This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of the Band by Levon Helm, Stephen Davis Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of the Band
Book Review: A Great Book About a Great Band!
Summary: 5 Stars
Though often forgetten about now, unless you listen to classic rock, The Band was one of the best music groups ever. What a group of musicians, and what songs they made. This book was written by vocalist and drummer Levon Helm. The book is great. It is not just a great book about the Band, it is a great look at rock and roll and life on the road. This is a great book about music and the people who make music. The Band was such a great group, more people should know there story.Book Review: Bittersweet but evenhanded
Summary: 4 Stars
In this book, it feels like Levon Helm is honestly trying to tell the real story of The Band, without prettying it up too much or casting too many aspersions. The overwhelming feeling I had when reading this book is that he feels there's too much Robertson -- and maybe too much Helm -- in the popular vision of The Band, and he seems to be making a conscious effort to ensure that Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, and especially Richard Manuel get their fair share of the credit. Judging by the way this book reads, it seems that it's largely composed of verbal reminiscences by Helm, later pieced together by Davis and embellished with accounts from other interested parties. This can make for confusing reading -- you have to either be alert to changes of voice or be willing to back up and remind yourself who said this or that. It also leads to some apparent "mood swings" on Helm's part -- it is clear that there are certain things about the history of The Band that still make him angry. His attitude toward Robbie Robertson is a case in point: the guitarist is "Robbie" throughout most of the book, becomes "Robertson" when Helm is talking about business/publishing quarrels and the whole "Last Waltz" situation, and then turns back into "Robbie" when Helm is discussing less loaded issues or reminiscing about the good times.
It's also very clear that Helm feels guilt as well as grief about Richard Manuel. The story begins with Manuel's death and then goes back to the beginning, and several times alludes to warning signs of Manuel's emotional instability that Helm seems to feel they should have caught. The final comment by Helm on Manuel's death sounds more like someone trying to think of a reason for the tragedy, rather than saying what he honestly believes happened. That segment sounds like a reflection of Helm's enduring wish to make sense of his friend's death, rather than a seriously-offered explanation for why it happened.
Even Robbie Robertson does not get the raking one might expect, given the long-standing bad blood between the two. Helm is pretty scathing about how "The Last Waltz" turned out, and he is not impressed that Robertson went along with the label's tendency to make Robertson the "star" of The Band and everyone else "sidemen" (the group's distaste for that term having already been established.) But in a number of instances it is clear that in retrospect Helm doesn't feel Robertson was intentionally trying to hurt anyone else, and he does not attempt to diminish Robertson's role in the group (although he takes a pin to the notion that Robbie was the only one writing the songs.) Is this objective truth? I have no idea, but in a music industry in which Paul McCartney does not own the rights to his own songs, it certainly seems possible that more than one person deserved credit for the songs of The Band.
Another factor in this book's favour is the fact that it is fun to read. Yes, its structure can be confusing. And yes, Helm is folksy. And he certainly does not go into the sex and drugs aspect of the story. (He does mention so many car crashes that it seems incredible that Manuel lived as long as he did, and nobody else got killed either.) But between them the two authors have gathered up dozens of crudely funny quips from Ronnie Hawkins (who comes off sounding like your most embarrassing but lovable uncle with a few drinks aboard) and Helm's account of Rick Danko and the deer, and his own accidental gunshot wound, are priceless. Some of Helm's ways of expressing himself are also pretty funny -- for example, his off-hand description of a road manager he didn't care for ("He was OK, but you wouldn't send him for the ammunition.") And you can tell he honestly loved the group and his bandmates, which is probably part of the reason there are still things he can't discuss dispassionately -- this is not a picture of a reserved or dispassionate man.
Is this the "real truth" about The Band? I don't know. I suspect even the men who were there would have different answers to that question. But it reads like one man's attempt at honesty, as well as a heartfelt tribute to the people he loved and the days they shared. It's not, to me, a bitter tale, but it is certainly bittersweet.
Book Review: A great book for anyone who wants to read about a real band.
Summary: 4 Stars
This book tells a story of a band. Not of all the lager than life exploits of a rock'n'roll freakshow, but a band. Levon mentions some adventures here and there, but the story revolves around the creation, life, demise, and rebirth of probably the greatest band in rock history. Some unfortunate istances took place amongst band members, and they caused some bitter dissention, however, the book is honest and interesting. The best musical book I have ever readBook Review: Worth a read, but please don't take it as the gospel truth
Summary: 3 Stars
This book is a milestone in the de-evolution of Levon Helm from a well respected rock 'n' roll legend to deluded, bitter old coot. The best parts are his descriptions of his earliest musical career and influences. His narrative of the heydays of The Band is sometimes very entertaining, but contains suprisingly little commentary on the songwriting and recording process. The most noteworthy feature of this book is, of course, its introduction of the alleged Levon-Robbie Robertson feud. The level of bile and animosity he has towards his former partner is disturbing to say the least. People who take this account seriously should realize that Helm himself distanced himself from his anti-Robertson remarks in the subsequent book tour, saying that this was dreamed up by his publisher and co-writer. The parts where his co-writer takes over are very obvious, most noticible when the co-writer writes "Robertson" instead of "Robbie". This tends to undermine the credibility of his whole account. His version of the tragic and pathetic suicide of Band member Richard Manuel is bizzare, to say the least. Helm does not see this as the pitiful act of a man dismayed at the failure of the post-Robertson Band, but as the final defiant act of strong man trying to make a statement. Helm's ability to be reflective and understanding towards the events of his career seem to be totally subsumed in his hatred of Robbie Robertson. This is also shown in his dismissal of THE LAST WALTZ, the greatest concert movie ever made and a beautiful grand finale to The Band's career. Helm hates it, evidently because it's just over his head. I am tempted to mark this rating down another star for bad feelings. It is an entertaining read for the most part, and will be essential reading for any Band fans. But please don't consider it an honest and objective account.Book Review: True American Folk Artist
Summary: 4 Stars
I loved this book! Levon Helm is truly a classic American musical figure. So deeply rooted in tradition and yet part of such a ground breaking musical group. Amazing stories for fans of The Band and Rock and Roll in general. Too bad about so much bad blood between Robbie Robertson and Levon. They both complement each other so well, musically. A fascinating read!