Levon Helm (1940–2012)

Late musician Levon Helm tells the story of his career, from the cotton fields of Arkansas to success with The Band, to his post-Band second act in this slow memoir. On the plus side, I don’t doubt that Helm’s co-writer captured the musician’s authentic narrative voice. Everything is told rather than shown, however, and the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle of sex and drugs is only suggested, not dramatized. There are a lot of extended quotes from secondary sources, as well as set lists from long-ago concerts and mentions of musicians whom Helm played with or admired. Even Helm’s understandable bitterness toward band mate Robbie Robertson (whom Helm accuses of causing the financial ruin of his fellow Band members by claiming all the songwriting credits for himself), makes for less than compelling reading. For fans only.… (altro)