Robbie Robertson Talks The Band On ‘The Tonight Show’

The Band guitarist Robbie Robertson was among the guests on last night’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Robertson was on hand to promote his just-released Testimony memoir about his time in The Band and beyond.

Fallon’s house band, The Roots, cleverly introduced Robertson with a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Playing In The Band.” Jimmy is a native of West Saugerties, New York and spoke about how The Band was required listening for those in the town. West Saugerties is where “Big Pink,” the house where the Basement Tapes were recorded and helped birth Music From Big Pink, is located. Robbie talked about the origins of The Band and how they settled on West Saugerties and the Woodstock area. The guitarist also discussed the 40th anniversary of The Band’s famed The Last Waltz final concert.

Check out Robbie and Jimmy’s discussion of The Band’s Woodstock roots:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUjmH0swtRQ

Here’s the entire episode including The Roots’ “Playing In The Band” around the 28 minute mark: