II wrote this yesterday, and I just read that Levon Helm has died of lung cancer… beating out Robin… I am so sorry to hear of his families loss, a true great…
a race to the everlasting wire, Robin Gibb is bearly ahead of Levon Helm. Both are dying from cancer, Robin in a coma, Levon "in the final stages".
I saw the eternal the Band drummer at the Beacon just a month before I started rock nyc and he blew me away. And then a year later at the same venue, where he sounded awful, and he was not that great.
Over and above his seminal work with the Band on songs like "The Weight" (surely the greatest song Dylan never wrote) and "The Shape I'm" as well as songs he stamped for himself as a solo artist, like "Ophelia" and the Deads "Tenessee Jed".
Nothing fun in writing this post.
here is the message from his family:
Dear Friends,
Levon is in the final stages of his battle with cancer. Please send your prayers and love to him as he makes his way through this part of his journey.
Thank you fans and music lovers who have made his life so filled with joy and celebration… he has loved nothing more than to play, to fill the room up with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance! He did it every time he took the stage…
We appreciate all the love and support and concern.
From his daughter Amy, and wife Sandy