Robbie Robertson with Clapton

[holboroman]

Holboroman's assessment for this upload: 15/15

[zoot2233]

Did you ever meet him?

[ragingbull2001]

@mcdstuff pinnacle my fucking BALLS!!!!

[metart93]

@mcdstuff

And Cream is the only group that could have been called the Cream ; )

[TheBrunosaurus]

Robbie super!

[zoot2233]

Levon is a idiot!!!!!!

[chipman5544]

@zoot2233 I don't believe that as true, if you read his book it seems that he blames Robbie because he wanted to continue as The Band, but Robbie was ready to pull the plug and make a shit load of money with The Last Waltz

[mkhoupt88]

How cool is this?

[Luv9movee]

I read about 3 books on The Band ,including Levon Helm's , and I say there is no way WE will ever know the truth??!! I look at some facts...Robbie's just put out his 4th amazing and successful CD.What has Levon or any of the others put out...still I'll alway's consider them EACH as very talented ,and essential ,BAND members .At one time best friends.

[johncandme]

atown - And btw, how would robertson have the power to leave everyone penniless? This is a case of no one taking responsibility for their own lives and blaming everyone else. pathetic. Stop drinking the koolade dude.

[razortube101]

@johncandme copyright,he was a lyricist and guitar player he did not play the bass,the drums,the piano or the keyboard yet he gets most of the money because he put himself forward as the sole song writer of the group as well as buying the copyright ownership of Richard Manuel and Rick Danko after they died,He wrote some great tracks though,The situation at hand brings to mind the song unfaithful servant,a fantastic band for their time,may they live forever through their music

[samabbrakaddbra]

@razortube101 dude you are clueless.. all was decided upon and fine and then the lives of Band members went to shit and blamed Robertson. Sounds like you read Levon's book and looked no further. And Levon should not be the last word. I have been a music journalist for years and he is notoriously bitter and suspicious at everyone.

[samabbrakaddbra]

@razortube101 sounds like you get your information from Levon Helm 101. Don't drink the koolaid. It's made up BS. He's bitter and jealous.

[Dave897456]

@razortube101 Its funny how nobody challenged Robbie for years. Why is that? That's why they have courts! You won't find Levon in one of those!

[johncandme]

Thank you helgaa and droyalrob, I mean wake up Band fans. You are going to believe these twisted lies from bitter ol druggies. t's so sad b/c their music (primarily written by Robbie) was so beautiful. All the members were amazing.

[BackRockDelta]

The disputes in the end, do not matter. The Band as Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel were with out a doubt one of the finest Bands ever assembled with between them, some of the greatest songs ever written. I niether know nor care which member wrote them, I only care that the finished product was unique and belonged to each and every member of The Band 100%.

[atown18104]

he got the money and let all the members lived in poverty and levon was the song writer he cant sing for shit ! he killed them all

[rrladolcevita]

@atown18104 if robbie told you to jump off a cliff would you? if he told you to shoot up drugs would you? if he told you told you to mismanage your money would you? if he told you to give him all the credit would you? don't be so stupid. we are all the architects of our own fate. slowly put koolade down, and enjoy the music.

[MardearribaStudio]

I'm a big fan of The Band, but why if RR was the head & genius of TB he never wrote a good damm song after that? only crap music. He NEEDS the other guys to make that music.

[Schashey]

@MardearribaStudio are you nuts? "Showdown at Big Sky","Fallen Angel","Broken Arrow"? "Somewhere Down the Crazy River","SkinWalker","Shine Your Light"? It's one thing to be drinking the Levon Koolaid but it's another to not admit to the musical talents of RR since the Band unlike Levon who has yet to write a song and does all covers.Levon could sing his ass off but RR was the primary song-writer. Did G. Harrison bitch about Lennon's songwriting and "credit" NO! B/c he didnt piss his life away,

[MardearribaStudio]

@Schashey what can i said... that's a matter of taste. To me the songs you mentioned cannot be compared with any song of TB. No roots, no spirit, no very talented & creative people playin', only drum machine's, synth pads and a ugly voice. I can recognize the RR talent but not after TB, is not the music that i like. Obviously is not like justin bieber of course, but i dont like sorry.

[Dave897456]

@MardearribaStudio WTF are you talking about? He has worked on numerous great film scores for Scorcese since the 1980s as well as some great CDs. Do you even have a freaking clue what he has been doing for the last 30+ years?

[owensp001]

ERIC CLAPTON you fucking said it! BOB DYLAN didnt say it, ROBBIE ROBERTSON didnt say it but you fucking said it!

[SassyFishbone]

@owensp001 said what?

[KingForteBand]

Levon's case is the fact that working as a group resulted in the best songs they put out - the first two LPs. Robertson always saw himself a serious songwriter - even as a teen. Richard was also a great songwriter. The fact is if you put a phrase into a song, you become a co-writer. Robbie wanted most or all of the credit the the biz backed him up. His ambition took over. BTW, Robbie's one of my favorite guitarists but Levon also played guitar in the studio. Everyone deserved credit.

[Elphir]

6:14. Look at Danko's face when Manuel is mentioned. I don't think he ever really recovered from Manuel's death.

[RamrodtotheMax]

Gotta love the random cut to Bruce Springsteen at 5:02

[norikokomase]

いいねo(^▽^)o

[dwwaite55]

Heres my take: Robbie Roberston is a great songwriter, A piss poor singer & a worse guitar player. I doubt that he is the jerk that many people say he is, but I think the band would have been better if just wrote songs for the other guys, who are to a man fantastic. EC would have been great for them! I don't really care who stole what from whom, but they made some great music over the years!

[MrCeej9999]

@dwwaite55

Robbie Robertson is a truly great guitarist.

“The Last Waltz” he played Clapton off the stage, during their duet.

[MrWillalter]

Sad.

Uncharacteristically, given his blinding talent and respect for his predecessors & peers, Clapton trashes the song. Making a half-hearted effort to phrase it like Helm did in his heyday, while a plodding, feelingless 'band' parades it's soul-less groove, utterly devoid of the fine swing & timing THE Band performed it with. This sucks. hey are going through the motions, trying to come out of a stinking history of drugs, sex & money smelling nice.

Chill! And watch the good stuff instead!

[B7aug5]

This is way cool.

[dankf08]

J Mascis at 5:02 sitting in front of the Boss?...holy shit, they really influenced everybody.

[xEasySnipesx]

Can we all just stop fucking fighting and just respect the band? I mean seriously? Just litsen to there music and stop fighting

[nisanus]

Die Strat-Heros. Der Erich und der Robert............

[quickaskzoey123]

it all comes back to the band

[bigseer]

I really like how Levon Helm not only wrote the lyrics but also wrote the guitar intro to "The Weight."

I also like all the great songs Levon wrote when he was free of Robbie stealing his lyrics.

Opps.. he never wrote any songs or anything else. Except for the book he hired someone else to write for him. Sound familiar. Levon was a good singer. Erverything he is known for someone else wrote. Including books and songs.

Robbie has written classics with and without "the Band". Case closed.

[CGiordano464]

ok im a big the band fan im 13 now almost every song and album they had but whats the deal with Robbie Robertson? what he do to the band? Something with stolen song credits right?

[bigseer]

Rather than write sings. Levon Helm had somebody write a book for him that claimed a bunch of unture allegations.

Levon got a sympathy Grammy but still didn't write a single song on his album. Is he now going to claim Steve Earle ripped his songs off?

Listen to "Showdown at Big Sky" and honestly tell me there was a better songwriter out of any of the members of the Band beside Robbie Robertson.

Case Closed!

[CGiordano464]

@bigseer hhaa ok a side of the stroy from a robbie fan ok anyone on levons? haha

[LocalRailfan]

GO LEVON!

[CGiordano464]

@LocalRailfan i have to agree with that one. if i wa sa women i would probably marry him. but does that make me gay? well who cares its levon helm!

[CGiordano464]

@LocalRailfan ya youtube is a scary place! so many people see them to you just have to keep some thoughts to yourself but I even have a hard time sometimes haha

[Schashey]

@CGiordano464 It's so ABSURD. he is a prolific songwriter and has continued to write hundreds of songs after the Band parted ways. The other members of the Band stayed in upstate New York, became addicted to all kinds of drugs and that's where their money went. Then, they needed someone to blame. Especially Levon - he REALLY needed someone to blame for his own sad life, so he pointed the finger at Robbie. It's so sad levon turned it so hostile. But he lives on another planet.

[The60sMusicman]

is there a full film of this on dvd? i wanna see the whole thing

[SassyFishbone]

@The60sMusicman . I have a nice collection of Band and Levon videographys and movies and I just found this last night in my stuff and forgot I had it. It's on VHS and is called Robbie Robertson "Going Home" and i'm not a RR fan at all, but I give the guy his credit due. He can be sorta funny and witty. He has nice stories and reminiscing, some great pictuers of the guys, some good concert footage, Ronnie Hawkins is interviewed throughout.

[marko1965nsw]

great video , are there more parts of this video availbal would anyone know .

thanks for listing and great to hear clapton speak so fondly .

[Rickinchi]

Great video! I'd heard about how Clapton felt but it was really great hearing Eric tell the story himself and then to see him fufill his fantasy to play in the Band himself. Of course his fantasy and mine were one in the same and the Band was my favorite group when they were putting out music. It just sucks they had to break up and that somehow even Robbie couldn't come close to what they had been before at least in terms of music.

[belovedsugarplum]

hmmmmmmm lots of anger it seems reading these posts ... am new - ish to robbie robertson & am enjoying his music. & of course eric clapton's ... i'm appreciating the world of electric guitar in a different lite due RWC's input & love of music &showing my family whats what lol ... ty xox RWC :o) & ty 4 posting ........ enjoyed some backgrd history :o)

[belovedsugarplum]

just learnt that it was only one time eric played with the band! ... during the induction to the hall of fame!

[aleester]

I find it kind of odd and self-serving that Robbie felt it necessary to say "the songs that I wrote" at the end... like he's trying to make sure everyone knows it was HIS song-writing genius, and the rest of the band was simply singing them. Crock of bull.... though I do recognize Robbie as a serious contributor to The Band's sound and success, he comes off as a prick.

[wellyes]

@aleester

Levon himself referred to Robbie as the band's songwriter before they broke up but mysteriously changed his tune when Robbie left the group and they werent getting the same gigs. Now why is that?

I don't understand all this hate against Robbie from fans that read Levon's book. How stupid are you people to believe everything that one person says? If you want to talk about character Levon wasn't exactly the moral person either. Robertson doesn't have bastard children running around.

[LocalRailfan]

What a mean comment, you just had to point out about Levon's childern. Your ill.

[wellyes]

@LocalRailfan

Do you know what bastard children means? I wasn't insulting Levon's kids. I was stating that he has several illegitimate children running around that he knows about and has never supported. Obviously I think that reflects poorly on his character.

I have nothing against guys or women that aren't into families but if you make a lot of money and have kids you should fucking support them. Robbie Robertson was a family man. Levon was about as nasty a person as you could be to women.

[LocalRailfan]

Thanks. I know what bastard childern childern are. Listen, this is kinda getting blown out of proportions. Back in the 1970's everyone in The Band or any other band would be close with hookers, whores etc... are you a Hawkins fan? Cause he makes Levon look like a saint. If you knew a bit more about Levon you would know he had only 2 kids, one with a lady that he didn't marry and the other, Amy with the lady he has been married to for years. Levon absolutely loves Amy. Levon was a good man.

[wellyes]

@LocalRailfan

Spare me the BS ok. My point is simply that Levon can not call out anyone for their character when he himself is a deadbeat dad. You don't know Levon just because you read his one sided "autobiography". He doesn't even mention Cathy Smith in his book despite her long involvement with the band, and more importantly, the fact he a fathered her bastard child. Smith BTW lives in the lower mainland and I know people that know her.

[mdpocoroba]

@wellyes

"illegitimate" to whom or what? This word is derived from religious mythologies invented by man to pacify their fear of mortality, and what does or doesn't lie beyond death. The issue of whether or not he had a "church" or state recognized "marriage" prior to the birth of any of his children has absolutely nothing to add or detract from his character. BTW I have 3 children from two marriages which occurred prior to their births, (which legitimizes them in the minds of people like you).

[wellyes]

@mdpocoroba

Levon Helm is a deadbeat dad. If you don't think that affects his character you are a moron.

[mdpocoroba]

@wellyes Go ahead and procure the financial records that support your claims. The only morons in this world are people who don't have the substance to attack the argument and attack the person in absence of that. Don't worry though, you have lots and lots of company.

[wellyes]

@mdpocoroba

You don't need a forensic search of Levon's financial history to determine that he fathered children out of wedlock and did not support them. Ever heard of the "Band baby"?

As for attacking the person isn't that exactly what Levon is doing to Robertson? You think if he had a case he would take it to court instead of defaming his band mate in a tell all book.

[helgaapeldoorn]

There's something I don't understand about this. If he was indeed screwing them over why on earth did they stay in the Band for many years? Robbie said it wasn't an issue 20 or 30 years ago, why now all of a sudden? Levon even suggested in an interview that he was to blame for Rick Danko's death. That is a sick thing to say. Confeniently forgetting Rick was into heroin/painkillers and morbidly obese in the end.

[aleester]

Rick was more a dabbler w/ opiates by the mid 90s, and this caused weight gain. Autopsy showed none in his system at time of death. Levon says Robbie screwed the rest of The Band and took all the credit /money and ditched em, forcing them to play embarassing gigs, turning them back into an amateur road band by the 80s, which took its toll on an old-timer like Rick. To me it's far-fetched. Levon is desperate to rationalize Rick/Richard's death, conveniently placing the blame on Robbie instead.

[LachoDroogie]

@helgaapeldoorn Rick was devastated after The Band broke up, he tried to get them back together so many times. I guess in a way Robbie breaking up the Band could be a reason for Rick's death

[samabbrakaddbra]

@LachoDroogie RR didn't break up the Band. Have you read anything OTHER than Levon's silly book? Everything else ever printed about the Band's break-up makes it clear that they went separate ways and that the majority of the members basically just stopped showing up. Get your facts straight. Cause for Rick's death? That is a bold and delusional statement. Rick was a big boy. Robbie was living his own life and writin music - what he does best. Death makes people think really crazed thoughts.

[inatizzy2]

@samabbrakaddbra I have studied the band for many years, (And also read Levons Silly Book) as U call it. RR was a real butt head. Have u just ever watched him? Trying to ACT like he was singing,trying to ACT like he was boss? RR couldnt sing a lick. Not saying he couldnt bend them strings! He was an Ace at that. Good writer,bad friend.

[yourdickis2limp]

@helgaapeldoorn Ricky Danko died because he was an overweight drug addict who snorted two tons of cocaine,screwed thousands of farm animals and couldnt sing or play his way out of a mexican outhouse.

[samabbrakaddbra]

@helgaapeldoorn exactly right

[Dave897456]

@helgaapeldoorn Don't believe everything you read. You hit the nail on the head. Levon ran into money problems and tried to blame Robbie. Levon bailed on Dylan in 1965 and dropped out of his backing band. Levon likes to blame others for his own faults!

[inatizzy2]

@Dave897456 No, U R wrong there... Levon puts blame where blame is deserved. ROBBIE, ROB em all. stole rights from Richard and any one else he could get by with, ROB bie didn't even go to Richards funeral...

[Dave897456]

@inatizzy2 Yeah sure. How many songs did Levon write on his last two CDs?

[inatizzy2]

Respond to this video... Levon NEVER played with Dylan so no, he didn't back out o his band. The rest of the band went to play with Dylan,, Levon just laid back and didn't. He NEVER bailed.

[Dave897456]

@inatizzy2 Levon never played with Dylan? LOL!! What are you smoking? He toured with Bob in the fall of 1965 BEFORE the 1966 Europe tour. Levon got sick of all the booing and did not want to go with the rest of the band to Europe with Bob. The Band also toured in 1974 with Bob. Levon also participated on studio albums with Bob and played on Forever Young.

[droyalrob]

Also just an FYI. Levon didn't write one of the songs on Dirt Farmer. Incredible singer, and drummer, but not a songwriter. Cheers.

[droyalrob]

do you believe everything you read?

[maxwellchandler]

I am not envious, he did contribute a lot to the band! but he also was the only one who cared more about the money He cared enough to take any chance he could to make more, even when it came time to stab the others in the back, by even accepting credit without giving others their share of the money. Garth and Levon do not have the money they deserve as the other two living members. Levon could barely pay for his medical bils when diagnosed with throat cancer..

[maxwellchandler]

yikes, take it easy guys. I just finished reading Levon's autobiography which states that the record label gave the credit to Robertson because they were trying to make him the central part of the band, much like they did elvis, buddy holly and other bands because that was making money. When the albums came out everyone was surprised to see Robertson credited, when they knew others should have been. The entire label and management took robertsons side on everything because they saw him as the $.

[droyalrob]

cheers bigseer!!! for the most astute comment i've seen on this subject in years! robbie wrote songs that levon, rick and richard brought to life with their voices and instruments and garth brought a character that made The Band even more distinctive, this is a great video. a beautiful example of the sum being greater than the parts.

[bigseer]

maxwell chandler and the rest of the Robbie envy group. What stopped levon from writing a single memorable song since the mid-seventies. Robbie wrote the best songs. get over it. Levon, Rick, Richard were the voices of those songs. What is so hard to accept about that fact?

If Levon put as much effort into as he has into portraying being hard-done-by RJR, into song writing he would have had a few hit's by now.

Blame booze and heroin for the others neglecting thier careers, instead of Robbie.

[maxwellchandler]

A few hits? he has a grammy for his album dirt farmer! haha.

and Robertson was the biggest coke head of the band! He and marty scorcese both had a house in which the blacked everything out so they could snort coke and talk movie business.

[aleester]

It's true, Robbie's the superior, primary songwriter. Other 3 probably had potential, but never put in the effort.

Regarding Levon saying they got burned on credits...his argument holds no water (w/ the POSSIBLE exceptions of The Weight and Dixie). Specifically what chords or lyrics were ur ideas? But just b/c you add memorable organ (i.e. Chest Fever) doesn't mean you're owed writer credits. You deserve credit, but NOT writing credits. That's ur job as the keyboard player, to add ur part.

[AtticShow]

@bigseer Levon won 2 Grammy's since dude...

[maxwellchandler]

Although he has made himself look like a leader, Robertson is what made the band fail in the end, he is the reason why the hardworking members didnt see the money they deserved. He is a selfish individual who doesnt deserve the recognition he deserved. Richard Manuel was the true leader, Levon was the soul, Garth was the master of the music, Rick was the originality and Robbie was the thief.

[filterite9]

lol yet you dont realise Robbie wrote all the songs... keep talking...

[filterite9]

wow.. you are a fkn idiot! to say Robbie had nothing to do with development of the band, your crazy! Robbie wrote ALL the songs, everyone including dixie, obviously

[anthonythirteen]

@maxwellchandler: Typical nonsense.

Richard was THE voice but was a troubled soul. Garth was THE musician, but personality-wise, not a leader. Levon WAS the leader, but went home when the booing of Dylan started. Ricky, well, was Ricky. RR was THE brains behind The Band.

[LocalRailfan]

What are you saying about Garth? And also Levon never was against Dylan.

[anthonythirteen]

@LocalRailfan Helm walked out on the tour Dylan & The Band because of the abuse from the audience. Hence Hawkins' comment that when they left him Helm was the leader, but by the time of The Last Waltz RR was the leader. Garth - loveable, but very much the eccentric professor.

[samabbrakaddbra]

@LocalRailfan you know not of what you speak.

[anveedi]

what did clapton say at 1:19 ? what the cream thought they were?? i didn't get the words, and.........i'm italian, so.....!

[johnstevens1978]

He said they thought they were "the bee's knees" :)

[anveedi]

wow....clapton learning to play a song..great

[dog1dog2]

Typical Robertson......looking back on The Band as pretty much just "his band" who played and sang "his songs" instead of the incredible collective unit that they were in their heyday. Love Robertson as a musician, but always have hated his insistence on pretending to be the front man of a band that was great precisely for the reason that there was no front man......

[neudeckp]

you name it.....;-))

[bgoldmad]

@dog1dog2

good point about the band. I think people are forgetting a few memorable songs that were written by others in the Band (including Bob Dylan) or collaberatively with Robbie Robertson: Tears of Rage, Lonseome Suzie, In a Station, Whispering Pines, We Can Talk, Jemima Surrender, When You Awake, Jawbone. Much of this music defined the Band in its earliest days. Important to remember.

[BandOnTheRun87]

is he eating ice cream?