We’re saying goodbye to so many legends. This one’s hard. I immediately thought of the interview Robbie Roberson gave at the very beginning of the documentary Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World. The documentary starts with Link Wray, and Robertson’s memories of seeing him on television in the late ’50s and being blown away – not just by his music – but that …. he was an indigenous person too. Robertson couldn’t BELIEVE it. He came from a musical family, everyone played music, but here was a guy on TELEVISION, rocking harder than anyone else ever had before him, changing the sound, changing the way guitars were played – and … the world opened up to this young boy. If Link Wray could do it, if an “Indian” could make it big, then he could make it big too. Anyway, I looked for a clip of that interview on YouTube and couldn’t find it, although the film’s trailer starts with him.
All of tributes pouring in from his friends and colleagues and fans are beautiful and sad: Martin Scorsese, Joni Mitchell … I love his collaboration back in the ’80s with my pal Maria McKee. She’s been sharing some of her memories on Instagram. He seems to have been universally loved.
What are we supposed to do now? Someone like Robbie Robertson leaves a big hole when they go. The hole can’t be filled with a replacement. But the music he made will play on forever.
A big loss. His self-titled debut in ’87 is one of my favorite albums of all time. There’s not a weak song on it. And “American Roulette” that Maria McKee performs on might be the best. Especially profound and insightful when you know the three verses are about James Dean, Elvis, and Marilyn Monroe. Yet he never mentions any of them by name, though it’s obvious if you listen to the lyrics closely. The short, final verse pretty much says it all:
Say a prayer for the lost generation
Who spin the wheel out of desperation
Now that I think about it even the title “American Roulette” says it all. It will be interesting to hear the music for Killers of the Flower Moon when it comes out.
More than a little sad when you think of all the talent that was in The Band, and Garth Hudson is the only member still alive.
thank you so much for your comment. It’s such a big loss.
American Roulette is awesome.
// Garth Hudson is the only member still alive. //
We’re losing everybody. :(. I guess this is what it feels like to grow old.