ROBBIE ROBERTSON'S INSOMNIA ~

 

_____________________________________

Many of the usual suspects show forth and are treated with

Robbie camaraderie — although Robertson's sweet-talk

doesn't move an inch with Hells Angel Sweet William

(Bill Fritsch) and lover of poet Lenore Kandel and a

somewhat troubadour of two wheels himself, who isn't

taking kindly learning that his poem has been withdrawn

from a tribute reading during the concert film "The Last Waltz,"

whereas both fellow San Fransisco laureates 

Lawrence Ferlinghetti & Michael McClure

remain on board. If you are interested, 

you can dig up on-line the full reading

by Sweet William, and later in Robertson's book

find out just why Fritsch is dragging his leg across

the stage to the microphone. For more of Sweet

William, see the Maysles brothers film "Gimme

Shelter" where the Angel, once again,

captivates the stage.

[BA]

    Crown 2026

    R E A D   M E

ROBBIE ROBERTSON ~

 

R O B B I E    R O B E R T S O N

1943 ~ 2023

ROCK 'N' ROLL ~

Crown Archetype, 2016

By page 100 of this 500 page testimonial I knew it was about to go down as one of the finest books about rock 'n' roll ever written, lived through, and survived, since Robertson is now 73. Congratulations. Set this book right alongside Robertson's old buddy Levon Helm and his music memoir This Wheel's On Fire. Except Robertson's experience is a bit more literary, even expansive, whereas Helm's story is straight out of the Arkansas wilderness, and he was the early 'older brother' to the teenage runaway down-from-Canada Robertson. By the time we see both heroes in the film The Last Waltz (1976) both are freewheelin' storytellers trying to top the other. It's still going on in their respective books. And like their work together in the The Band — not a moment is wasted.
p.s. Don't expect any clarity on who-owns-what with The Band's
songs when it comes between Helm~Robertson.
The music is a dream.
Then there's the nitty gritty.

[ BA ]

BIG PINK ~