Robbie Robertson (photo by Silvia Grav)
Robbie Robertson, songwriter and guitarist for The Band, died today in Los Angeles at age 80, according to a statement from his manager.
Among Robertson’s writing credits are classics including “The Weight,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” and “Up on Cripple Creek,” but beyond specific songs, he helped craft a spacier sound in country-rock, laying the foundation for what would come to be called Americana.
Before The Band made it big, Robertson played guitar with Bob Dylan, including on Blonde on Blonde, creating a bridge between Dylan and The Band’s other members — Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, and Rick Danko — that eventually led to The Basement Tapes.
When burnout and substance abuse brought The Band to a crossroads in 1976, Robertson pulled the plug, but made sure it was an epic goodbye. He organized a farewell show in San Francisco and invited a star-studded array of musical friends. Martin Scorsese was on hand to film the show, which became the 1978 concert film The Last Waltz.
Robertson, who subsequently feuded with his former bandmates over songwriting credits and royalties, never returned to touring, but he did keep releasing music under his own name. His most recent album was 2019’s Sinematic, and he worked with Scorsese on film music for Casino, The Wolf of Wall Street, and others, including the upcoming Killers of the Flower Moon. With his bandmates, Robertson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Robertson attended the induction ceremony, but Helm was pointedly absent.
In 2016, Robertson published a memoir, Testimony (ND review), and was working on a second memoir, according to Rolling Stone.
No cause of death was reported for Robertson as of Wednesday afternoon, though his manager cited a long illness, and said he died surrounded by family. Robertson’s family asked that donations be made in his honor to the Six Nations of the Grand River for a new cultural center.
Artists and fans reacted with sorrow Wednesday evening. Amy Helm, daughter of Levon, celebrated his musical legacy and sent love to Robertson’s family in an Instagram post.
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Joni Mitchell’s Twitter (now X) account called him a “fellow Canadian and cherished collaborator.”
Rest in peace Robbie Robertson, legendary lead guitarist of The Band, fellow Canadian, and cherished collaborator of Joni’s. May his legacy and musical harmony resonate for generations to come.
Photo from the Michael Ochs Archives pic.twitter.com/1rdu7tihjS
— Joni Mitchell (@jonimitchell) August 9, 2023
Even former president Bill Clinton expressed his sadness at the news, tweeting “I’m grateful for all the good memories he gave me — going back to his time in the Hawks when I was a teenager — and for his kindness through the years.”
Robbie Robertson was a brilliant songwriter, guitarist, and composer whose gifts changed music forever. I’m grateful for all the good memories he gave me—going back to his time in the Hawks when I was a teenager—and for his kindness through the years. I’ll miss him.
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) August 9, 2023
With Robertson’s passing, Hudson, now 86, is the last living member of The Band.
