Levon is gone archived
Apr 19, 2012 at 11:34am Edited
Apr 19, 2012 at 11:37am Edited
My friend Bob Cannon, who lives in Montclair, wrote this on Facebook yesterday:
MY DAY WITH LEVON
As a musician, Levon Helm has had an enormous influence on me. But it was while I was in my moonlighting role as a music journalist that he left the biggest impression upon me. About 10 years ago I was assigned to go up to Levon’s barn in Woodstock for Country Music magazine. He was hoarse, his voice almost inaudible from his bout with throat cancer, but he nevertheless was a gracious host, submitting to an interview, hanging out and giving me a tour of his property while our photographer snapped away. Shoot, he even let me play the mandolin he used on “Rag Mama Rag.”
He told stories, like no one else can tell them, in that instantly recognizable hickory-smoked Arkansas drawl. Plenty of wry reminiscences, humorous asides, and uproarious laughter. When he laughed, it sounded like his throat must have felt like it was turning inside out. But if it did, he never let on.
As the day was drawing to a close, we repaired to his studio, where his band, the Barnburners (featuring his daughter Amy), were shortly due for rehearsal. We continued to chew the fat while he set up his drums.
Then it happened.
Next to Springsteen 1978, the most memorable and spine-tingling musical moment I’ve ever had. Levon started playing the drums. Alone. Just me, him and the skins. Without benefit of accompaniment, he made every impulse, every flam, every groove sound like a finished song, complete with melody, feel, and narrative. To coin a cliché, there were ghosts in the room, the sound of a million half-remembered songs, long-lost friends and vicious honky-tonk nights in Toronto. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing—unfinished music that somehow sounded fully formed, and already lived in.
He was once described as “the only drummer who can make you cry,” and I have no reason to doubt it. I still believe that. Thanks, Levon, for everything.
MY DAY WITH LEVON
As a musician, Levon Helm has had an enormous influence on me. But it was while I was in my moonlighting role as a music journalist that he left the biggest impression upon me. About 10 years ago I was assigned to go up to Levon’s barn in Woodstock for Country Music magazine. He was hoarse, his voice almost inaudible from his bout with throat cancer, but he nevertheless was a gracious host, submitting to an interview, hanging out and giving me a tour of his property while our photographer snapped away. Shoot, he even let me play the mandolin he used on “Rag Mama Rag.”
He told stories, like no one else can tell them, in that instantly recognizable hickory-smoked Arkansas drawl. Plenty of wry reminiscences, humorous asides, and uproarious laughter. When he laughed, it sounded like his throat must have felt like it was turning inside out. But if it did, he never let on.
As the day was drawing to a close, we repaired to his studio, where his band, the Barnburners (featuring his daughter Amy), were shortly due for rehearsal. We continued to chew the fat while he set up his drums.
Then it happened.
Next to Springsteen 1978, the most memorable and spine-tingling musical moment I’ve ever had. Levon started playing the drums. Alone. Just me, him and the skins. Without benefit of accompaniment, he made every impulse, every flam, every groove sound like a finished song, complete with melody, feel, and narrative. To coin a cliché, there were ghosts in the room, the sound of a million half-remembered songs, long-lost friends and vicious honky-tonk nights in Toronto. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing—unfinished music that somehow sounded fully formed, and already lived in.
He was once described as “the only drummer who can make you cry,” and I have no reason to doubt it. I still believe that. Thanks, Levon, for everything.
This is sad news. . . This leaves Robbie Robertson as the last living member of The band.
Incorrect, Garth Hudson is still alive (and well, I sincerely hope).
That is sad news. Thinking it would be nice to watch again the "The Last Waltz" documentary.
Don_Maxton said:
Incorrect, Garth Hudson is still alive (and well, I sincerely hope).
I stand corrected (i thought i read somewhere that he had passed away. . . he did not).
Ugh. One of my favorite people of all time.
Big loss, but what a lot of life he gave.
Big loss, but what a lot of life he gave.
I disagree with the author of the Guardian article on one point. Stage Fright is my favorite Band album.
I first learned of him listening to him on Imus many moons ago...he appeared regularly and performed on his show often. This led me to buy his music with I really appreciate.
Bless you Levon!! Now you are performing for all God's angels!!!
Bless you Levon!! Now you are performing for all God's angels!!!
My husband and I were lucky enough to attend 4 or 5 midnight rambles. They by far were the best nights of music that we ever had (and we've seen a lot of live music.). He was a great performer, you could just tell that he loved to be playing the drums and singing as much as he could. He would be mouthing the words to almost every song as he played along. Uggghhh, I am so sad.
Soul_29 said:
I've never seen this before ... Pretty cool.
Thanks for sharing. I had not seen that before either, and yes, pretty cool.
It was a great reminder of how The Band is an important link in the chain, of how some of our favorite music has developed. I don't think that Springsteen would have created his sound in the same way, if he hadn't heard "Big Pink".
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/20/arts/music/levon-helm-drummer-and-singer-dies-at-71.html?hp
The comments are just killing me. Read them if you have some time, and some tears left to shed.
The comments are just killing me. Read them if you have some time, and some tears left to shed.
pauli, of the hundreds of comments posted at the link above, only one is negative, and it's about robby robertson. from what you've written, you haul out a lot of cliches and generalizations - the pedestal, the using, how he treated women' to describe something that happened long ago - and use this venue to 'confront' something you've carried with you for a very very long long time. since you chose to do that here, i have to say, i don't see that you've worked through your role, your perceptions as a much younger person, in relation to whatever happened. i think the person you need to confront is yourself with a therapist, because if it's still stuck in your head, you really need more than posting here to get past it.
pauli,
You can click "edit" above your post and delete what you wrote. You have to leave something there, but just type a period and delete the rest.
You can click "edit" above your post and delete what you wrote. You have to leave something there, but just type a period and delete the rest.
One should not speak ill of the dead.
Especially in a conversation remembering the deceased's art.
It's unbecoming.
Being a news personality, I've met a lot of bad people who have died.
I wait until after the eulogy to throw them under the bus.
Especially in a conversation remembering the deceased's art.
It's unbecoming.
Being a news personality, I've met a lot of bad people who have died.
I wait until after the eulogy to throw them under the bus.
Apr 20, 2012 at 6:49am Edited
Wow, are no threads sacred?
Back the the man and his awesome music...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcgxuGiI7wU
Back the the man and his awesome music...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcgxuGiI7wU
These guys were rockers, grown up on the road, not saints. No attempt to apologize for the man here, just a sincere wish that he could have stuck around a while longer.
GMCaesar, Thanks for posting that story written by your friend in Montclair. I especially liked that last few sentences;
"Levon started playing the drums. Alone. Just me, him and the skins. Without benefit of accompaniment, he made every impulse, every flam, every groove sound like a finished song, . I couldn’t believe what I was hearing—unfinished music that somehow sounded fully formed, and already lived in"
I'm a drummer and I've experienced the same thing being in Company with a handfull of Famous drummers. It's amazing how they can begin to play by themselves and just give off such energy and feel where it is so full or you would think a band is playing with them. It's hard to explain but having been there I know what your friend Bob was referring to. It's called; Having serious Chops but more important they are playing from the heart which is exactly what Levon was doing in that situation as well as whenever he played. Drummers like Rich Pagano always spoke very highly of Levon and I can see the connection between he and Rich since Rich also has down the lead vocals and drum combo which is a task that any drummer knows is very difficult. Thanks again, RIP Levon, JL
"Levon started playing the drums. Alone. Just me, him and the skins. Without benefit of accompaniment, he made every impulse, every flam, every groove sound like a finished song, . I couldn’t believe what I was hearing—unfinished music that somehow sounded fully formed, and already lived in"
I'm a drummer and I've experienced the same thing being in Company with a handfull of Famous drummers. It's amazing how they can begin to play by themselves and just give off such energy and feel where it is so full or you would think a band is playing with them. It's hard to explain but having been there I know what your friend Bob was referring to. It's called; Having serious Chops but more important they are playing from the heart which is exactly what Levon was doing in that situation as well as whenever he played. Drummers like Rich Pagano always spoke very highly of Levon and I can see the connection between he and Rich since Rich also has down the lead vocals and drum combo which is a task that any drummer knows is very difficult. Thanks again, RIP Levon, JL
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/apr/19/levon-helm