The Feud That Just Won’t End: Did Levon Helm’s Wife Keep Robbie Robertson From Participating In Grammys Tribute?
As crazy as it sounds, I held out hope that Robbie Robertson would honor his former band mate Levon Helm at The Grammys last Sunday. You’re probably familiar with the story that Robertson visited his ex-best friend last April while he was on his deathbed. Robbie didn’t attend the funeral and according to Don Imus, a close friend of Levon’s, Helm still held a grudge even after Robertson’s visit. Yet I figured The Grammy tribute would be the perfect time for the guitarist to let bygones be bygones and honor Levon. Sadly, that didn’t happen and if the reason is what a former The Band employee claims, it’s a damn shame.
Jonathan Taplin was The Band’s tour manager starting in 1969. Taplin has gone on to produce films, teach and has worked in finance. In a just-posted blog entry titled “Rhythms of Life,” Taplin discusses his experience during Grammys Weekend. At the end of the post is a sentence that contains the first on-the-record discussion of why Robertson didn’t participate in The Grammys’ tribute to Levon, “As angry as I was that Levon’s wife kept Robbie Robertson off the stage (it’s a long and sad story of paranoia), Zac, Mavis, T Bone and the Mumfords did a wonderful version of ‘The Weight’, which was a fitting end to a great night of Americana.”
If Taplin is to be believed, Sandy Helm kept Robbie from performing on Sunday. We should note that among the people Robertson mentioned as having greeted him at Levon’s bedside last April, there was no mention of Sandy. In Robbie’s note, he did say “My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sandy.”
Elton John, Zac Brown, Brittany Howard, T Bone… by IdolxMuzic
Back in September Levon Helm Band musical director Larry Campbell and Robbie Robertson spoke, separately, with American Songwriter about the Robbie/Levon feud and we found Larry’s responses most interesting. He understood why Levon felt the way that he did about Robbie, but admitted Helm was beyond logic in his reasoning. Campbell also discussed the small role Helm played in the songs he co-wrote with him which adds credence to Robertson’s view that he deserved all the songwriting credit.
You won’t find many people that thought Levon would’ve ever ended his feud with Robbie had he not become deathly ill. So there is something to be said for Sandy honoring her man by keeping the grudge going. That said, it sure would’ve been nice to see Robbie get to pay tribute to his old friend and musical collaborator at not only The Grammys but also at last year’s Love For Levon tribute. I look forward to reading what Robertson has to say about the situation in his forthcoming autobiography.
Scott Bernstein
Scott Bernstein co-founded Hidden Track in October 2006 and was managing editor until taking over as EiC in January 2008. Scotty also writes for Relix Magazine and curates YEMblog.com.
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Sad but I don’t know tragic this really is. Life goes on. Great piece Scott.
There is no way those classic Band songs could have been shaped and sounded like they did without (in particular) Levon and Rick input. No question in my mind. Did Robbie write most of the words and provide the basic arrangements? No question in my mind that he was the driving creative force and deserves MOST of the credit. Robbie was a workhorse with a vision; the others were partiers and less organized. BUT they all played a role in birthing that classic sound. Robbie deserves the most money and credit – but the other four should have seen a bit more fair compensation and should have been given SOME ADDITIONAL credit. That said: we miss you Levon. And Robbie: SPEAK OUT BUDDY.
VERY well said, Scotty, as always.
Final paragraph is especially perfect.
Thank you.
I wish Garth Hudson would have performed too! :/
You can’t raise a Cain back up when he’s in defeat.
No JR Robertson no Band
No levon no band! Hell without any of them No The Band. They arent Vab Halen where you can switch singers. Love the band and Love ALLLLLL MEMBERS
Taplin reposted his thoughts without the reference to Levon’s wife’s actions.
If you look at the songwriting credits for Big Pink, you will notice that all the different writers got credit. As two of the writers quit writing, it was left to RR to pick up the slack.
Scott,
In your search for the truth, perhaps best to present the truth. The following 3 statements from the most reliable witnesses are as follows:
“ Robbie was the one who wrote the lyrics and wrote the music. Wrote the lyrics on legal paper, or whatever he wrote it on, and figured out the chords to the song and dictated the melody and chords to the other players.” – John Simon, the producer to the first two Band albums and someone who should know.
”writing with Levon, my experience was, he wasn’t gonna do any labor where writing a song is concerned. The songs we’ve co-written, when it came down to constructing the song, that was my job.” – Larry Campbell.
……..and finally, if the above is not enough to end one of the silliest arguments in rock n roll history, what about Levon Helm himself from a 1993 NPR interview: “Well, that was a bit of a distraction. I didn’t think it was quite fair – not that Robbie didn’t do a lot of the songwriting, most of it, in some spots. But at the same time, Richard did some good work, and I always thought that Garth and Rick and myself was there all the way, no matter whose idea the song was or if it was halfway there, or – you know, it was finished….”
Don’t mean to be curt but it is time responsible journalists started presenting things fairly.
Best,
Kevin
I thought I did present things fairly, including linking to the Larry Campbell piece you reference. I love the music of both musicians and more importantly of The Band. I would’ve liked nothing more than for Levon and Robbie to have buried the hatchet and performed together.
This was not an article explaining who was right and who was wrong in the Robbie/Levon feud. My aim was to explain why Robbie didn’t play at The Grammys tribute based on the quote from Taplin.
Indeed…..I was really replying to the article ( Touchy subject…) just below the one that referenced your disappointment with the Grammys in which you stated that we may never know the truth behind Levon’s contention about his being robbed of songwriting credits. We do know the truth. In addition to what I presented, the obvious fact which no one ever seems to reference is – why did Levon not get credit on the Richard songs? Was it only the Robbie ones he feels short changed on? The fact is the Band had two great songwriters….one ( Robbie ) was quite prolific for a time and one ( Richard ) had a short period of superb work but admitted to drying up creatively very early on in the Band’s life.
I just saw the new film on Levon this past Saturday in Woodstock and the audience was treated afterward to a few songs performed live by Amy Helm, Teresa Williams
and Larry Campbell, followed by a question and answer period. I’m also reading
Levon’s book ” This Wheel’s on Fire” and 2 weeks ago went to a Midnight Ramble. This issue about the feud was not brought up after the screening and it would have put a damper on the atmosphere. Levon was terrific, loyal to friends, and a generous human being.( We are hoping the Rt. 375 will be renamed after him). The Rambles concept was stroke of genius. The trio is committed to keeping the Rambles going as Levon wanted.There is his legacy: the concept of stewardship with respect to music, the need to preserve the stories of our America, whether it was Band material or written by others, and to have a good time. I urge everyone to go to a Midnight Ramble in Woodstock. The musicians are world class and play for 4 hours.
When my wife and I left to go home, I wondered ” what hit us?” It was that good, and while we were driving back on Rt. 375, I looked to the left and saw an almost full moon. It was a little after midnight, and it was Easter morning. Godspeed Levon, and thank you.