Across the great divide - Barney Hoskyns

Starting out as a backing group for Ronnie Hawkins, before being propelled on to the world stage by Bob Dylan, The Band literally changed the course of music with their first two albums.

Retreating from the psychedelic circus of '60s rock, these four Canadians and one Arkansas boy hid away in upstate New York and steered rock 'n' roll back to its funky rural roots. Today The Band's soulful fusion of country, R&B, gospel, jazz and vaudeville is more revered than ever, exerting a massive influence on everyone from Uncle Tupelo to Ryan Adams.

Across the Great Divide is a vivid and rollicking account of the group's journey. Spanning the entire course of American rock, and boasting a supporting cast that includes Dylan, Janis Joplin and U2, it brilliantly captures the raw magic and complex personalities of these 'musicians' musicians'.