Recently watched my grandfather succumb to Pancreatic Cancer... Happened very fast. When people make announcements like this, it's often only a few days.
The Band was a big influence on my life, yet I never got to see Leon live... Actually, never seen ANY of The Band live (unless you count Dylan - seen him several times).
sad news
[flash width=560 height=315] http://www.youtube.com/v/Jie9bYCyZDI?version=3&hl=en_US [/flash]
Check this out from Dec 2009. Unfortunately Levon wasn't able to sing at this gig but his shear joy at playing shines through. God speed Levon...
[flash width=420 height=315] http://www.youtube.com/v/uyXOjiVhH5U?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0 [/flash]
Saw him once when the Band did a little tour in 1987, came through Providence, RI. All original members then, I think, except Robbie Robertson, who'd quit touring. Levon was sort of the "sound" of the Band. Sad to hear he is leaving us. Another musical light of that age begins to fade. Thanks for posting and for the video clips.
Sad news indeed.
Rick
Godbless Levon Helm. Maybe Robby will get over himself now and make amends.
What a loss....From everything I've seen and read, he was a good guy as well as a great drummer/singer. On first listen, his drumming sounds sort of loose and sloppy, but if you pay attention, it fits perfectly with the music. It adds a dynamic that more "precise" drummers can't achieve. He understood groove from the inside out. His singing wasn't too shabby, either. He was, in my mind, one of the best.
Dale Yawn
Savannah, Ga.
Sad news indeed. It's ironic, for some time I've had a hankering to listen to "The Basement Tapes" again and about a month ago I (actually my 15 year old) downloaded the album and I've been listening to it non-stop. Going to have to dig out the CD of The Last Waltz now.
sad news indeed 🙁
