Levon Helm passed peacefully this afternoon. He was surrounded by family, friends and band mates and will be remembered by all he touched as a brilliant musician and a beautiful soul.
Last week I was shocked and so saddened to hear that my old band mate, Levon, was in the final stages of his battle with cancer. It hit me really hard because I thought he had beaten throat cancer and had no idea that he was this ill. I spoke with his family and made arrangements to go and see him.
On Sunday I went to New York and visited him in the hospital. I sat with Levon for a good while, and thought of the incredible and beautiful times we had together. It was heartwarming to be greeted by his lovely daughter Amy, whom I have known since she was born. Amy’s mother, Libby Titus, and her husband, Donald Fagen, were so kind to help walk me through this terrible time of sadness. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sandy.
Levon is one of the most extraordinary talented people I’ve ever known and very much like an older brother to me. I am so grateful I got to see him one last time and will miss him and love him forever.
-Robbie Robertson
The Following User Says Thank You to troutman For This Useful Post:
Sad sad news, as a singer myself i've admired his power for years, also he and dylan would finish each others sentences on a type writer in the living room of big pink while they were all living there. gotta be good to collaborate with bob.
btw does this mean that his ex-wife is married to the pianist from steely dan?
Last week I was shocked and so saddened to hear that my old band mate, Levon, was in the final stages of his battle with cancer. It hit me really hard because I thought he had beaten throat cancer and had no idea that he was this ill. I spoke with his family and made arrangements to go and see him.
On Sunday I went to New York and visited him in the hospital. I sat with Levon for a good while, and thought of the incredible and beautiful times we had together. It was heartwarming to be greeted by his lovely daughter Amy, whom I have known since she was born. Amy’s mother, Libby Titus, and her husband, Donald Fagen, were so kind to help walk me through this terrible time of sadness. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sandy.
Levon is one of the most extraordinary talented people I’ve ever known and very much like an older brother to me. I am so grateful I got to see him one last time and will miss him and love him forever.
-Robbie Robertson
Nice sentiment, Robbie. You're still a self-centered asshat.
The Following User Says Thank You to rubecube For This Useful Post:
Some of my favourite stories and songs from The Band. I hope Richard Manual, Rick Danko, and Levon Helm are jamming now somewhere in the sky.
__________________
'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.'
The fantastic Danko Manuel, by the Drive-By Truckers, referencing other members of The Band:
Let the night air cool you off.
Tilt your head back and try to cough.
Don't say nothing 'bout the things you never saw.
Let the night air cool you off.
I ain't living like I should.
A little rest might do me good.
Got to sinking in the place where I once stood.
Now I ain't living like I should.
Can you hear that singing? Sounds like gold.
Maybe I can only hear it in my head.
Fifteen years ago we owned that road
now it's rolling over us instead.
Richard Manuel is dead.
God forbid you call their bluff.
Like the nightmares ain't enough.
Remember when we used to think that we were tough?
God forbid you call their bluff.
First they make you out to be
the only pirate on the sea.
Then they say Danko would have sounded just like me.
"Is that the man you want to be?"
Can you hear that song? It sounds like gold.
Maybe I could make it bigger overseas.
Fifteen years ago we owned this road
now it only gives us somewhere else to leave.
Something else you can't believe.
Can you hear that singing? Sounds like gold.
Maybe I can hear poor Richard from the grave
singin' where to reap and when to sow
when you've found another home you have to leave.
Too young maybe? That song is from the late sixties.
Joan Baez had did an excellent version of it in the 70s
Yeah probably, I'm just about to hit 30 so I'm sure that's it, but I'm usually pretty good with stuff like this, I was listening to Johnny Cash when I was 14.
It's a beautiful song, Levon had such a gorgeous and unique southern voice.
Yeah probably, I'm just about to hit 30 so I'm sure that's it, but I'm usually pretty good with stuff like this, I was listening to Johnny Cash when I was 14.
It's a beautiful song, Levon had such a gorgeous and unique southern voice.
That reminds me of this...
The Following User Says Thank You to drhu22 For This Useful Post:
Yeah probably, I'm just about to hit 30 so I'm sure that's it, but I'm usually pretty good with stuff like this, I was listening to Johnny Cash when I was 14.
Yeah probably, I'm just about to hit 30 so I'm sure that's it, but I'm usually pretty good with stuff like this, I was listening to Johnny Cash when I was 14.
Though as much as I love the Last Waltz, it's really a little too polished and overdubbed. A good chunk of what made it into the movie was re-recorded, which was one of Helm's points of contention with Robertson (Helm hated the idea of re-recording live stuff).
In many ways the Band was at their best when they were a little sloppier and more unpredictable. Here's a good video from Festival Express (it's also funny seeing Robbie Robertson sing into a turned off mic):
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to opendoor For This Useful Post:
There is a reason why I didn't post any videos from the last waltz, great film but I don't respect it at all. Anyone who has any interest in the old time rock and roll should read Levon Helm's book "This wheels on fire".
Some great old stories in it, one of my favorites is about some of the guys from the band driving home from a jam session in the middle of the night drunk and they hit a deer. They didn't want to waste the good meat so the thought it would be a good idea to quarter it right there on the side of the road. Someone ended up cutting their leg open and not being able to play for awhile.
Also, you have to respect someone (Helm) who would leave the highest profile gig he ever had (Dylan's backing band) to go work on oil rigs in the Gulf because he didn't like being boo'd when he was performing.
__________________
'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.'
Levon Helm in final stages of cancer
