...and The Band played on

The Band. Just writing their name conjures up images from years ago, the pictures in my mind when I heard songs for the first time, "The Weight," and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."

In this article, published originally in the August 8, 1970 issue of Look magazine, Rick Danko says he wrote "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" for Levon Helm, because Levon felt so strongly about the subject matter. I've heard a lot of versions of this song, but this version he did in the documentary, The Last Waltz, is one of my favorites.

The story of Robbie Robertson being forced to go on stage with a 103º temperature and stomach cramps because their manager wouldn't let them cancel the show, is part of the price an artist pays for stardom.

Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Levon Helm are now deceased.