He was born a pauper to a pawn.

An incredible musician. It will be a sad day when he leaves us.

/+1 for the headline. Made me chuckle.

I wore out 2 copies of this in my youth.

If offered 3 wishes, one of them would be to go back in time and attend this concert.

Sad news. We're going to lose a great and talented musician and, by all counts, a humble and gracious man. I'm glad I got to see him when he was touring for his album 'Dirt Farmer' a few years ago in Boston. I would've killed to go to one of the Midnight Rambles - couldn't afford it, though. But it'll be a huge loss for American music when he goes. :(

And as far as Robertson goes, he's as shocked and saddened as all of us. He posted this note on his Facebook page and tweeted the link. Hopefully he and Levon made peace, after more than a few years of bitterness between them.

Well played Subby. Have this slice of awesome:
The Weight

So sad to see such an awesome gentlemen leave....Godspeed you Levon.

I usually watch this video everyday, just so I can be reminded of what AWESOME sounds like. Link

MC900ft_Elmo: Well played Subby. Have this slice of awesome:
The Weight

So sad to see such an awesome gentlemen leave....Godspeed you Levon.

I still think Bob Dylan wrote/helped write that song.

Saw him a couple of years ago here in Austin. His voice was mostly gone again...he only sang one song (Ophelia), and his voice was weak and strained. His drumming was just as great as ever, though. Still one of the all time greats drummers, IMO.

If you're a fan of Levon, read This Wheel's on Fire. Robertson comes off as a shiatweasel to be sure, but a great read even if you're not a fan of The Band's music. Great history and stories. I admire the man and love his music.

Singing lead while drumming looks really difficult to me. Is it?

Nicely done, subby.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0eZwpHtcK4

My fav. Godspeed Levon

Crewmannumber6: Heard this on NPR yesterday, sad to hear. He'll be chasing that demon in the sky again soon. Hope he has some Beeman's with him.

Came for the Right Stuff reference.

Very sad to hear. With the Midnight Rambles and the Barn, he really seemed like on of the last admirable authentic ambassadors of the spirit of the 60s, while so many others became caricatures and jokes.

I, along with a lot of people are going to miss him terribly. It wasn't until I saw him in 2008 at a festival when I realized I was a music nerd. Him and his band started playing Bob Dylan's "It Takes A lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry", and none of the older people around me even knew of the song.

/Godspeed sir.

Think I'll go chew a stick beemans. Maybe it'll bring him luck.

Levon was a sho' nuff shiatkicker. I saw an interview with him ages ago when he talked about taking the battery out of his dad's tractor so they could listen to the radio. When the battery ran down, they'd put it back in the tractor and jump-start the tractor to recharge the battery.

That, as we say around here, is getting pretty rural.

And he enlivened every movie he was in, especially this: still got the shovel

lerxst2112: I, along with a lot of people are going to miss him terribly. It wasn't until I saw him in 2008 at a festival when I realized I was a music nerd. Him and his band started playing Bob Dylan's "It Takes A lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry", and none of the older people around me even knew of the song.

Seriously? Older than WHAT? The only way I can imagine them not knowing that song is if they're older than you and you're 15 (in which case, congratulations on your taste) or they're older than 70.

One of the pleasures of my life was being able to see Levon live in a small club in here Fayetteville, AR a number of years ago. The man is a legend, especially around these parts.

Pure Awesomeness

/used to rehearse at Ronnie Hawkins' old Rockwood Club building - the vibes in that place were intense.
//F*CK Robbie Robertson

It was the extra weight from Grandmas' load that got him in the end, I'll bet.

Levon Helm's solo albums have been great.

Robbie Robertson's, not so much.

And Robbie Robertson wins this season of Survivor.

BorgiaGinz: And Robbie Robertson wins this season of Survivor.

Whoops, Garth is still alive. My bad.

barneyfifesbullet: Levon Helm's solo albums have been great.

Robbie Robertson's, not so much.

Well, Robbie never had a great voice. How To Become Clairvoyant isn't bad, though.

I can also recommend (if you can ever find these ones) Rick Danko's eponymous solo record(really, really hard to find) and The Whole Enchilada by Burrito Deluxe(hard to find, but Amazon might have a few copies in the marketplace), who Garth Hudson was a part of for that album.

/Levon Helm Band - The Weight I was up in the balcony for this show. :-D

Way underrated drummer. Very technical, but he does it so effortlessly, everyone just goes, "Meh". Boy has mad drumming skills - and a rock voice up with the best of them.

FlashHarry: love watching him play drums and sing. his singing "ophelia" in the last waltz slays me every time.

The best moment is when Van does his first karate kick closing out Caravan and Helm just completely loses his shiz laughing.

From Robbie's Facebook:
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
1,065Like · · Share

Cancer, as a rule, farking sucks.

/Beastie Boys fan
//MCA has been going through treatments for the last three years
///Again, cancer farking sucks

My brother-in-law and I have tickets to see him at the Ryman Auditorium on May 6. Sounds like he ain't gonna make it that long. Wow, this really has me down. Electric Dirt is one of my favorite albums. It made me an instant fan the first time I heard it. God bless ya, Mr. Helm.

Tennessee Jed on Letterman

Does subby know that Robbie Robertson went to visit him this past weekend because he was unaware of how gravely ill Levon was?

It's an amazing show of compassion for him to put aside 30 years of animosity. I'm certain Levon was grateful to have that visit... I think they came to peace with each other.

And why did it take days for this to make it on Fark? I've been moping about this for days.

Love The Band, love that Levon was from Arkansas but in a band from Toronto.

Rest in peace Levon, whenever that time comes.


oh and for those who don't know... the Elton John song Levon was written in dedication to Levon Helm as Elton and Bernie Taupin loved The Band.

As a soundguy I farking hate singing drummers and I told Levon so
We laughed
Great great great guy

My second weekend highlight of this year's NOLA Jazz Fest was to be, Levon and Mavis Staples. Lucky enough to do one Ramble. Big fan. Great guy. Only my best for Levon.

Apparently he just passed... I'm incredibly sad about this . http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120419/ENTERT AIN/120419640

Caelistis: Cooper420: And why did it take days for this to make it on Fark?.

Because, in all honesty, it's a niche band for a niche audience. How many people on Fark FARK Mods have heard of Lady Gaga versus how many people FARK Mods have heard about The Band? Unless you're a fan, no FARK Modsone gives a shiat.

omenhiser: Apparently he just passed... I'm incredibly sad about this . http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120419/ENTERT AIN/120419640



R.I.P. Leather Helm

/sorry, had to be done... This is FARK.
//I too has a giant sad

She comes in colors everywhere: //I too has a giant sad

Yep.

omenhiser: Apparently he just passed... I'm incredibly sad about this . http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120419/ENTERT AIN/120419640

Looks like it. While incredibly sad, it seems that he only had a short period of suffering (since the public announcement on Tuesday, who knows how long it had been since he took a turn for the worse) before passing peacefully.

I'm grateful to have been able to catch him in concert a couple times in the last few years. Thanks for the years of great music!

And this song is especially poignant now: Link