Robbie Robertson, Guitarist and Songwriter With the Band, Dies at 80

[ptp]

Robbie Robertson, 80, Dies; Canadian Songwriter Captured American Spirit

As the chief songwriter and guitarist for the Band, he offered a rustic vision of his adopted country that helped inspire the genre that came to be known as Americana.

www.nytimes.com

More of the great musicians leaving us

 

[mandrill]

 

[ptp]

Underated guitarist .

 

[Meesh]

I'm incredibly sad at his loss.

 

[LickingG2]

The Band was great.

 

[RZG]

The Band was great.

They sure were, just Garth left standing.

 

[ogibowt]

RIP

 

[Twister]

RIP

 

[james t kirk]

This news is just awful.

I love the Band and Robbie in particular. Once again, didn't even know he was sick. He always looked great for his age. One by one the greatest generation of rock musicians are leaving us.

Sigh.

 

[K Douglas]

This news is just awful.

I love the Band and Robbie in particular. Once again, didn't even know he was sick. He always looked great for his age. One by one the greatest generation of rock musicians are leaving us.

Sigh.

It will be the norm in the next few years.

 

[jalimon]

Its1992 or maybe 1993. Im driving out west in my old beat up volks car. In Regina i meet a dude and his girlfriend at the youth hostel. I drove them all the way to Banff. We listened to the band non stop. One of the most memorable time of my life.

About a year later i drove back to Ottawa to attend university. Who do i meet in Calgary… that girl! We drove back together listening to the Band all the way

She was not that pretty but so cool, fit and into me we fucked so much!

All that because we love folk music of Dylan, Cash and mostly The Band!

 

[shack]

I believe that their biggest influence was on the music industry and other musicians. They weren't the biggest hitmakers around but they almost single-handedly helped make Americana and roots music a genre unto itself.

What can you say about a group that rejects an appeal from Eric Clapton to join the group. I saw them live 3 times.

Robbie Robertson, somebody that all Canadians should be proud of.

 

[Robert Mugabe]

RIP made his mark. 80 years old isn't so tragic. Had a good run. Never was a big fan. However watched the doc "The Last Waltz" which kind of gave an insight into what a bunch of hard asses they all were. The final instrumental they play as the credits go up is pretty fascinating.
Just listened to a WTF podcast with Marc Maron who was talking to Todd Rundgren. He engineered "Stage Fright" which would qualify him as a God until you find out how many other things he engineered and produced. Which makes him an even bigger God.
He mentioned the Band and how they were somewhat dysfunctional what with the drugs and general way they lived. There was quite a lot of acrimony amongst them due to the fact that they saw themselves as Robbie Robertson's sidemen. He wrote the songs and got the royalties. They were working for wages.

 

[eddie kerr]

I believe that their biggest influence was on the music industry and other musicians. They weren't the biggest hitmakers around but they almost single-handedly helped make Americana and roots music a genre unto itself.

What can you say about a group that rejects an appeal from Eric Clapton to join the group. I saw them live 3 times.

Robbie Robertson, somebody that all Canadians should be proud of.

I loved The Band, mainly Levon and Robbie, but Garth, Manuel and Rick Danko also. Robbie wrote most of their songs including my favourite country rock song The Weight. I always thought he was underrated as a guitarist although he was selected on the top 60 in major polls. Way back when I was 16, saw Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks at the Crang Plaza and their songs became my favs. A number of years later, I saw The Band at the Concord Tavern on Bloor St. Robertson also played for Bob Dylan in his early years. I read about his life and career on Wikipedia and was surprised to learn that his mother was an indigenous Mohawk lady. RIP ROBBIE.

 

[shack]

his mother was an indigenous Mohawk lady. RIP ROBBIE.

I read his autobiography and she loved having all the boys in the band hang out at her place and she'd always be cooking for them. They called her Mama Kosh as in Kosher, even though she was indigenous.

 

[The Oracle]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1689393767520890880

 

[shack]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1689393767520890880

Yes that was cool.

One thing to notice is that when Clapton plays it's smooth and effortless, but when Robbie takes over he has to work hard as hell.

 

[glamphotographer]

Not a fan of his music but he was important to the Canadian music industry. RIP.

 

[tml]

Ronnie Hawkins said when Robertson joined his back up band, Hawkins said to him "you won't make much money, but you'll get more pussy than Sinatra".
RIP to both of them.

 

[Mozo]

Robbie was a genius. The Band were incredible.
Sad news.