Levon Helm The Classic Drummer Interview by Bob Girouard photo by Paul La Raia No one plays drums or sings a song like Levon Helm…..no one. He’s in a select club of musical pioneers that have cut across time and trends; legend and fact being one and the same. In a way he’s the everyman; a true American original and his impact on popular music over the past five decades is in a category unto itself. Helm is undeniably a larger than life Sonny Boy Williamson on KFFA, The Drawing from his own influences, persona, yet at the same time humble to Grand Ole Opry on WSM, Rhythm & Levon set the gold standard by creating a fault. Very few have commanded the Blues on WLAC, or “diving-in” to the a style uniquely his, and achieving a respect of such a cross section of influ- fray with his first band, “The Jungle level many drummers are still trying to ential artists as he has, and drummers Bush Beaters.” Local dues paid, it was copy. Musically, when one listens to are only a part of it. A short list would time to venture out into the great such staples as Up On Cripple Creek, The be people like Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner, unknown with wild man Ronnie Weight, and The Night They Drove Old Richie Hayward, George Receli, and Hawkins, and later Levon & The Dixie Down, they are hearing not only Steve Jordan, as well as icons like Hawks, who received a Brill Building songs….but rather a living-breathing Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, and Eric baptism courtesy of mogul/gangster, history of a bygone era. As is commonly Clapton. Truth be told, Levon is usually Morris Levy. The aforementioned all known, that particular chapter culmi- on everybody’s A-Team, whether they leading up to his stint with Dylan along nated with The Last Waltz. For be musicians or movie stars. with a group often heralded as the drummers, it represents one of the finest greatest ever in American-roots rock individual performances ever captured Since the beginning, music has reflected music: The Band. on film, a virtual lesson on how to play his soul, whether he was listening to with other musicians in any context. 36 CLASSIC DRUMMER Time marched on, and so did he. But not about them in interviews. Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams... before adding to the equation with LH: I wish they could all be here! They everybody, especially the singers to gems like “The Muddy Waters Woodstock would understand how much easier it is keep me from singing myself into a Album”, “The RCO All Stars”, and a trio to play in the studio instead of trying to hole. Even though I had my voice back of new Band CD’S, “Jericho”, “High on pack everything up, constantly from enough to attempt the songs, I would the Hog”, and “Jubilation.” With the late place-to-place! have days where I’d start too early and 90’s came some major hurdles, but I couldn’t find my voice. It would con- never one to run away from a challenge, CD: Yeah, what drummer wouldn’t cern me, but having Amy, especially Levon even looked the big “C” in the want your set-up: I mean, you walk into helped guide me through those spots eye and put up his dukes. the living room, do a brilliant show, sign and I was actually able to perform better a few autographs, wave goodbye, and than I thought I could. Today, the miracle of his return to health head back in to catch the late movie on and the bonified success of The Midnight TV! CD: Amy actually co-produced, along Rambles have added yet another dimen- LH: (Laughter): Yeah, it is pretty good with Larry. Did their collective input sion to his legend. Moreover, his first isn’t it! provide any unexpected musical turns solo album in 25-years, Dirt Farmer, has along the way? won unilateral praise from both the CD: Coming off your amazing return to LH: Oh, sure, sure. I depended on them. public and press including CBS News, health and also performing again, your The first few songs from home that we CMT, Rolling Stone, NPR, The New new CD “Dirt Farmer”, signals another cut seemed to lead us right on into the York Times, and Entertainment Weekly. milestone in your career. Its traditional other tunes that became the “Dirt The end result coming front ‘n’ center sound is like a virtual history of Farmer Sessions.” We’ve got probably with the ultimate tribute - two Grammy American roots music in itself. Kind of two dozen songs all together and we’re Awards. Fittingly, Dirt Farmer for “Best like offering a window to your soul. talking about a Dirt Farmer II. We’re Traditional Folk Album” combined with a LH: Well, you know, I guess you could thinking about putting those out too “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his say that. In my life, that’s the language and also working on some promotional contributions (as a member of The of heaven. After being as ill as I was, videos. Band) to American music. Recently, and faced with the possibility of not Classic Drummer was given the oppor- being able to perform, makes me appre- CD: On the video, can I wager you’ll be tunity to chat with Levon at Levon ciate the opportunity a whole lot more. I riding a tractor? I actually read some- Helm Studios, which serves as his kind of took it for granted. I’d have a gig where that as a kid, you were a home, creative, and business headquar- and I’d enjoy it….but I did take it for champion tractor driver? ters. Considering our mutual history, I granted. was quite honored about sharing this moment and its magnitude with our CD: A musician friend recently readers. told me when he first heard it he felt the presence of Ralph Classic Drummer: Levon, over the past Stanley. few years there have been several mile- LH: Wow…to be mentioned in stones that have all been part of this the same breath with (“Dr.”) amazing journey leading up to today. Ralph Stanley. I’ve just always One of the most formidable has been the worshipped the Stanley success of your Midnight Ramble Brothers and the bar they set is Sessions. You must be happy about a hell of a reach for all of us to that? work for; at least to do the Levon Helm: Yes, it is a real blessing for music with the same spirit. all the players. Woodstock used to be one of those places where you could go CD: Without question, you out in the middle of the week and hear seem to be coming from a very three or four live bands. Those days spiritual place. In your own have changed, and there are only a cou- words you’ve stated that your ple of venues left for live music. For the daughter Amy, was the moti- Rambles to have developed the “legs” it vator behind the idea. Was this has, it’s been good for the musicians a challenge musically, to go lit- and the audiences who have come. erally…back to the beginning? LH: You know it really was one CD: The performances have impacted of the more pleasurable things in so many ways and resounded with that I’ve ever had the opportu- other great musicians. I often get asked nity to do. I counted on Amy, photo by Paul La Raia CLASSIC DRUMMER 37 LH: You know, I’m not so sure that it might be Amy playing there? CD: So, it’s a genetic thing? I’m literally waiting for that beat to come down! LH: She did a fabulous job on Got Me a Woman. I think deep down, she’s a drummer at heart. CD: She can out-groove most of us! LH: That’s part of the joy in this album. We didn’t have any plan and we let the music dictate the instrumentation for the most part. We also had plenty of help. For instance, George Receli came in on percussion to tie everything together in a nice way. I mean, to play as tasty as he plays… never overplays…never in the way…always photo by Paul La Raia the right part. CD: So many drummers ask this, espe- LH: (Laughter) You know on the farm, you had together in The Band. cially when it comes to you, ‘The the 4-H Club was how country kids got LH: Well, I love to hear you say that Memphis-New Orleans feel, is it some- to go to town! If it was that, or a hog- because I sure feel Rick, Richard, and thing that all Southern players have? Or calling contest…whatever was going Stan‘s (Szelest) presence. They’re my is it a case of hard work and discipline’? down, I was game for it…just to get out three brothers if you will… and my par- LH: I think it’s just that old...or, some- of work! ents too. Funny you mention that where in-between, that Saturday-night CD: You tear into Most of the things I play certainly have a street-beat-march to them. So, it’s between that and the album’s first cut, “False Hearted Lover watching Peck Curtis play with Sonny Boy Williamson and The King Biscuit Boys. That Blues”, with a march-like, rolling march and that shuffle is where I live most of the time.