Levon Helm

Heavy

Well, we lost D!ck Clark today, looks like Levon isn't far behind. This is going to be a huge loss. He put out a couple really good albums in the past few years too. I thought he had beat his throat cancer. Guess not. God bless to the backbone of The Band.

Levon Helm Faces Final Stages of Cancer

Direwolf

Read that earlier today. Is a sad thing. Atleast he'll leave behind some awesome music to carry on.

Heavy

Pretty appropiate song from his last album:

When I Go Away

beatnic

A classic!

Amos Umwhat

Damn! That hurts. One of my all-time favorites.

JDH

The Last Waltz is one of my favorite movies

What a night, such a night, and if I don't do it somebody else will, but it makes no difference, because life is a carnival up on cripple creek, boy you don't know the shape I'm in, 'cause I got stagefright, such a night, so take a load off baby, take a load for free, while I wait for Ophelia just to come back home........

JDH

He's gone........

kaspera79

The Band... I still hear these guys on the radio today. The Weight, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Up on Cripple Creek, Ophelia. Great music still. Sorry to hear this.

Direwolf

Is a sad day. The Band influenced a lot of musicians

Heavy

So sad. As much as I loved The Band it was all about Levon for me. Dude was one of a kind.

He did a TV special a couple of years ago, a "Levon & Friends" kind of thing. Can't remember if it was on ETV or one of the cable channels but it was really good and he seemed like he was getting his health back.

Also, I have to admit I haven't heard everything off of his last 2 albums, Dirt Farmer and Electric Dirt, but everything I have heard is solid (including the track I linked above) and I highly recommend checking them out if you were a fan.

Well the big band in heaven just got a little better today I guess...

Heavy

When I Go Away (2009)

Early in the morning
When the church bells toll
The choir's gonna sing
And the hearse will roll
On down to the graveyard
Where it's cold and gray

And then the sun's gonna shine
Through the shadows
When I go away

Don't want no sorrow
For this old orphan boy
I don't want no crying
Only tears of joy
I'm gonna see my mother
Gonna see my father
And I'll be bound for glory
In the morning
When I go away

I'll be lifted up to the clouds
On the wings of angels
There's only flesh and bones
In the ground
Where my troubles will stay

See that storm over yonder
It's gonna rain all day
But then the sun's gonna shine
Through the shadows
When I go away

(I'm going home - Lift me up)
When I go away
(No more trouble - I'm going home)
(Lift me up - When I go away)
No more crying
(I'm going home - Lift me up - When I go away)
No more trials
(I'm going home)
Home to leave my worries in the ground
(I'm going home - Lift me up - When I go away)
No more troubles
(I'm going home - Lift me up - When I go away)
No more crying
(I'm going home - Lift me up - When I go away)

No more trials (I'm going home)
Home to leave my worries in the graveyard
Home to leave my troubles in the graveyard
Home to leave my trials
And I'll be bound for glory
In the morning
When I go away

All my kin who love me
All my friends who care
Look beyond the dark clouds
We're gonna meet up there
When they lay me in the cold ground
Bow your heads and pray (Bow your heads and pray)
And I'll be bound for glory
In the morning
When I go away
And then the sun's gonna shine
Through the shadows
When I go away

kaspera79

Really liking that tune Heavy. Thanks for posting it.

beatnic

Thanks Heavy

beatnic

Saw a post- "Last Waltz" concert in N.O. in the late 70's. Dylon was missing, but Dr. John and others were there. One of my most memorably concerts ever.

y2pascoe

Worst thing about Levon Helm's passing is it probably won't get a lot of media coverage in the entertainment world. The Band was always one of those fringe rock and roll groups that never got much publicity in the main stream rock press, but was so influential to many of our best known contemporary rock perfomers. To all those that don't know Levon Helm, or The Band that well, check out "The Last Waltz" concert film directed by Martin Scoresese. It's a true testament to some of the icons of modern day rock and roll.

0patience

y2pascoe:

Worst thing about Levon Helm's passing is it probably won't get a lot of media coverage in the entertainment world. The Band was always one of those fringe rock and roll groups that never got much publicity in the main stream rock press, but was so influential to many of our best known contemporary rock perfomers. To all those that don't know Levon Helm, or The Band that well, check out "The Last Waltz" concert film directed by Martin Scoresese. It's a true testament to some of the icons of modern day rock and roll.

They were never given the credit that they were do. They were a very influential band.

For anyone who ever watched him, you got to see the love he had for what he did. He enjoyed being there in the moment. He loved the fans, the concerts, the lights and all of that. He had influences on bands like the Eagles. That says a lot.

He is a rare breed that is rapidly disappearing.

laker1963

THE BANDS voice. Rest in Peace Levon. Sad, sad day.

catfishbluezz

y2pascoe:

Worst thing about Levon Helm's passing is it probably won't get a lot of media coverage in the entertainment world. The Band was always one of those fringe rock and roll groups that never got much publicity in the main stream rock press, but was so influential to many of our best known contemporary rock perfomers. To all those that don't know Levon Helm, or The Band that well, check out "The Last Waltz" concert film directed by Martin Scoresese. It's a true testament to some of the icons of modern day rock and roll.

I used to watch that before gigs to get pumped... In this day and age, I can't tell you how many of my peers I have introduced that video too. The songwriting and harmonies are on another level, truly somethign a music afficianado and student shoudl pay close attention to. The Band was a dream team of musicians. They broke and bent all the songwriting rules, while creating hooks that outlast generations. Levon was the man...

Direwolf

NPR did a bit on him yesterday and replayed pieces of an interview he did not too long ago. He truly loved music

Heavy

My local NPR station played a few The Band sets today with a bunch of Levon and various related stuff throughout the day. Heard his daughter do a nice cover of Brokedown Palace - thought you might like that Randall... this too:

Tennesse Jed on Letterman

Not bad for a 69 year old with throat cancer. This was on my 39th birthday...I remember sitting up watching this with a nice birthday buzz and thinking, 'damn, ol boy's still got it'...LOL

kevin1323

This really was a big loss. If anyone is interested in a great read, pick up "This Wheel's on Fire" http://www.amazon.com/This-Wheels-Fire-Levon-Story/dp/1556524056/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335296518&sr=8-1
It is a great look into the band's history. It tells a story that is often seen in the music world (band relationships fracturing b/c of publishing rights disputes) and is very one sided. However, it is hard to not side with Levon and the other guys.
I am really glad I got to see Levon open for Widespread Panic a few years ago.

Heavy

kevin1323:

This really was a big loss. If anyone is interested in a great read, pick up "This Wheel's on Fire" http://www.amazon.com/This-Wheels-Fire-Levon-Story/dp/1556524056/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335296518&sr=8-1
It is a great look into the band's history. It tells a story that is often seen in the music world (band relationships fracturing b/c of publishing rights disputes) and is very one sided. However, it is hard to not side with Levon and the other guys.
I am really glad I got to see Levon open for Widespread Panic a few years ago.

Thanks for the tip on the book. I'll definitely get that.

When/where did you see Levon open up for Panic?!?! Did he join them on stage at all? I don't seem to recall that one, although I don't catch shows like I used to (and that's an understatement!).

Oh yeah, and as a sidenote to my link to Levon on Letterman, the late nite band was playing The Band songs all night going into/out of commercial breaks on Letterman last night .

kevin1323

The LHB opening for Panic was a mistake on my part. I actually saw them open for The Black Crowes. I saw Widespread Panic at the same venue, which was messing with my head.

Heavy

LHB with the Black Crowes sounds awesome. I really hate I didn't catch that tour.