Robbie Robertson, the guitarist and main songwriter in The Band, the Canadian-American group known for songs including The Weight and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, has died at the age of 80.
Robertson, who left his Toronto home at 16 to pursue his rock’n’roll dreams, passed away after a long illness, his manager of 34 years, Jared Levine, said in a statement.
“Robbie was surrounded by his family at the time of his death,” the statement added.
Robbie Robertson in 1971.
Other tributes include Neil Diamond, who had his album Beautiful Noise produced by Robertson.
Diamond wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “The music world lost a great one with the passing of Robbie Robertson. Keep making that Beautiful Noise in the sky, Robbie. I’ll miss you.”
Hollywood director Martin Scorsese said in a statement: “Long before we ever met, his music played a central role in my life – me and millions and millions of other people all over this world. The Band’s music, and Robbie’s own later solo music, seemed to come from the deepest place at the heart of this continent, its traditions and tragedies and joys.
“It goes without saying that he was a giant, that his effect on the art form was profound and lasting. There’s never enough time with anyone you love. And I loved Robbie.”
Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones shared images from the rock documentary The Last Waltz, which featured Robertson and was about a concert billed as The Band’s “farewell” gig.
Wood wrote: “Such sad news about Robbie Robertson – he was a lovely man, a great friend and will be dearly missed xx R.”
Actor Kiefer Sutherland, wrote: “The loss of Robbie Robertson is heartbreaking. Canada has lost an icon, and music has lost a poet and a scholar.”
Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams wrote: “RIP Robbie Robertson. Thanks for the amazing music and the great hangs, especially photographing you in LA not so long ago.”
Echoing the lyrics of The Band’s song The Weight, Adams added: “We’ll keep Anna Lee company for you…”
The Band and friends (L to R): Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson, Dr. John, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, Ringo Starr, Neil Young, Rick Danko, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Ronnie Hawkins, Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Eric Clapton, Paul Butterfield, Bobby Charles, Ronnie Wood perform during The Last Waltz on November 25, 1976.
The Band included four Canadians – Robertson, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel – and was anchored by an Arkansas drummer, Levon Helm. Originally dubbed The Hawks as the backing band for rockabilly wild man Ronnie Hawkins, they gained attention supporting Bob Dylan on his Going Electric tours of 1965-1966.
After changing their name to The Band and rebasing in Woodstock, New York, they became one of the most respected groups in rock. Their 1976 farewell concert in San Francisco was the basis of Martin Scorsese’s 1978 movie “The Last Waltz.”
The Band had a unique chemistry. Known for their vocal harmonies, they had three excellent singers in Helm, bassist Danko and pianist Manuel. Organist and multi-instrumentalist Garth Hudson was also crucial.
Garth Hudson, Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko in 1971.
“They were the goods,” Robertson wrote of his four band mates in his 2016 autobiography, Testimony.
“This band was a real band. No slack in the high wire here. Everybody held up his end with plenty to spare.”
“The impact of The Band’s first album can’t be exaggerated,” critic Greil Marcus wrote in 2000, referring to their 1968 debut album, “Music from Big Pink.” It contained “The Weight” and Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released,” among others.
Their 1969 sophomore album, titled simply “The Band,” was even better. With their frontiersman look and unique blend of folk, rock, country, soul and gospel, The Band influenced the likes of Eric Clapton, Elton John, the Grateful Dead, the Beatles, and generations of later musicians who played music that was by then called “Americana.”
Their music harked back to an earlier America, reflected in such song titles as “Across the Great Divide,” “King Harvest (Has Surely Come),” “Up on Cripple Creek” and “The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show.”
Robertson became infatuated with the guitar early on and gained a reputation as a guitar hot shot during his time with the Hawks. Rolling Stone magazine eventually ranked him No. 59 on its 2015 list of 100 Greatest Guitarists. His unique guitar style was displayed to great effect on such Band songs as Jawbone and Smoke Signal.
Robertson in 1994.
In February 2022, Variety reported, citing sources, that Robertson sold his music publishing catalogue to a firm called Iconoclast for about $US25 million ($A38 million).
After all the highs and lows, Robertson looked back at his Band mates with love and affection.
“Through all the turbulence, I am left with such a deep appreciation for my journey,” he wrote in his autobiography.
“This shining path I’ve travelled being part of the Band – there will never be another like it. Such a gift, such talent, such pain, such madness … I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
A statement from Robertson’s family to his Twitter page read: “Robbie was surrounded by his family at the time of his death, including his wife, Janet, his ex-wife, Dominique, her partner Nicholas, and his children Alexandra, Sebastian, Delphine, and Delphine’s partner Kenny.
“In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Six Nations of the Grand River to support the building of their new cultural centre.”
Robbie Robertson and Bob Geldof at the premiere of ‘Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson And The Band’ in 2020.
with AAP
