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173rd out of 411 books
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This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of the Band
The Band, who backed Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965 and then turned out a half-dozen albums of beautifully crafted, image-rich songs, is now regarded as one of the most influential rock groups of the '60s. But while their music evoked a Southern mythology, only their Arkansawyer drummer, Levon Helm, was the genuine article. From the cotton fields to Woodstock, fro...more
Paperback, 328 pages
Published
September 1st 2000
by Chicago Review Press
(first published 1993)
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I enjoyed this book. Helm said he had the best seat in the house as drummer for the The Band and his memoir shows it. Helm had a southern upbringing and was steeped in music and cotton farming. The Band always seemed southern to me, but I learned they were all Canadians, except for Helm. But Helm has enough southern boy to make up the balance. You get a good sense of how the band developed, the ups and downs, the personalities. Bob Dylan comes off as something of a strange, almost mythic f...more
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Best Notify My Next Of Kin, This Wheel's About To Explode, 21 Mar 2007
"If your mem'ry serves you well
You'll remember you're the one
That called on me to call on them
To get you your favors done
And after ev'ry plan had failed
And there was nothing more to tell
You knew that we would meet again
If your mem'ry serves you well
This wheel's on fire
Rolling down the road
Best notify ...more
Levon Helm documents the stellar career of the musical group which truly exemplifies and celebrates the quintessential American musical experience, yet they just happened to erupt out of Canada. And, after more than a decade of playing the circuit both in the US and Canada, they became, "overnight sensations", as Dylan's sidemen. This rock biography is much more than an expanded Wikipedia entry, and after you finish the book you really gain an insight into the band.
I was ama...more
I was ama...more
When you start thinking like I do that Bob Dylan is about as close to God as anyone can get you read any book that has one of his songs for a title. Levon Helm, the much acclaimed drummer for The Band and uber story teller, is part of the Bob is God club and writes one of the most rip roaring memoirs of life in the Rock N’Roll world. The book is a veritable tour de force into the rich history of early blues and folk music (Did you know Sonny Boy Williamson played with his harmonica fully in hi...more
I'm up to 1960 and Robbie Robertson has just joined the Hawks - history is forming. As rock band histories go, it favors the details of every fist-fight with a crooked promoter over sexual profligacy - too much of any such detail wears thin.
Finished this - Levon is rather bitter about Robbie Robertson (you probably won't be surprised to hear). It has always been clear that regardless of the songwriting credits, the Band's group synergy has been amply demonstrated by the failure of an...more
Finished this - Levon is rather bitter about Robbie Robertson (you probably won't be surprised to hear). It has always been clear that regardless of the songwriting credits, the Band's group synergy has been amply demonstrated by the failure of an...more
This was a great book. Helm writes in a pleasant conversational style, making the pages seem to just fly by. He tells of the history of the Band, from their days as the Hawks, backing up Canadian rockabilly star Ronnie Hawkins, as Bob Dylan's back-up band when he "went electric," as a very successful touring and recording group, the group's "official" demise after the Last Waltz, and later group and solo ventures from Band members. I've long considered the Last Waltz one of m...more
A friend loaned this book to me. Not something I would have considered on my own, but I liked it. I am a big fan of The Band, especially the first three records--and now I know why it's those three. It gets me to thinking once again about the connection between art and money. I understand the way Levon feels about just working on the music for the music's sake in a group of like-minded individuals. And the same old story about drugs destroying destroying the best minds of a generation. I r...more
Ever wonder who those people are hanging around with Bob Dylan on the cover of the John Wesley Harding album? Levon has the answer, along with a number of other puzzling tidbits, such as what the hell was Neil Diamond doing at The Last Waltz, anyway? The writing in This Wheel's On Fire is fairly uneven, not that there's much "writing" in it to begin with: Most of the text seems to consist of the transcripts of tape recordings cobbled into a narrative. These quotations tend to be length...more
Big time Garth!! Big Time!! Not what I had anticipated. It was profoundly interesting and left me wanting more. I believe Mr. Helm was very truthful in telling of his story. His early years growing up were a pleasure to read and road stories of The Band when they started out were very fascinating. Although Mr. Helm has a sour taste for the Last Waltz, I still love to watch it. I can never get enough for the sound of the Band. My sour taste is for Mr. Robertson. Shame on you for not being...more
Worth reading for any fans of The Band. Interesting insights into The Last Waltz.
A freewheeling autobiographical tale of The Band's ascent to superstardom as told by the legendary Levon Helm. The ultimate summer read, there is nothing more thrilling than following Levon around from gig to gig. At the end of the day, Levon is still an Arkansas farm boy at heart, and through it all, he remains proud of his humble beginnings and loyal to those who helped him along the way. A must read for his fans.
Fine history of perhaps rock's greatest band...although Levon Helm doesn't have much good to say about bandmember Robbie Robertson, the book still gives you a fine inside view of the golden age of R&R. From the band's early days on the road between Arkansas and Canada, through the Dylan years and right on up to "The Last Waltz." Makes you want to settle back with whatever source of comfort you have at hand and travel back in time...at least if you were one of the chosen to have lived...more
Forget about the documentary "The Last Waltz", this is the real story about The Band. From the begining with Ronnie Hawkins, back up band for Dylan, Woodstock , to the premature demise brought on by Robbie Robertson.Levon Helms tells what " The Last Waltz" left out, including the fact that Robbie can't sing and is pretty much a turkey. I also have a few questions for Bob Dylan...
I really enjoyed this book. Levon Helm lived quite an adventure from his poor childhood on a small farm in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas to the bright lights of the 1960's/70's music scene where he played with The Band, and Bob Dylan. He talks about his life on the road playing in small clubs in Canada and the US, and eventually making it big with his friends in The Band as Bob Dylan's band. He talks about the years living in Woodstock NY when Dylan and The Band recorded the "Basement Tapes"...more
It was one pretty damn interesting life that Levon Helm led. I doubt there is a more compelling tale of how a band came to be. Levon recalls these times in a backporch storytellin’ kind of way which makes for a pleasant read. His passion for the music and pride for their accomplishments allow you to overlook it when he forgets to be humble. Levon gives a fair account of the inner workings of the group and manages to hold back his bitterness towards Robbie Robertson until he gets into the las...more
I really liked this book. I liked how it felt like Levon was talking right to you about his life and The Band. Some parts were a little slow for me, but ultimately it was fun to read his life from beginning to end. I also really liked the updated ending. Levon seems like such a happy-go-lucky country boy and I really liked how humble he was. Most rockers aren't. He wasn't the best writer of all time, but I enjoyed knowing the story of The Band.
I enjoyed this and thought it was one of the better "as told to" efforts that I've read. Still, it wasn't so good that it transcended its genre and would only recommend this to Band fans. I thought Helm was engaging and seemed honest throughout. The tone is both generous and straightforward, so he's upfront about the negative stuff, but doesn't seem petty.
The book gives a good picture of why the first two albums by the Band were so good but the subsequent efforts never e...more
The book gives a good picture of why the first two albums by the Band were so good but the subsequent efforts never e...more
Really solid good "rock star auto-biography" ... Levon's voice draws you in (tho it took me a few chapters to quite believe in him) and tells you crazy stories all matter-of-factly. Moving in places and ridiculous in others.
This is a great biography of a band. The Band is my favorite all time group and Levon always seemed to be the heart of the band. However in his telling of the story, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson are the true artist of the sound. They loved being a band. They loved playing their music. It seems that their dream was hijacked by Robbie Robertson. He's talented, but he wasn't the heart and soul of the band.
Really enjoyed it. Great anecdotes about an interesting era in music history. For my taste, too much on B. Dylan; and not enough about Levon's chemical history; that seems very sanitized here.
I laughed. I cried. This book will make you love Levon, miss Richard, want to pinch Rick's cheek, think Garth is a genius, know Robbie is a wuss, and wish you could have a bourbon with the Hawk.
Levon is a true jewel in America's crown. Salt of the Earth kinda guy who made it big with one of the best bands ever. He tells it in his voice, and it's his honest opinion of his life, family and the story of The Band from where he stands (bias included). Full of his fantastic Southern bravado and great colloquialisms, he stands even taller (if that's possible) in my eyes. The days on the road with The Hawk are my favorite, possibly because I hadn't heard many stories from that period. Boy...more
I really liked this book just to hear Levon tell the story. The history of The Band turned out to be more rowdy than I would have guessed. The book makes Robbie Robertson look like a jerk.
Russ
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Levon Helm has some good stories to tell. Read this one and avoid Robbie Robertson's forthcoming autobiography, which I'm sure will be completely self-serving.
This is a GREAT rock n' roll book. Levon has a great way of telling stories, and he makes you feel like you're in a room listening to him tell you about his life in music. And what a life! Levon has "rubbed elbows" with many of the all-time great musicians, and he gives you the lowdown on what they were like, for better or for worse.
This book is essential reading for fans of "roots" music, as well as anyone into Dylan or "The Band."
This book is essential reading for fans of "roots" music, as well as anyone into Dylan or "The Band."
This is one of the best music autobiographies! Levon Helm takes you through the life of The Band. Those dudes were nuts! In a good way!
A must read for any fan of The Band. Levon Helm's very forthright version of how things went down with them back in the day.
What I learned from this book is that Robbie Robertson is a dick and The Last Waltz wasn't as magical as it appears.
This thoughtful work answered all my unanswered questions about one of my Top 5 music groups of all time
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