Why Van Morrison’s Performance During the Band’s Final Concert Almost Didn’t Happen

The Band‘s last ever performance is one of the most storied in rock ‘n’ roll history. In addition to being the end of one of the decade’s most notable bands, it was historic for several other reasons. What helped this performance become so legendary is that acclaimed director Martin Scorsese taped the performance and created the critically acclaimed documentary, The Last Waltz. Though that documentary would not have been so decorated if it weren’t for the all-star lineup in attendance, which included Van Morrison.

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On November 25, 1976, The Band took to the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco for their grand send-off. In addition to Van Morrison, the musicians who performed that night included Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Ringo Starr, and several other notable acts. The one-night show consisted of a musical lineup equivalent to a major musical festival.

Given the lineup in attendance, the stories that the night created did not just revolve around The Band’s farewell. Notably, Bob Dylan almost didn’t perform because he was unaware of the filming. Furthermore, Scorsese’s film crew nearly did not film Muddy Waters’ performance of “Mannish Boy” due to a lack of communication. In addition to all those stories, Van Morrison, who famously performed “Caravan”, allegedly almost didn’t take the stage due to a last-minute case of stage fright.

Supposedly, Van Morrison Had To Be Literally Pushed Out on Stage

Among performers, stage fright is as common as the flu. That being so, it’s surely not a sign of weakness nor an insufficiency as an artist. Rather, it’s merely a sign that shows the artist is, in fact, unsurprisingly, human. Well, nobody has seemingly ever had any doubts about Van Morrison being above common humanity, as his powerfully connective lyrics suggest that. Though, so does this instance.

As the story goes, Van Morrison reportedly suffered from a last-minute bout of stage fright. A bout so severe that he nearly called off the performance. However, his manager, Harvey Goldsmith, supposedly pushed Van Morrison out on the stage unexpectedly. Subsequently, Morrison, decked out in a maroon sequined suit, gave one heck of a performance and started to enjoy himself as he belted out, “Turn it up” during the song.

The moral of the story is that even the most seasoned musicians suffer from a bit of anxiety. However, with a little bit of encouragement and maybe even a physical push, anybody can overcome it.

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