Band, the

North American rock group 1961–76. They acquired their name when working as Bob Dylan's backing band, and made their solo debut in 1968 with Music from Big Pink. In their appearance and mysterious lyrics they often reflected a fascination for past American culture and history, as in the song ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’. Their unostentatious ensemble playing and strong original material gave rock a new breadth.

Formed in Canada as a backing group for the US rock-and-roll singer Ronnie Hawkins (1935– ) and initially known as the Hawks, they took up with Dylan in 1965, touring and recording with him intermittently over the next ten years. Their albums include The Band (1969), Stage Fright (1970), and Northern Lights – Southern Cross (1975).

Their farewell concert was filmed by Martin Scorsese as The Last Waltz (1978).