This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of the Band Paperback – Illustrated, October 1, 2013

I just finished reading both Testimony and This Wheel’s on Fire. Even though I rarely write a review, for whatever reason, I felt the need to do so. I will start by saying, if you plan to read one, you should really plan to read both. Levon and Robbie both have their own reality and it is very interesting to hear the story from different perspectives. It was like listening to a divorced couple talk about how they met and why they got divorced. But remember, This Wheel’s on Fire was written 25 years ago and Testimony was written just this past year, a few years after Levon had passedI saw an ad for Testimony. Having grown up listening to The Band, I thought it would be interesting to hear the story of a group that created a very different kind of music. As a music producer, I also am interested in the nuances of how a song was created. Testimony is long, but good. It ends with The Last Waltz in 1976 and I felt a little let down that there was nothing written about what happened thereafter. I then watched a current interview with Robbie on YouTube and did some research about the group. Seeing that Levon had basically stopped speaking with Robbie after The Last Waltz and that Richard had committed suicide, I felt compelled to read Levon’s This Wheel’s on Fire. A much easier and quicker readBoth books were very good and definitely gave some great insight and many great side stories about how The Band evolved. I found both of their exacting details hard to take seriously considering the amount of time that had passed and their substance abuse for all those years. But you did walk away with a real understanding of The Band, their members, and Rock n Roll of that era.I also felt it was a great book for young musicians who are looking for instant stardom. The Band paid their dues, practicing and playing every day for over 11 years before they hit it big. And my take away is that they weren’t driven by money or fame, but a desire for their music to be heard and appreciated. It was unfortunately the money, fame, lawyers, and record labels that destroyed them

This isn't going to be a four page diatribe dissecting the book by some wannabe writer suffering from verbal diarrhea like the few before me. Good gracious, what a bunch of babble. (But please excuse any typos as my thumbs are much larger than the keypad!)Folks...GET THE BOOK! Incredibly entertaining. Equally fascinating. My suggestions...if your not that familiar with Levon Helm or even if you are, take a few minutes to go online and watch/listen to some of his interviews before you read it. Get a feel for who he his, his roots, his southern drawl and the way he tells a story. Then read the book. To me, I felt like I was right there, sitting next to a fire, rocking in a chair listening to him.A friend told me..."don't read it unless you are prepared to dislike Robbie Robertson." Well, I'm wise enough to know that everyone has their own story. This is Levon's. Garth Hudson has remained relatively silent. Rick Danko and Richard Manuel did not live to author their own version. And I'm sure Robbie Robertson has his. However, from the respect that Levon Helm has received up to and beyond his death, I believe he his telling the truth about the trails and tribulations The Band experienced throughout the years including the stories of greed and swindling that occurred. Read enough R&R bios and you'll find out greed and swindling we're common themes during the the 50's, 60's and 70's. Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, and countless others before them have all been victims of the "fine print." As far as disliking Robbie Robertson... I don't know the man and I'm sure he could care less about my opinion! So again...Get the book...read it...and most of all enjoy it. It's a treat.

This biography of Levon Helm seems to be exceptionally forthright, and comprehensive in that it spans the furthest reaches of his life. It tends to be remarkably informative, and does address band issues which I would assume would be the primary reason most folks would read this book.I am not really a fan of this band, mainly because I just never got around to listening to their work. I did marvel at the Aretha Franklin version of "The Weight" with Duane Allman playing lead when I first heard it on the first Allman Anthology released back in the early seventies. It is a great song. Additionally, I heard the Joan Baez version of "The Night They Drove old Dixie Down" hundreds of times on the AM radio back in the seventies, along with versions of "Cripple Creek" by country bands for years. Those songs are standards in country rock. "I Shall Be Released" is one of the best songs ever written, in my opinion, but I always heard it sung by others, particularly Dylan in the past. I recently saw a video with Grace Potter singing it, and that was great! But, I ain't never heard it sung by Richard Manuel.I recently ordered the "Greatest Hits" of the band, but it has not arrived yet. I expect it to be good. I did rent the "Last Waltz", and during that film I heard/saw the song "Makes No Difference", and really like it.But having said this, I cannot claim to be a fan of the band, at least, not yet.The book though, reads well, and is well written. It is a good book that will describe the actual story of where they came from, and how the history of the group played out. I actually had moments when I thought that Helm went a little too deep in some of the descriptions of his early life, how cotton was grown in the Delta of his homeland, and some of the years prior to the "Big Pink" era. But, it is better to give too much detail, rather than too little in most instances of a biography.If a reader is a fan of this group, or a musician, or particularly of Helm, (Or you want to know exactly how to raise a crop of cotton as it was done just after World War II); read this book!One last comment; this book has some sad notes that may disillusion some fans as to the idyllic image of the group, their perceived Arthurian "All for One" approach to creating music that seemed to be the group's perspective during the time frame of the first couple of albums produced. Helm looks back unfavorably upon Robertson's involvement in the groups' "politics." But such things do happen in many bands, or even in real life scenarios of any bunch of people often, ...particularly when big money is involved.

I’m a huge fan of The Band and of Levon Helm. This book was so good. I highly recommend it.