I heard about The Band years ago when I was just a kid maybe 12 years old Im now 52 .My estranged Daddy (God rest his soul) was an old hippy with a very large collection of LPs.
One time I was staying the weekend at his place and we were sitting up late listening to music. He proudly said since its your birthday soon I would like to offer you any record you choose. Assuming he owned it I asked for "Daniel My Brother" which had been a big hit at the time, and since my names Daniel it struck a chord.
He told me that he felt that was a bit vain wanting a song on the strength that it had my name in it, and also that he did'nt really like that song because he thought it was too commercial and did'nt have it anyway. Then after a pause said but since you want a song with your name in it I've got a better one and he pulled out the album Stage Fright.
I was delighted to hear another song about me and grew up loving that album ! Thank you Robbie for writing those songs.
Jump forward to 15 or 16 years old and my Daddy puts on a video of The Last Waltz and there and then I knew what I want to do with my life, I wanted to play guitar like Robbie Robertson and be in a band and thats all I know WOW ! That guy (Robbie) was so cool so amazing, so kind of, I dont know but I felt like it was the answer.. I didnt even know he wrote the songs I just loved what he did on the guitar and I thought I looked a bit like him too and had similar hair.
My path in life as a musician was unfortunately not a great success but it has given me a huge appreciation of musicianship and the business from a distance.
It is with this in mind that I come to view Robbie in a different light from when I was younger. In many ways I am more in awe since he wrote the songs but and I mean but, why wasnt he fair. I mean if he was only a money grabbing agent I could get it. But he had a God given talent for writing songs but he refused to acknowledge the other members contribution to the success of the songs, which was huge ! It seems to me that they were used abused and abandoned left with a pittance whilst Robbie Robertson and a bunch of money grabbing cronies took all the all the dough.
Bob Dylan kindly but rightly shared the credits for 'This Wheels On Fire' with Rick Danko. Robbie Robertson offered no such Olive Branch with Richard Manuel (Shape Im In) ,Levon Helm (The Weight) Rick Danko (Stage Fright) or Garth Hudson (Chest Fever), even though their contribution so monumental. Oh I forgot they were a bunch of junkies REALLY !
This film is a sad reflection of a great artist trying for some reason to justify being a ruthless business man and getting away with it.
Robbie and his cronies might feel the others were a bunch of hicks they could get one over, but their power will shine for eternity WITH THEIR INTEGRITY INTACT and deep down he knows he has done wrong by them.
If you steal something sacred 'He noticed, no shadow did he cast'
Thank God I wasnt a success as a musician !
One time I was staying the weekend at his place and we were sitting up late listening to music. He proudly said since its your birthday soon I would like to offer you any record you choose. Assuming he owned it I asked for "Daniel My Brother" which had been a big hit at the time, and since my names Daniel it struck a chord.
He told me that he felt that was a bit vain wanting a song on the strength that it had my name in it, and also that he did'nt really like that song because he thought it was too commercial and did'nt have it anyway. Then after a pause said but since you want a song with your name in it I've got a better one and he pulled out the album Stage Fright.
I was delighted to hear another song about me and grew up loving that album ! Thank you Robbie for writing those songs.
Jump forward to 15 or 16 years old and my Daddy puts on a video of The Last Waltz and there and then I knew what I want to do with my life, I wanted to play guitar like Robbie Robertson and be in a band and thats all I know WOW ! That guy (Robbie) was so cool so amazing, so kind of, I dont know but I felt like it was the answer.. I didnt even know he wrote the songs I just loved what he did on the guitar and I thought I looked a bit like him too and had similar hair.
My path in life as a musician was unfortunately not a great success but it has given me a huge appreciation of musicianship and the business from a distance.
It is with this in mind that I come to view Robbie in a different light from when I was younger. In many ways I am more in awe since he wrote the songs but and I mean but, why wasnt he fair. I mean if he was only a money grabbing agent I could get it. But he had a God given talent for writing songs but he refused to acknowledge the other members contribution to the success of the songs, which was huge ! It seems to me that they were used abused and abandoned left with a pittance whilst Robbie Robertson and a bunch of money grabbing cronies took all the all the dough.
Bob Dylan kindly but rightly shared the credits for 'This Wheels On Fire' with Rick Danko. Robbie Robertson offered no such Olive Branch with Richard Manuel (Shape Im In) ,Levon Helm (The Weight) Rick Danko (Stage Fright) or Garth Hudson (Chest Fever), even though their contribution so monumental. Oh I forgot they were a bunch of junkies REALLY !
This film is a sad reflection of a great artist trying for some reason to justify being a ruthless business man and getting away with it.
Robbie and his cronies might feel the others were a bunch of hicks they could get one over, but their power will shine for eternity WITH THEIR INTEGRITY INTACT and deep down he knows he has done wrong by them.
If you steal something sacred 'He noticed, no shadow did he cast'
Thank God I wasnt a success as a musician !