyde," though nothing yet has been released from either of them. Diddy also kept Chopper, now known as Young City, with the label, who was signed with Bad Boy South. Sara Stokes, Frederick and Dylan John were the remaining three members of Da Band to be dropped completely from Bad Boy.

''Making The Band 3'': Danity Kane (2005-2006)

The third iteration of ''Making the Band'' started on March 3, 2005, and aired for three seasons, finishing on August 10, 2006.

Season one

After the failure of Bad Boy's Da Band, P. Diddy returned with ''Making the Band 3'' in 2004. This time, he was on the look for the next female supergroup. With the help of Laurie Ann Gibson, Doc and Johnny, he set out on a multi city search to find girls who had everything: a great voice, dancing ability and most importantly the looks. The theme song "Oh La La" was recorded by Badboy Recording Artist Cheri Dennis.

!Name	!Result
TyraPaschunCeleste	Eliminated in episode 2 for failing to satisfy in terms of dancing
Leslie	Eliminated in episode 2 as the judges felt that her solo aspirations and attitude would interfere with the chemistry of the future group
Michelle	Left in episode 7 to go back to school
LavantaePatti	Eliminated in episode 8 for failing to satisfy in terms of dancing and performing
Roxanne†Erika (Bunny)KristenLecheBethany	Eliminated in episode 9 for failing to satisfy in terms of dancing
	Eliminated in episode 10 for failing to satisfy in terms of singing to a crowd
MylahAileenMartiiFrancesca	Were not considered good enough for the group or Season 2
AundreaAubreyMalika	Episode 10 Kept by Diddy to continue for a second season. They didn't make the band but were considered good enough to have another shot at Making the Band.

† = ''Roxanne was cut by Laurie Ann''.

Season two

The band performed at the Backstreet Boys concert at the Nissan Pavilion on August 6, 2005. There were two groups. Group one, named "SHE (She Has Everything)", included Aubrey, Melissa, Denosh, Jasmine, and Kelli. Group two, named "Chain 6", included Aundrea, Dawn, Shannon, Wanita, Dominique, and Taquita. During dress rehearsal, group one was the favorite according to Dave, Laurie Anne and Doc. However, the first group was booed as they gave their performance because Denosh started off key on the a cappella which led Aubrey to go off key in the beginning of the song. The second group won, as many screaming girls yelled for them.

The finale took place on Tuesday, November 15, 2005, where the 11 contestants left competed for five spots in the band. The 11 finalists; Aundrea, Aubrey, Dawn, Jasmine, Taquita, Denosh, Wanita, Shannon, Melissa, Kelli, and Dominique, were sent home for three months, told to polish up, and return for the final stretch. When the girls returned after their three month hiatus, they had to perform numerous acts such as radio interviews, a photo shoot, and dance all of their old dance routines. As Diddy's crew chooses the group, all of the girls went on a last dinner.

The song that each contestant sang in the studio "Tell Me" was actually used by Diddy on his album ''Press Play''. Instead of one of the members of the group who originally sang the song on the show appearing on the track, the vocals are done by Christina Aguilera.

!Name	!Result
Nicole PalmeriSammyTokiko	Eliminated in episode 2 for failing to satisfy in terms of singing
AmberMalikaJennifer	Eliminated in episode 3 for failing to satisfy in terms of dancing
TiffanyChelsea	Withdrew in episode 4 due to a hip injury; it was later revealed that she lied about her age, using a cousin's driver's license to audition for the show. Her real name is Dav’rielle SmithEliminated in episode 4 for failing to satisfy in terms of performance
CindyKaui	Eliminated in episode 6 for failing in terms of being able to upkeep a good level of dancing at an unprepared time
JasmineMelissa SmithKelli MariaDominique YoungDenosh BennetTaquita Thorn	Failed to make it into the band in Episode 10
AubreyWanitaShannonDawnAundrea	Made it into the band in Episode 10

They decided on the name Danity Kane. The band's self-titled debut album was released in stores on August 22, 2006 and peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts within its first three weeks of release. After the Making The Band 4 - The Tour and Welcome to the Dollhouse, Danity Kane broke up in January 2009.

Season three

!Episode	!Information
1	The band goes to Dawn's hometown New Orleans. They see the destruction Hurricane Katrina did to New Orleans and Debbie Richard's (Dawn Richard's mother) Dance Studio. They visit Dawn's old high school and donate $5,000. They also make the Mardi Gras parades, where they ride one of the floats, throwing out Mardi Gras beads.
2	The band prepares for their first performance, at the Mercury Room during NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston, Texas. They perform a 20 minute set consisting of three songs, but only two are shown: "She Has Everything" and "Ooh La, La." Their first performance was not well received by the crowd or Diddy.
3	The girls work with vocal coach Betty Wright doing different voice training sessions. Diddy decides that Shannon needs the most work vocally. Towards the end of the show, Diddy tells Shannon that she needs to show that she can sing and not hold back. Shannon starts crying as she sings and ends up showing that she really can sing. On the other hand, Aundrea and Shannon discover a mouse in a pile of clothes. Dawn calls an exterminator to fix the "mouse problem."
4	The girls do more dance training, meet with Atlantic records staff, do more vocal training, and meet with Ms. Jones. The girls take a minute to give her a live performance, but the interview turns sour when Ms. Jones says that only Dawn, Wanita, and Aundrea can sing. Aubrey takes this to heart, and is hurt by the comment. Diddy wants to send Aubrey home because she has a cold he doesn't want the other girls to catch. Aubrey wants to stay, saying the group needs her. Later, she doesn't get to help the girls write a song Diddy wants them to make.
5	The girls finally initiated the recording sessions for their album. Diddy said that he was "Proud of the progress" that the girls had made and that they were ready to begin recording. Once in the studio they worked with Producer Scott Storch and vocal producer, Pooh Bear. The girls started on the song entitled, "Sleep On It". Dawn doesn't shine during the recording session. Her voice range is low and the song requires higher notes to be sung. She works through it and with a little encouragement form the rest of the group and Pooh Bear, she manages to sound great by the end of the episode. The girls are well on their way.
6	The band goes into the studio to record two brand new songs with Brian Cox. "One Shot" and "Ride For You". Aubrey's part of one of the verses for "Ride For You" was cut. She was very upset and thought she didn't sound bad. Diddy told her she didn't have enough emotion for the song. He said he wanted to cry when he heard the song and Aubrey's emotion on the record didn't cut it. They went to record a second song and everyone noticed that Aubrey wasn't on that song either. Dawn was very concerned with Aubrey so she goes to Johnny and tells him about the problem. Johnny says he can't do anything about it, that it's the producers song. The girls record some more parts for "Sleep On It". They meet back up with Pooh Bear and Scott Storch and recorded great music. Aundrea is having boyfriend issues.
7	While working in the studio, the girls work on a new song. A new leader rises from the group, Aundrea, when the girls choose her to lead "Hold Me Down". Also, the girls perform at Village Underground where they perform "Ride For You". But, Aundrea's boyfriend, Rudy, then breaks up with her because she did not call him the night before. All the girls are shocked to hear about this, while Aundrea gets very upset with this but the girls give their support.
8	First, the girls move into a beautiful house in Los Angeles. Then, they go and do a lot of radio interviews. They reveal their name, which is Danity Kane. Some look to be shocked by this name, and all ask what it means. Then, the girls are working on their choreography for their video. But, Laurie Ann, their choreographer, get very mad at the girls because they do not know the real version of the song for "Show Stopper". The girls then go to film their first music video which is "Show Stopper". They have to try to get the video done in one day, but they fall behind schedule. They do manage to get the video done in one day, and the video turns out great.
9	The girls must reschedule their first concert as Danity Kane after disastrous weather strikes their location. The girls have their concert the following day and perform songs from their album, including "One Shot," "Want It," "Right Now," and "Show Stopper."

''Making The Band 4'': Day26 and Donnie Klang (2007-2009)

The fourth iteration of ''Making the Band'' started on June 18, 2007, and aired for three seasons, finishing on April 23, 2009.

Season one

Diddy begins his search for an all-male super group. This all-male band is widely believed to be the new version of 112 or New Edition as reported earlier in the season. The season began on June 18, 2007 at 9:00 p.m. The band was finally made on August 26, 2007, consisting of five males in their early to mid-20s.

!Episode

!Information

1

A panel of judges travel across the country to find men with the most potential of being in a successful men's performing group. Diddy picks 20 men and eliminates the other 38. 'There is a song that is used in this episode that the guys have to dance to in able to learn their choreography. 'The name of the theme song for Making the Band 4 is "Exclusive" written by Brian-Michael Cox, one of the judges on the show.'

2

3

Diddy gives the contestants a grueling series of tasks to take place around New York, including buying cheesecake, that must be completed as a team. The majority of the contestants complete most of the tasks, earning Diddy's congratulations. After their performances, an impressed Diddy decides to cut only four of the guys rather than ten, including men who did not participate in the tasks and men who failed to perform well.

4

Diddy surprises the contestants by revealing he will continue searching for new talent, namely four new performers. Eleven applicants impress Diddy and his team, earning a spot on the team. The new contestants are given a tour of the house, where the establish competitors are caught napping. Angered at their lack of motivation, Diddy initiates a competition on the spot to determine who will remain on the show. The end result is the release of a few originals.

5

The guys get off to a rocky start, as the old guys don't trust the new guys right away. They soon "warm up" to each other as they engage in a 5 mile run issued by Diddy. Robert's girlfriends calls and conversation ends in a hostile break-up. Michael loses an amazing 11 pounds at a workout session and seems to be keeping it off with his eating habits. Ankh Ra splits the boys into groups and has them perform a song for him, and later Diddy. The main conflict is Robert losing rehearsal time due to spending an hour mending his relationship on the phone. Diddy is stumped at elimination and does not cut anyone due to the excellent performances, to the surprise of all. He then turns the tables and chooses Dan, Donnie, Robert, Dyshon, DeAngelo,and Willie to choose who goes. Only two guys, not surprisingly, both new leave, Jeremic and Devin.

6

The guys are tested in a series of physical tests including basketball and boxing. Jonathan has a hard time keeping up with the rest during the "losers' run", only to get his nose busted from his "brother" Qwanell. During a difficult dance routine with Laurie Ann, Jonathan realizes that maybe joining this competition wasn't his calling. So during their routine, he tells his fellow members that he will no longer be continuing on with them on their journey.While dancing solo, Julius hears a pop. He is taken to the hospital and told he has a sprained ligament. At eliminations, Donnie questions Diddy's decision on putting him in the "can't dance group", but surprisingly makes the cut. Diddy gets upset when he has to make his cut because he realizes that Laurie Ann didn't follow his orders to have the guys rehearse all weekend instead of just for eight hours the day of the cut. In the end, Diddy cuts a total of five guys: Armando, Dan, Andrae, Eric, and Curtiss. There are 12 guys left.

7

It's almost the finale, and this episode, the guys are being tested on their dancing, singing, and overall performance—the total package. The boys get a new choreographer named Jamal, and they seem to like him better than Laurie Ann because he actually breaks the dance steps down slowly until each guy gets it. Julius is still frustrated about his leg injury, because there is an upcoming elimination that will include dancing, and he is forced to sit in the dance studio while the other guys learn new choreography. Donnie is also stressed about his dancing because last week Diddy stated that he can't dance at all, but Jamal says it's just in his head; don't let what other people say about white boys get to your head, and he appreciates the support from his new dance coach. He later then receives dance tips from Qwanell and Carlos, which seems to have helped him boost his confidence immensely. We learn Carlos' fiancee is pregnant, but he later receives news that their baby might be born with down syndrome. As the guys get ready for elimination night, Donnie puts on an outfit, asking one of the other guys if this outfit made him look more of a dancer. They go to Spotlight to perform for Diddy, who will be basing tonight's information on dancing, singing, performance, improvement, determination, and their past weeks here in New York. Carlos' group is first to perform, and Diddy quickly stops the dancing performance and asks the group to sing again because he doesn't think Carlos gave his best. They dance again, and he still doesn't look satisfied. Carlos can't balance his personal problems with the competition, even though he says he wants this more than anything. When Julius's group performs their dance routine, Julius is having trouble with the dance because he hasn't practiced nearly enough as his group members, and Diddy again asks his group to redo it. When Donnie performs his choreography with his group, he states that he believes what Diddy said was just a test, because if Diddy thought he couldn't dance at all, why wouldn't he have just cut him right away? He believes Diddy did it to get him to work twice as hard as his band mates, and wants to prove him better than the guys that already left and the guys still here. Diddy seems to like his group's performance, especially Big Mike because he looks like he's enjoying dancing for Diddy. When it is time to individually perform vocally, Carlos and Julius both struggle; Diddy asked Carlos if he even knew the words of the song, and Julius began to fumble more and more as he performed. In the end, only Julius and Carlos were cut. The guys were then told to go home for two months and come back looking like superstars.

Choice of Group (when looking over head shots, in episode 7) Diddy tells each judge to pick their group. This is the result:

Bivins:

Robert, Willie, Michael, Donnie

Cox (producer):

Robert, Willie, Brian A., Donnie

Slam:

Robert, Jeremy, Brian A., Qwanell

Ankh Ra (Vocal coach):

Robert, Jeremy, Brian A., Qwanell

Jamal (choreographer):

Robert, Willie, Donnie, Qwanell

8

After all the contestants arrive back from their long break at home they are immediately reunited together at the airport with all 10 members. DeAngelo comes back with his braces fully removed, and Mike "Big Mike" comes back with a brand new look and in much better shape. The guys reveal what they did over their break as some reveal they performed, worked on their voices, and took dance classes. The guys meet back up in the same park where they are informed that they will be performing at the Beacon Theater where they will open up for New Edition in front of a sold out crowd. The guys go to meet Ankah to practice their songs and work on their voices and are put into 2 groups. One group is called 5th City and the second group is called Flo. The guys are introduced at the concert by Slam and immediately the show begins. After the performance the groups are rated by the crowd with the crowd cheering the loudest for Flo. The remaining 10 people receive information that they will receive makeovers and be featured in a Sean John photo shoot. After the photo shoot the guys leave to meet Diddy for the final cut. Diddy and his entourage meet in a room to deliberate on people who could possibly make the band and he reveals his feelings towards certain people and his ideas, until he tells the camera man to turn the camera off. At the final meeting place where the guys meet Diddy who has surprisingly arrived before them are told to stand in line against the wall. Diddy begins by calling people out and making them stand in line and sending people back and forth rearranging the group until he calls for music. He tells them to sing. After all the guys sing they are immediately shocked by Diddys walking out of the room without saying anything. The episode comes to a close with a message from Diddy telling everyone he needs help deciding who the group should be. He encouraged all viewers to log onto the MTV website and vote for their favorite finalist, with the results to be revealed on the live finale.

9

On the live finale, the finalists performed a snippet of "If It Isn't Love" and a ballad version of their theme song "I Want You Exclusive". Yung Joc performed and Danity Kane made a special appearance. Dyshon was the first to leave, followed by Brian Harris. Afterwards the band was finally made and Robert, Willie, Qwanell, Brian Andrews, and Mike were called to be in the band. Donnie, who came in first, followed by Willie and Mike in the voting ballots, was offered a solo artist contract on the Bad Boy label by Diddy because he showed such persistence throughout the show.

style="background-color:springgreen;" !2 !3 !4 !5 !6 !7 !8 !9 !10 !11 !12 !13 !14 !15 !16 !17 !18 !19 !20 !21 !22 !23 !24 !25 !26

+Diddy's Call-Out
Order	Episodes
!1&2!!3!!4!!5!!6!!7!!8!!9
!1	Donnie||	Donnie	Donnie	Donnie	Donnie	Donnie	Donnie	Donnie
|	DeAngelo	DeAngelo	DeAngelo	DeAngelo	DeAngelo	DeAngelo	DeAngelo	'''DeAngelo
|	Willie	Willie	Willie	Willie	Willie	Willie	Willie	Willie
|	Qwanell	Qwanell	Qwanell	Qwanell	Qwanell	Qwanell	Qwanell	Qwanell
|	Brian A.	Brian A.	Brian A.	Brian A.	Brian A.	Brian A.	Brian A.	Brian A.
|	Michael	Michael	Michael	Michael	Michael	Michael	Michael	Michael
|	Robert	Robert	Robert	Robert	Robert	Robert	Robert	Robert
|			Jeremy	Jeremy	Jeremy	Jeremy	Jeremy	Jeremy
|	Brian H.	Brian H.	Brian H.	Brian H.	Brian H.	Brian H.	Brian H.	Brian H.
|	Dyshon	Dyshon	Dyshon	Dyshon	Dyshon	Dyshon	Dyshon	Dyshon
|	Carlos	Carlos	Carlos	Carlos	Carlos	Carlos
|	Julius	Julius	Julius	Julius	Julius	Julius
|	Jonathan	Jonathan	Jonathan	Jonathan	Jonathan
|	Alexander	Armando	Armando	Armando	Armando
|	Dan	Dan	Dan	Dan	Dan
|			Andrae	Andrae	Andrae
|			Curtiss	Curtiss	Curtiss
|			Eric	Eric	Eric
|			Devin	Devin
|			Jeremic	Jeremic
|	Lewis	Lewis	Lewis
|	Chris	Chris	Chris
|	Makio	Makio
|	Tyrice	Tyrice
|	Maurice	Maurice
|	Anzeo	Anzeo

: Given Solo Contract with Bad Boy : Made the Band : Eliminated : Entered the House : Safe : Finalists : Quit'''

Season two

Diddy announced at the end of the Season 4 live finale that there will be another season of Making The Band that will show the Season 4 winners and Donnie's debut albums along with Danity Kane's second album coming together. He also said that there will be a "Making The Band" tour with Danity Kane, the Season 4 winners and Donnie. Danity Kane and Making The Band 4 Winners will all move into the same house and record their new albums and get to know each other a lot more. This will be Danity Kane's second album and Making The Band 4 Winners' Debut. The new season is scheduled to air on January 28, 2008 according to the official Making the Band 4 MySpace. Leading up to the premiere of season 2, a snippet of a song called "Together" produced by Bryan Michael Cox recently leaked onto the internet. The Making The Band 4 boys have a song out called "Got Me Going" (lead single off their upcoming album). Danity Kane has a confirmed lead single called "Damaged". Fans voted between it and another song, "Pretty Boy". Donnie Klang also has out a song called "Take You There". Both "Damaged" and "Got Me Going" were released to all digital music stores on January 29. The group's official name is Day26.1 On the February 4, 2008 episode of TRL the boys announced Day 26 is the band name because August 26, 2007 was the day that they became a band.

!Episode	!Name and Date	!Information
1	The Battle Of The Sexes - Aired 01/28/08	Last seasons band winner, solo winner Donnie and members of Danity Kane all move into one house and begin work on their own albums.
2	B@#$%assness - Aired 02/04/08
3	The Battle Track - Aired 02/11/08	Diddy takes the groups out of the studio to work with a vocal coach, Ankh Ra, believing they are not yet ready to record.
4	The Dating Game - Aired 02/18/08
5	Danity Kane Attack - Aired 02/25/08	Den mothers are interviewed by Diddy for the singers.
6	A New Dawn - Aired 03/03/08	Dawn finally lets Que in.
7	Fight Club - Aired 03/10/08	Friction among the boys is created from morning routines.
8	Beautiful Girls - Aired 03/17/08	Danity Kane receives some brutal criticism about their image from Diddy and gets a makeover.
9	Hitting The Road - Aired 03/23/08	Danity Kane sings their single "Damaged" in the season finale. Day26 sings their single "Got Me Going", and Donnie also performs.
10	Making The Band 4 Reunion - Aired 03/24/08	The cast of 'Making the Band 4' Season 2 comes together to discuss their experiences and perform at the Times Square MTV Studio, plus Diddy has a huge announcement.

Season three

At the live finale of the second season of Making the Band 4, Diddy announced that the subsequent season would feature the shows stars on a U.S. Tour, the Making the Band Tour. On August 12 there was a 1 hour special that aired on MTV called "Making The Band's Greatest Hits." The special was hosted by Aubrey from Danity Kane, Donnie Klang and Robert from Day26, looking back on past events throughout the seasons of Making the Band 3 and 4. "Making The Band 4" came back for a third season, which followed Danity Kane and Day26 on tour, living in a house together, and enjoying life. Instead of "making a band" the shows focus turned into a The Real World type show, focusing on friendships, relationships, and drama in and out of the studio and the industry. The third season premiered on August 19, 2008. The second half of the third season premiered on February 12, 2009. The ''Making the Band 4'' series finale Aired on April 23, 2009.

!Episode	!Information
1	The Notorious LAG - Aired 8/22/08
2	I Want My Money Back - Aired 8/29/08
3	Breakdown - Aired 9/05/08
4	Showtime NYC - Aired 9/12/08
5	Hit The Road - Aired 9/19/08
6	Three-way Split - Aired 9/26/08
7	Sex And The Diddy - Aired 10/03/08
8	Damaged - Aired 10/10/08
9	Live Finale - Aired 10/17/08

Season three, Part 2

!Episode	!Information
10	London Bridges Falling Down - Aired 2/13/09
11	Start Spreading The News - Aired 2/20/09
12	How You Gonna Fix It - Aired 2/26/09
13	Everyday Im Hustling - Aired 3/05/09
14	Leader Of The Pack - Aired 3/13/09
15	The Curse - Aired 3/19/09
16	Spiral - Aired 3/27/09
17	Fight Night - Aired 4/02/09
18	Judgement Day - Aired 4/09/09
19	Lows On The High Seas - Aired 4/16/09
20	The Finale Chapter - Aired 4/23/09

Making His Band

During the ''Making the Band'' 4 finale, Diddy said he would be coming out with another reality show looking for another girl group that could "hopefully stay together". He also stated that he was searching for musicians for a ''Making the Band'' spinoff titled ''Making His Band'', where he would be searching for guitarists, drummers, backup singers, etc. to form his own personal live band. This new season premiered on July 27, 2009.

On September 2, 2009, this series was placed on hiatus. On September 12, 2009, the show returned and aired the last five episodes on a new Saturday time slot. Reasoning for this included a delay in Diddy's album release date as well as generally low ratings overall for the program.

In 2010, ''Making His Band'' was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for "Outstanding Reality Program" during the 21st GLAAD Media Awards.

Notes

External links

That Grape Juice Interviews D. Woods

MTV's Making the Band 4 Website

Category:2000s American television series Category:American Broadcasting Company network shows Category:American reality television series Category:MTV television series Category:Television series by Bunim/Murray Productions

background	group_or_band
name	The Band
landscape	yes
alias	Levon and the HawksCanadian Squires
years active	–1976, 1983–1999
origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
genre	Roots rock, Americana, blues rock, country rock, folk rock
label	Capitol, Rhino, Warner Bros.
associated acts	Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks, Bob Dylan, John Simon, Allen Toussaint
past members	Rick DankoLevon HelmGarth HudsonRichard ManuelRobbie RobertsonJim WeiderFred Carter, Jr.Stan SzelestRandy CiarlanteRichard Bell
website	}}

The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Canadians Rick Danko (bass guitar, double bass, fiddle, trombone, vocals), Garth Hudson (keyboard instruments, saxophones, trumpet), Richard Manuel (piano, drums, baritone saxophone, vocals), Robbie Robertson (guitar, vocals), and American Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, guitar, vocals). All five members were notable musicians in their own right.

The members of the Band first came together as they joined rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins's backing group, The Hawks, one by one between 1958 and 1963. Upon leaving Hawkins in 1964, they were briefly known as the Levon Helm Sextet with sax player Jerry Penfound being the sixth member, then Levon and the Hawks after Penfound's departure. In 1965, they released a single on Ware Records under the name Canadian Squires, but returned as Levon and the Hawks for a recording session for Atco later in 1965. At about the same time, Bob Dylan recruited Helm and Robertson for two concerts, then the entire group for his U.S. tour in 1965 and world tour in 1966. They also joined him on the informal recordings that later became ''The Basement Tapes.''

Because they were always "the band" to various frontmen, Helm said the name "The Band" worked well when the group came into its own and left Saugerties, New York, to begin recording their own material. They recorded two of the most acclaimed albums of the late 1960s: their 1968 debut ''Music from Big Pink'' (featuring the single "The Weight") and 1969's ''The Band.'' In 2004, "The Weight" was ranked the 41st best song of all time in ''Rolling Stone'''s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.

The Band broke up in 1976, but reformed in 1983 without founding guitarist Robbie Robertson. Although the Band was always more popular with music journalists and fellow musicians than with the general public, they have remained an admired and influential group. The group was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked them #50 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, and in 2008, they received the Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Overview

The Band's music fused many elements: primarily old country music and early rock and roll, though the rhythm section often was reminiscent of Stax or Motown, and Robertson cites Curtis Mayfield and the Staple Singers as major influences, resulting in a synthesis of many musical genres. As to the group's songwriting, very few of their early compositions were based on conventional blues and doo-wop chord changes.

Every member was a multi-instrumentalist. There was little instrument-switching when they played live, but when recording, the musicians could make up different configurations in service of the songs. Hudson in particular was able to coax a wide range of timbres from his Lowrey organ; on the choruses of "Tears of Rage", for example, it sounds like a mellotron. Helm's drumming was often praised: critic Jon Carroll declared that Helm was "the only drummer who can make you cry," while prolific session drummer Jim Keltner admits to appropriating several of Helm's techniques.

Singers Manuel, Danko, and Helm each brought a distinctive voice to the Band: Helm's southern voice had more than a hint of country, Danko sang in a tenor, and Manuel alternated between falsetto and baritone. The singers regularly blended in harmonies. Though the singing was more or less evenly shared among the three men, both Danko and Helm have stated that they saw Manuel as the Band's "lead" singer.

Robertson was the group's chief songwriter, but he sang lead vocals on only three studio songs released by the Band ("To Kingdom Come", "Knockin' Lost John" and "Out Of The Blue"). This role, and Robertson's resulting claim to the copyright of most of the compositions, would later become a point of much antagonism, especially that directed towards Robertson by Helm, who, in his autobiography ''This Wheel's on Fire - Levon Helm and the Story of the Band'', disputes the validity of Robertson's place as chief songwriter, as the Band's songs were often honed and recorded through collaboration between all members. Robertson for his part angrily denied that Helm had written any of the songs attributed to Robertson and his daughter later pointed out in a letter to the ''Los Angeles Times'' that Levon Helm's solo work consists almost entirely of songs written by others. Strains appeared in the 1980s, when the bulk of songwriting royalties were going to Robertson alone while the others had to rely on income from touring. This had not arisen as an issue in the late sixties and early seventies, when a number of Band songs, mostly credited to Robertson alone, were covered successfully by other artists - such as Smith's version of "The Weight" for the ''Easy Rider'' soundtrack LP and Joan Baez's cover of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" in 1971.

Producer John Simon is cited as a "sixth member" of the Band for producing and playing on ''Music from Big Pink'', co-producing and playing on ''The Band'', and playing on other songs up through the Band's 1993 reunion album ''Jericho''.

History

Early years: The Hawks

The members of The Band gradually came together as a part of Toronto-based, rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins's backing group, the Hawks: Helm, an original Hawk who journeyed with Hawkins from Arkansas to Ontario, then Robertson, Danko, Manuel and finally, Hudson. Hawkins's act was popular in and around Toronto and he had an effective way of eliminating his musical competition: When a promising band appeared, Hawkins would often hire their best musicians for his own group; Robertson, Danko, and Manuel came under Hawkins' tutelage this way.

While most of the Hawks were eager to join Hawkins's group, getting Hudson to join was a different story. He'd earned a college degree, planned on a career as a music teacher and was interested in playing rock music only as a hobby. The Hawks were in awe of his wild, full-bore organ sound and often begged him to join. Hudson finally relented, so long as the Hawks each paid him $10 per week to be their instructor; all music theory questions were directed to Hudson. While pocketing a little extra cash, Hudson was also able to mollify his family's fears that his education had gone to waste. The piano-organ combination was uncommon in rock music, and for all his aggressive playing, Hudson also brought a level of musical sophistication.

With Hawkins, they recorded a few singles in this period and became well known as the best rock group in the thriving Toronto music scene. Hawkins regularly convened all-night rehearsals following long club shows, with the result that the young musicians quickly developed great technical prowess on their instruments.

By 1964, the group had split from Hawkins over personal differences. They were tiring of playing the same songs so often and wanted to perform original material, and they were weary of Hawkins's somewhat dictatorial leadership. He would fine the Hawks if they brought their girlfriends to the clubs, fearing it might reduce the numbers of ''available'' girls who came to performances, or if they smoked marijuana. Alcohol and pills were acceptable but Canada then had stiff penalties against marijuana possession.

Robertson later said, "Eventually, [Hawkins] built us up to the point where we outgrew his music and had to leave. He shot himself in the foot, really, bless his heart, by sharpening us into such a crackerjack band that we had to go on out into the world, because we knew what his vision was for himself, and we were all younger and more ambitious musically."

They recorded two singles and toured frequently, usually billed as Levon and the Hawks, but found little success, partly because without Hawkins, they lacked a magnetic frontman.

In 1963, Levon Helm met the groupie Cathy Smith, with whom he and other members of the Band would have a long association.

In 1965, Helm and the band met blues singer and harmonica player Sonny Boy Williamson. They wanted to record with him, offering to become his backing band, but Williamson died not long after their meeting.

With Bob Dylan

In late summer 1965, Bob Dylan was looking for a backup band for his first U.S. "electric" tour. Levon and the Hawks were recommended by blues singer John Hammond, who earlier that year had used Helm, Hudson and Robertson on his Vanguard album ''So Many Roads''. Around the same time, one of their friends from Toronto was working as secretary to Dylan's manager Albert Grossman. Mary Martin, told Dylan to visit the group at the Yonge Street club called the Le Coq d'Or Tavern – though Robbie Robertson recollects it was the Friar's Tavern, just down the street. Her advice to Dylan: "You ''gotta'' see these guys."

After hearing the band play and meeting with Robertson, Dylan invited Helm and Robertson to join his backing band. After two concerts backing Dylan, Helm and Robertson told Dylan of their loyalty to their bandmates, and told him that they would only continue with him if he hired all of the Hawks. Dylan accepted and invited Levon and the Hawks to tour with him. The group was receptive to the offer, knowing it could give them the wider exposure they craved, but they simultaneously feared that their music was too different from his. They thought of themselves as a tightly rehearsed rock and rhythm and blues group and knew Dylan mostly from his early acoustic folk and protest music. Furthermore, they had little inkling of how internationally popular Dylan had become.

With Dylan, they played a tumultuous series of concerts from September 1965 through May 1966, marking Dylan's final transition from folkie to rocker. The tours, among the most storied in rock history, were also marked by Dylan's reportedly copious use of methamphetamines. Some, though not all, of the Hawks joined in the excesses. Most of the concerts were also met with the heckling of folk music purists. Helm was so affected by the negative reception that he left the tour within three months and sat out the rest of that year's concerts, as well as the world tour in 1966. Helm spent much of this period working on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

During and between tours, Dylan and the Hawks attempted several recording sessions, but with less than satisfying results. Sessions in October and November yielded just one usable single ("Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window"), and two days of recording in January 1966 for what was intended to be Dylan's next album, ''Blonde on Blonde'', were equally unsuccessful. However, by the time the album's sessions were switched from Columbia's New York studios to Nashville, Robertson had replaced Mike Bloomfield as Dylan's primary guitarist. The other members of the Hawks were not invited to Nashville, though ''Blonde on Blonde'''s credits also list Danko on bass and Hudson on keyboards and sax.

With Mickey Jones on drums (replacing Sandy Konikoff, who had taken over when Levon Helm departed), Dylan and the Hawks appeared at Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England, in May 1966. The gig became legendary when, near the end of Dylan's electric set, an audience member shouted "Judas!". After a pause, Dylan replied, "I don't believe you. You're a liar!" He then turned to the Hawks and said "Play it fucking loud!" With that, they launched into an acidic version of "Like a Rolling Stone".

The Manchester performance was widely bootlegged (and mistakenly placed at the Royal Albert Hall). The recording of this gig became one of the most famous of Dylan's career, often inspiring a rapturous response in those who heard it. A 1971 review from ''Creem'' stated "My response is that crystallization of everything that is rock'n'roll music, at its finest, was to allow my jaw to drop, my body to move, to leap out of the chair ... It is an experience that one desires simply to share, to play over and over again for those he knows thirst for such pleasure. If I speak in an almost worshipful sense about this music, it is not because I have lost perspective, it is precisely because I have found it, within music, yes, that was made five years ago. But it is there and unignorable." When it finally saw official release in 1998, critic Richie Unterberger declared the record "an important document of rock history."

On July 29, 1966, while on a break from touring, Dylan was injured in a motorcycle accident, and retired into semi-seclusion in Woodstock, New York. For a while, the Hawks returned to the bar and roadhouse touring circuit, sometimes backing other singers (including a brief stint with Tiny Tim). Dylan invited the Hawks to join him in Woodstock, where they recorded a much-bootlegged and influential series of demos, subsequently released on LP as ''The Basement Tapes''.

''Music from Big Pink'' and ''The Band''

Reunited with Helm, the Hawks began writing their own songs in a rented large pink house, which they affectionately named "Big Pink", in West Saugerties (near Woodstock). When they went into the recording studio, they still did not have a name for themselves. Stories vary as to the manner in which they ultimately adopted the name "The Band." In The Last Waltz, Manuel claimed that they wanted to call themselves either "The Honkies" or "The Crackers", but these names were vetoed by their record label; Robertson suggests that during their time with Dylan everyone just referred to them as "the band" and it stuck. Initially, they disliked the moniker, but eventually grew to like it, thinking it both humble and presumptuous. Rolling Stone referred to them as "The band from Big Pink."

Their first album, ''Music from Big Pink'' (1968) was widely acclaimed. The album included three songs written or co-written by Dylan ("This Wheel's on Fire", "Tears of Rage", and "I Shall Be Released") as well as "The Weight", the use of which in the film ''Easy Rider'' would make it probably their best known song. While a continuity certainly ran through the music, there were stylistic leanings in a number of directions. Never a specifically "psychedelic" group, the Band's first record did contain at least one song ("Chest Fever") demonstrating some similarities with that genre. In contrast to his wild guitar playing with Hawkins and Dylan, Robertson opted for a more subdued, riff-oriented approach, often mixed low down in the song.

After the success of ''Big Pink'', the band went on tour, including a performance at the Woodstock Festival (which was not included in the famed ''Woodstock'' film due to legal complications) and an appearance with Dylan at the UK Isle of Wight Festival (several songs from which were subsequently included on Dylan's ''Self Portrait'' album). That same year, they left for Los Angeles to record their follow-up, ''The Band'' (1969). From their deliberately rustic appearance on the cover, to the songs and arrangements within, the album stood in contrast to other popular music of the day. Although it should be noted that, by this point, several acts, notably Dylan on ''John Wesley Harding'' and The Byrds on ''Sweetheart of the Rodeo'', had made similar stylistic moves. ''The Band'' featured songs that evoked oldtime rural America, from the civil war in "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" to unionization of farm workers in "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)".

These first two records were produced by John Simon, who was practically a group member: he aided in arrangements, and played occasional instruments (piano or tuba). Simon reported that he was often asked about the distinctive horn sections featured so effectively on the first two albums: people wanted to know how they had achieved such memorable sounds. Simon stated that, besides Hudson (an accomplished saxophonist), the others had only rudimentary horn skills, and achieved their sound simply by creatively utilizing their limited technique.

''Rolling Stone'' magazine lavished praise on the Band in this era, giving them more attention than perhaps any other group in the magazine's history; Greil Marcus's articles in particular contributed greatly to the Band's mystique. The Band was also featured on the cover of ''Time Magazine's'' January 12, 1970 issue.

A critical and commercial triumph, ''The Band'', along with works by The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, established a musical template (sometimes dubbed country rock) that later would be taken to even greater levels of commercial success by such artists as the Eagles. Both ''Big Pink'' and ''The Band'' also influenced their musical contemporaries, with both Eric Clapton and George Harrison citing the Band as a major influence on their musical direction in the late 1960s and early 70s. Indeed, Clapton later revealed that he had wanted to join the group.

''Stage Fright'', ''Cahoots'', and ''Northern Lights - Southern Cross''

Following their second album, the Band embarked on their first tour as a headlining act. The resulting anxiety from fame and its hang-ups was especially evidenced by the group as its songs turned to darker themes of fear and alienation: the influence on their next work is self-explanatory. ''Stage Fright'' (1970) was engineered by musician/engineer/producer Todd Rundgren and recorded on a theatre stage in Woodstock, New York, but the fraying of the group's once-fabled unity was beginning to show. As was the case with their previous, self-titled record, Robertson contributed the majority of the songwriting. However, the trademark vocal style of the Band's three lead singers was much less prominent on this work.

After recording ''Stage Fright'', the Band was among the acts participating in the Festival Express, an all-star rock concert tour of Canada by train that also included Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead. In the concert documentary film, released in 2003, Danko can be seen intoxicated participating in a drunken jam session with Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir and Joplin while singing "Ain't No More Cane."

At about this time, Robertson began exerting greater control over the Band. This has become a point of antipathy, especially between Helm and Robertson. Helm charges Robertson with authoritarianism and greed, while Robertson suggests his increased efforts in guiding the group were due largely to some of the other members being unreliable. In particular, Robertson insists he did his best to coax Manuel into writing or co-writing more songs, only to see Manuel's talents overtaken by addiction.

Despite mounting problems between the musicians, the Band forged ahead with their next album, ''Cahoots'' (1971). ''Cahoots'' included tunes such as Bob Dylan's "When I Paint My Masterpiece," "4% Pantomime" (with Van Morrison), and "Life Is A Carnival," the last featuring a horn arrangement from Allen Toussaint. Toussaint's contribution was a critical addition to the Band's next project.

One of their most notable later albums is the live recording ''Rock of Ages'' (1972), recorded at a 1971/1972 New Year's Eve concert and featuring the line-up, bolstered by the addition of a horn section, in exuberant form. The horn arrangements were written by Allen Toussaint. Bob Dylan appeared on stage for the concert's final four songs, including a version of the rare song "When I Paint My Masterpiece".

In 1973, the Band released ''Moondog Matinee'', an album of cover songs. There was no tour in support of the album, which garnered mixed reviews. However, they did open for the Grateful Dead for two summer shows at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, New Jersey. They also played at the legendary Summer Jam at Watkins Glen. This massive concert took place at the Grand Prix Raceway outside Watkins Glen, New York on July 28, 1973. The festival, which was attended by over 600,000 music fans, also featured the Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers Band.

Next, the Band reunited with Dylan, first in recording Dylan's album ''Planet Waves'', released in January 1974, and then for the Bob Dylan and The Band 1974 Tour, which played 40 shows in North America during January and February 1974. Later that year, the live album ''Before the Flood'' was released, documenting the tour.

In 1975, now relocated to California and having built their own studio, Shangri-La, The Band released ''Northern Lights - Southern Cross'', their first album of all-new material since 1971's ''Cahoots''. All eight songs were written exclusively by Robertson. Despite poor record sales (due to the elongated period of inactivity by the band) the album is favored by critics and fans alike. Levon Helm regards this album highly in his book, ''This Wheel's on Fire'': "It was the best album we had done since ''The Band''." Highlights from the album included the Helm sung New Orleans sounding "Ophelia" and Rick Danko's emotionally driven vocal on "It Makes no Difference," both of which were performed live in ''The Last Waltz''. Another notable song from the album was the epic story "Acadian Driftwood" which was also performed at the Last Waltz, but not included in the movie. The album also produced more experimentation from Hudson switching to synthesizers, heavily showcased on "Jupiter Hollow."

''The Last Waltz''

By 1976, Robbie Robertson was weary of touring. After having to cancel some tour dates due to Richard Manuel suffering a severe neck injury in a boating accident in Texas, Robertson urged the Band to retire from touring, and conceived of a massive Thanksgiving Day concert on November 25, 1976 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California. The concert featured a horn section with arrangements by Allen Toussaint and a stellar list of guests, including other Canadian acts Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. Two of the guests were fundamental to The Band's existence and growth: Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan. Other guests they admired (and in most cases had worked with before) included Muddy Waters, Dr. John, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Ronnie Wood, Paul Butterfield, and Neil Diamond.

The concert was directed and filmed by Martin Scorsese. Concert footage and interviews with the band members and friends were combined with soundstage performances with country singer Emmylou Harris ("Evangeline") and gospel-soul group The Staple Singers ("The Weight"). The resulting concert film-documentary was released in 1978, as was a triple-LP soundtrack.

Post-Waltz

Because of contractual obligations, The Band released one more album after recording the Last Waltz, although it was released before the Last Waltz film and soundtrack. 1977's ''Islands'' was the last with The Band's classic lineup. It contained a mix of originals and covers.

Reformation

In 1983, the Band reformed and recommenced touring, though without Robertson. Several different musicians were recruited to replace Robertson and to fill out the group. The reunited Band was generally well-received, but found themselves playing in smaller venues than during the peak of their popularity.

While the reunited Band was touring, on March 4, 1986, Manuel committed suicide in his Florida motel room. It was revealed later that he had suffered for many years from chronic alcoholism. According to Levon Helm's autobiography, in the later stages of his illness, Manuel was consuming eight bottles of Grand Marnier per day.

The band participated in former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters' The Wall Live in Berlin concert in 1990, and in Bob Dylan's 30th anniversary concert celebration in New York City in October 1992. The group was the opening band for the final Grateful Dead shows at Soldier Field, in Chicago, Illinois in July 1995.

Richard Manuel's position as pianist was filled first by old friend Stan Szelest (who died not long after), then by Richard Bell. (Bell played with Ronnie Hawkins after the departure of the original Hawks, and was best known from his days as a member of Janis Joplin's Full Tilt Boogie Band.) The reformed group recorded ''Jericho'' in 1993 with much of the songwriting being handled outside the group. Two more post-reunion efforts followed, ''High on the Hog'' and ''Jubilation'', the latter including guest appearances from Eric Clapton and John Hiatt.

The Juno Awards of 1989 hosted a special reunion of several band members when The Band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. This was also the year that Robbie Robertson won three awards for his self titled album. With Canadian country rock superstars Blue Rodeo as a back-up band, Music Express called the 1989 Juno appearance with Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, and Garth Hudson a symbolic "passing of the torch" from The Band to Blue Rodeo.

In 1994 Robertson appeared with Danko and Hudson as The Band for the second time since the original group broke up. The occasion was the induction of The Band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Helm, who has feuded with Robertson for years over accusations of stolen songwriting credits, did not attend.

On 10 December 1999 another member was lost when Rick Danko died in his sleep at age 55. He had been a long-time drug user. In 1997 he had been found guilty of trying to smuggle heroin into Japan. He told the presiding judge that he had begun using the drug (together with prescription morphine) to fight life-long pain resulting from a 1968 auto accident. No drugs were found in his system at the time of his death. Following the death of Rick Danko, The Band broke up for good.

Post-reformation

In 2002, Robertson bought out all other former members' financial interests in the group with the exception of Helm, who refused to sell, giving Robertson major control of the presentation of the group's material, including latter-day compilations.

On 15 June 2007, The Band's late-period keyboardist Richard Bell died from multiple myeloma.

Although The Band received The Grammy Award's Lifetime Achievement Award on February 9, 2008, there was no reunion of all three living members, as Levon Helm held a "Midnight Ramble" in honor of the event in Woodstock, NY.

Members' other endeavors

All of The Band's members remained active in music to one degree or another.

Robertson became a music producer and wrote movie soundtracks (including acting as music supervisor for several of Scorsese's films) before a highly praised comeback with a Daniel Lanois produced, eponymous solo album in 1987. He released a second solo album, Storyville, in 1991 and another album in 2010. He also released a newly remixed version of the already heavily overdubbed The Last Waltz.

Helm received many plaudits for his acting debut in ''Coal Miner's Daughter'', a biographical film about Loretta Lynn, and for his narration and small supporting role opposite Sam Shepard in 1983's ''The Right Stuff''. He has appeared in small roles in a number of other films.

After the breakup of the Band, in the late 70s and 80s Helm released several solo albums and toured with a band called Levon Helm and the RCO Allstars. In 2007 Helm released a new album, a homage to his southern roots called ''Dirt Farmer'', which was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album on February 9, 2008. ''Electric Dirt'' followed in 2009 which also won a "Best Album" Grammy Award. Helm regularly performs concerts at his barn studio in Woodstock, New York and tours. At Helm's encouragement, Capital has re-released the first three the Band albums as a set.

In 1984, Rick Danko joined members of the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers and others in the huge touring company that made up "The Byrds Twenty-Year Celebration." Several members of the band performed solo songs to start the show including Danko who performed "Mystery Train". Danko also released a number of solo albums.

Hudson played keyboards on the first three albums by The Call. Hudson has released two acclaimed solo CDs, ''The Sea To The North'' in 2001, and ''LIVE at the WOLF'' in 2005, both featuring his wife, Maud, on vocals. He has also kept busy as an in-demand studio musician. He is featured extensively on recordings of Country/Indie star Neko Case. Hudson contributed an original electronic score to an Off-Broadway production of ''Dragon Slayers,'' written by Stanley Keyes and directed by Brad Mays in 1986 at the Union Square Theatre in New York, which was re-staged with a new cast in Los Angeles in 1990.

Influence

The Band has influenced numerous bands, songwriters, and performers, from the Grateful Dead and The Beatles to Eric Clapton, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Led Zeppelin, and Elvis Costello. The album ''Music from Big Pink'', in particular, is credited with contributing to Clapton's decision to leave the super group Cream. In his introduction of The Band during the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert, Clapton announced that in 1968 he'd heard the album, "and it changed my life", he said. Guitarist Richard Thompson has openly acknowledged the album's influence on Fairport Convention's ''Liege and Lief'', and journalist John Harris has suggested that The Band's debut also influenced the spirit of The Beatles' back-to-basics album ''Let It Be'' as well as The Rolling Stones' string of roots-infused albums that began with ''Beggars Banquet''. Meanwhile, the ''Big Pink'' song "The Weight" has been covered numerous times, and in various musical styles.

In the nineties, a new generation of bands influenced by The Band began to gain popularity, including Counting Crows and The Black Crowes. Counting Crows indicated this influence with their tribute to the late Richard Manuel, "If I Could Give All My Love (Richard Manuel Is Dead)" from their album Hard Candy. The Black Crowes frequently cover Band songs during live performances, such as "The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down", which appears on their DVD ''Freak 'n' Roll into the Fog''. They have also recorded at Helm's studio in Woodstock.

Chicago's Umphrey's McGee has covered both "Ophelia" and "Don't Do It". Both were covered for the first time at their New Year's Eve concert from 2004, ''Wrapped Around Chicago''. "Ophelia" appears on that release. They have also covered "The Weight" twice with Huey Lewis on vocals.

Southern-based "jam band" Widespread Panic has covered "Ophelia" consistently from 1987 to 2007, and in 2006 they began covering "Chest Fever" as well.

In 2004 southern rock-revivalists Drive-By Truckers released the track "Danko/Manuel" on the album ''The Dirty South''.

In January 2007, a tribute album, entitled ''Endless Highway: The Music of The Band'', was released which included contributions by My Morning Jacket, Death Cab for Cutie, Gomez, Guster, Bruce Hornsby, Jack Johnson and ALO, Leanne Womack, The Allman Brothers Band, Blues Traveler, Jakob Dylan, and Rosanne Cash, amongst others.

In June, 2010, jam band Phish covered "Look out Cleveland" to open a show at Blossom Music Center outside of Cleveland, OH.

The 2010 Dukes of September Rhythm Revue tour (Donald Fagen, Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald) features a mini-tribute to The Band including Caldonia Mission (Fagen), Rag Mama Rag (Scaggs) and The Shape I'm In (McDonald) in the middle of the set.

Discography

Studio albums

''Music from Big Pink'' (1968)

''The Band'' (1969)

''Stage Fright'' (1970)

''Cahoots'' (1971)

''Moondog Matinee'' (1973)

''Northern Lights – Southern Cross'' (1975)

''Islands'' (1977)

''Jericho'' (1993)

''High on the Hog'' (1996)

''Jubilation'' (1998)

Live albums

''Rock of Ages'' (1972)

''The Last Waltz''(1978)

''Live at Watkins Glen'' (1995)

;with Bob Dylan

''Planet Waves'' (1974)

''The Basement Tapes'' (1975)

Personnel

Timeline

vertical red lines indicate album releases