RIP Levon Helm

+1 very sad a fantastic drummer \ singer RIP

Graham

Thanks for the music Levon. R.I.P.

Very sad. For some reason I thought he was older than 71.

Listening to Rock of Ages at the moment.

A truly wonderful musician, he left some good music ...

Sad to hear the news. Playing some Dirt Farmer tonight.

That's sad to hear.

He was a truly talented guy - a rarity these days!

I was just watching Festival Express.

A bloody good actor too. His turn as a blind man in 'The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada' is darkly funny and beautiful to behold.

Thanks Levon.

John.

A musician's musician, & a drummer that could sing too. I sound like a cane toad when I try... Sad to hear he has gone.

I pulled into Nazareth, I was feelin' about half past dead;
I just need some place where I can lay my head

You can lay your head down now, Levon ... rest in peace.

A great loss. He influenced so many, including George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Richard Thompson....how many times have I read of stellar English musicians being in awe of The Band's 'Music From Big Pink' and changing their style due to the influence. Levon was the backbone of The Band and one could say he put Americana on the map. And in his final years he was still gigging away with like minded musicians. A true legend. RIP.

He also played Ridley (Chuck Yeager's sidekick) in "The Right Stuff." A great part in a fantastic movie.

And excellent as Loretta Lynn's (Sissy Spacek) father in Coal Miner's Daughter.

Village Voice obit:-

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/...on_helm_obituary.php

Read his autobiography 18 years ago, very interesting tale of life's journey following you passion.

Stage Fright hasnt got a duff second on it, an almost perfect album with stunning sound quality.

Another good 'un gone but his voice and music will live for ever. 

"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" . . . this one will always and forever send chills down my spine.  RIP Levon Helm.

Some friends and I were very fortunate to have attended the last Midnight Ramble at his place in Woodstock NY less than three weeks before he died with a few hundred other lucky souls.  We had intended on going down next fall but when we heard that Los Lobos was going to be the guest act we decided to go for it - very lucky.  A day or two before the concert, and after we had made the seven hour drive to Woodstock, we heard that Levon had to cancel a performance in New Hampshire due to back pain.  It was beginning to look like we'd made the trip for nothing.  The evening before the concert however, his website announced that he was feeling much better and would give it a go as scheduled.  We figured he'd do a few numbers and retire for the night.

After a great set by Los Lobos (who never disappoint) Levon's band took the stage, featuring a guest appearance by Donald Fagen (sweet!).  He played for almost two hours and looked like he was really enjoying it, but it was evident he was not in good health and quite tired.  But here was a man who loved performing even when it took a mighty toll on him, and he just couldn't give it up. The show ended shortly after midnight and we returned home the following day in a bittersweet mood.  I ran into a friend a few days later and told him about the show and he said he had intended to make the trip himself some day.  I told him he'd better hurry...

For myself and one of the others on the trip, who first saw him perform with the Band and Bob Dylan on the Before the Flood tour, it was sobering to think that almost forty years has passed since then.

One of the best, if not the best singing drummers in rock.  His name may not have been on those incredible Band songs but his influence was unmistakable in so many of them.

Rest in peace buddy.