This Wheel's on Fire

[AdamH]

I'm in the midst of reading this book, based on someone's recommendation here a few months back. This is easily one of the best biographies I've ever read, and given that it's the only book about The Band that I've read it's also the best of that category. I'm only 100 pages in but am really enjoying it so far..thanks to whomever posted the title some months back.

So even more amazing is looking at this guy's tour dates. At the age of 65, a rock and roll hall-of-famer is out playing private parties, high school benefits, 90-person shows, weddings in Arkansas, all-ages shows in Delaware...I wonder if there's any better example of a living legend who flourishes in his roots the way Levon does? And while the book has changed some of my perceptions about the inner workings of the group it only made my love of their music that much stronger.

I'm not gonna wrap this little profession of love up by saying "I wish more bands were like this", but it's almost entirely because of The Band that I find myself constantly searching for soul, heart and sincerity in music.

MarcO says The Beatles, and I say The Band

[Kaidy Mae]

Oooh, I forgot all about that one. Time to pick it up I guess. Thanks for the recommendation Polkaroo!

[dave-O]

It's not listed on Levon's page, but Pollstar says he's playing the Saint John NB Jazz and Blues Fest on July 8. And apparently Levon has started singing some songs again.

[Snail]

I read this a couple of months ago. Great story! Really opened my eyes to how much hard work these guys put into their music especially in the early years.

I just picked up another book called "Across the Great Divide : the Band and America". Just barely cracked this one but it promises to be more in-depth on the background the whole band not just Levon. Also seems to be a lot more Robbie friendly than Levon's book which gets pretty angry towards Robbie.

[AD]

I just read Across the Great Divide, it's very good. Written from a British perspective too, so it's just a little different from what we hear over here.

It is very in depth on the genesis of the band. I don't think the Band has even formed until about 150 pages in.

I'd recommend it for sure.

AD

[SmoothedShredder]

Da Band or The Band?

~W

[timouse]

apparently levon is working hard to keep his head above water. someone posted something to the band trades list the other day about levon & his wife declaring bankruptcy in order to save their place.

from what i could gather, throat cancer treatment nearly wiped him out...on the plus side, he's back in the pink and is indeed singing again.

this wheel's on fire was an awesome read, not very robbie friendly at all...but from the looks of it, robbie netted out and is probably still getting cheques every time that &%^$#^ cell phone commercial uses The Weight, where levon is bankrupt and playing his ass off in order to keep the bills paid. doesn't seem right somehow....

[TheGoodRev]

I have definately talked up this book on the board numerous times, glad you're enjoying it Polkaroo. What an awesome read. Not Robbie friendly at all, but hey, Levon was there and that's obviously how it felt to him. Would be interested to hear Garth's take on the whole thing, but he is notoriously soft-spoken so I doubt he would ever publish his thoughts.

What's happening where you're at in the book right now Polkaroo? Just curious.

[timouse]

here's the bankruptcy story fwiw...

Levon Helm stalls sale of house with 3rd bankruptcy filing

By Hallie Arnold/The Daily Freeman

WOODSTOCK - A third bankruptcy filing by Levon Helm, a local resident

and founding member of The Band, has, for the third time, prevented

the foreclosure sale of his Plochmann Lane home.

"The sale was canceled due to a bankruptcy filing, which he filed the

day before the foreclosure sale, so we are stayed again by a

bankruptcy this time," said Mark Sebastian of Donald H. Lischer,

P.C., the Buffalo law firm representing the mortgage holder, Bank of

New York.

The 17.92-acre property at 160 Plochmann Lane was to be auctioned June

2. But Helm's latest filing forestalls any action against him or the

property until the bankruptcy is resolved.

According to court records, when the property first was foreclosed on

in 2001, Helm and his wife, Sandra, owed $587,543.61 in interest and

fees on the property, which includes the Helm residence and recording

studio. The Helms bought the property in 1994, taking out a $422,500

mortgage to finance the purchase, court records show.

This is the third time the sale of the Plochmann Lane parcel has been

prevented by a bankruptcy filing. In January 2002, the Helms declared

bankruptcy and worked out a payment plan to bring them up to date on

the mortgage, which they kept current through the end of 2003. But in

May 2004, the Helms filed bankruptcy again, two days before a planned

foreclosure sale. The resolution of that filing could not be learned.

The amount of debt the Helms will have to restructure under the latest

bankruptcy filing also was unavailable Friday.

Helm recently battled throat cancer and held a fundraising concert at

the Plochmann Lane home last September to help him ease his debts.

Now, he holds a "Midnight Ramble" every two weeks in his studio and

charges $100 per ticket. The Saturday night event runs from 8 p.m. to

the "wee hours," according to his Web site, www.levonhelm.com.

Helm sang and played drums and mandolin for The Band, whose members

lived and recorded locally in the 1960s and '70s, most notably at a

West Saugerties house that came to be known as "Big Pink." The house

was immortalized on the album "Music From Big Pink" and also was

where Bob Dylan and The Band recorded the album "The Basement Tapes."

The Band is best known for its songs "The Weight," "Up on Cripple

Creek" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," as well as the

farewell concert film "The Last Waltz."

Most recently, Helm has been touring as the leader of Levon Helm and

the Barnburners, which includes his daughter Amy.

©2005 The Daily Freeman

[Snail]

Interesting Tim. I came across a web site a couple of weeks ago that mentioned the sale of the "Big Pink" to somebody for some ridiculously low figure ($50000 or so), then apparently the sale fell through. Maybe it "fell through" 'cause Levon was able to re-finance the house somehow.

[TheGoodRev]

The house they're talking about above isn't the same house as Big Pink...Big Pink was a rental, this appears to be something that Levon had built (see the website...I got that impression anyway). It's possible Big Pink was sold though...shit I'd live there.

[timouse]

personally i'd happily truck down to woodstock and hand levon $100 if he'd entertain me for the evening...there was talk about him touring this summer, hopefully he'll hit toronto (and not healey's this time)