http://www.levonhelm.com/

Was just coming to post this. Sad, but its actually amazing we've had him this long. Praying that he isn't in pain, and that he's comfortable. His music is definitely one of the things that got me through rough times, and helped me celebrate the good times.

no s, zipper.

show dick some respect.

dime in the gutter wrote:no s, zipper.

show dick some respect.

Helm, not Helms.

Love that dude. Hate I never made a Ramble..

Zip--edit that!

gah, oops. fixed

This has brought me to tears. That doesn't happen much. I don't pray but I will for Levon.

WoodDuck wrote:
Love that dude. Hate I never made a Ramble..

I was just saying the same thing.

I am so sad about this, guys. It's hitting me really hard.

no words

Back in my 20s I used to spend a lot of time out at my older brother's place in the country just hanging out, listening to music and making mixtapes from our vinyl collections (but mainly his). He turned me onto so much stuff over the years including The Band. The album of theirs he played the most was Stage Fright. A year or so ago I was out at his place for his birthday and someone had recently given him a refurbished turntable. That evening we hung out listening to Stage Fright while some much less informed people in the adjoining room screamed for him "to take that shit off". The above photo comes from that night.

I am in tears as we speak. The world is a much better place with Levon in it.

One of the greatest days of my life was hanging out with all of you when DBT played the Ramble at Levon's two years ago. It was inspirational the way Levon got behind the kit and sang as loud as he could despite his ravaged voice. Cancer may have messed with his voice but it never silenced him. It was there that I decided once and for all that cancer would not have the last word on my life. I decided I would regain whatever health was possible and play as many gigs as possible. In 2011 I played over 50 shows -- half a Gregory Dean Smalley -- and even opened for a national act. It was my way of saying FUCK YOU to cancer.

My plans are to make the seven and a half hour motorcycle ride down the DelMarva. I was hemming and hawing about taking the cage (car for you non-bikers) because they are calling for showers. However, in honor of Levon's courageous, decades long battle with cancer I WILL take the bike.

Cancer may take Levon's and my own life but it will NEVER beat us.

See you in Norfolk.

LET THERE BE ROCK!!!!

RevMatt wrote:One of the greatest days of my life was hanging out with all of you when DBT played the Ramble at Levon's two years ago. It was inspirational the way Levon got behind the kit and sang as loud as he could despite his ravaged voice. Cancer may have messed with his voice but it never silenced him. It was there that I decided once and for all that cancer would not have the last word on my life. I decided I would regain whatever health was possible and play as many gigs as possible. In 2011 I played over 50 shows -- half a Gregory Dean Smalley -- and even opened for a national act. It was my way of saying FUCK YOU to cancer.
LET THERE BE ROCK!!!!

I will never forget sharing that with you, DBT, and other 3DDers, too, RevMatt..!

Well, shit. He sure looks like my dad in that picture, especially that big old smile. He sure was kind to me the night he let me hang out with him for a few minutes on the roof of the Lone Star Cafe. I sure am glad I have Dirt Farmer here at the office right now.

I'm only half way home, I've got to journey on
To where I'll find, where I'll find the things I've lost
I've come a long, long road but I've still got some miles to go
I've got a wide, wide river to cross

Go easy Levon. Thanks so much.

This is very sad indeed. Like Rabbit says, I hope he isn't suffering. I remember being @ the Tarrytown show 2yrs. ago & wishin' I could go to the Ramble the next day. Now I wish I had gone even more.

total bummer..dbt/ramble was one of my musical highlights...watching one of my favorite bands lined up on the staircase watching a true legend is an image i will never forget...thanks for holding down that backbeat for the last 50 years...

From comments in the local music blog Rock Candy:

At a seated-only concert of The Band in Burlington, Vermont, Levon told the staff at the Flynn Theatre to let me dance. Thank you for all of the dances, Levon.

Very sad. I emailed my aunt about it and of course she already knew. She wished him an easy passing.

Fuck it, I'm going to do my best not to be devastated by this, which is going to be hard. The Band has a big role in my developing musical tastes.

Levon will be missed.

I'm playing his music loud right now. Something tells me that's what he'd want. He obviously kept his condition hidden for as long as possible, doing gigs up until a couple of weeks ago. Go out rockin.

Nothing to add just. Just sad. Really, really sad.

Devestating news.

Back in 1986 The Band was scheduled to play a club called The Attic in Greenville, NC. I had planned to go but then word came down that Richard Manuel had hung himself in his motel room down in Florida. Many years later I finally got to see them when they played Woodstock '94. Also on stage that day were Roger McGuinn, Bruce Hornsby, Jack and Jorma from Hot Tuna, Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman. If I remember right it was billed as the Music from Pig Pink Revue. I was camped up on a hill from the South Stage so it was only a short stroll down to where they were playing. There may be some others out there but so far this is the only clip I've been able to find from that performance.

Just a bummer, man. Go easy, Levon.

Thanks, Levon. Good luck on your next journey.

DBT a class act as always, apparently playing "all Band all the time" between sets in Charlottesville tonite (show being streamed, btw).

beantownbubba wrote:DBT a class act as always, apparently playing "all Band all the time" between sets in Charlottesville tonite (show being streamed, btw).

Sounds like "Hold On" by Alabama Shakes now but otherwise I think it's been all Band.

Yes, I spoke too soon. "Mostly Band most of the time" is more accurate. Oh well. Still a class act.

Let's see if this works:



Dig the capitalization. This would have been when Levon was about nineteen. Fayetteville, Arkansaw, 1959.

I'm pretty sure I've posted this before, talking about the Cate Brothers. Dig the matching t-shirts on Levon and Ernie: