This Wheel's on Fire
Encyclopedia
This Wheel's on Fire - Levon Helm and the Story of The Band is the 1993 autobiography of actor and musician Levon Helm
, focusing on his career as a member of the rock group The Band
. The book, written with music journalist Stephen Davis
, traces Helm's life from his childhood in the deep south through his years as a drummer and singer for The Band, to his struggle to establish a professional identity in the wake of the group's official end in 1976.
The book is notable for providing readers with an inside look at the evolution of a rock 'n' roll group, as well as for placing the blame for The Band's break-up — among other injustices — on the shoulders of Robbie Robertson
, the guitarist for The Band. Among the accusations Helm makes against Robertson is conspiring with record companies to steal song-writing credits from other members of The Band, arranging the group's break-up as a part of a private agenda, and conspiring with The Last Waltz
director Martin Scorsese
(a personal friend of Robertson's) to make Robertson appear to be the leader and most important member of the group.
Helm's bitterness toward Robertson is balanced by his effusive praise of other musicians, especially other members of The Band, even pausing to admire Robertson's stage presence and talent as a guitarist.
Levon Helm
Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm , is an American rock multi-instrumentalist and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and frequent lead and backing vocalist for The Band....
, focusing on his career as a member of the rock group The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
. The book, written with music journalist Stephen Davis
Stephen Davis (music journalist)
Stephen Davis is an American music journalist and historian.Davis was born in New York City and attended Boston University. He began his career writing for the Boston Phoenix in 1970...
, traces Helm's life from his childhood in the deep south through his years as a drummer and singer for The Band, to his struggle to establish a professional identity in the wake of the group's official end in 1976.
The book is notable for providing readers with an inside look at the evolution of a rock 'n' roll group, as well as for placing the blame for The Band's break-up — among other injustices — on the shoulders of Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson, OC; is a Canadian singer-songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his membership as the guitarist and primary songwriter within The Band. He was ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
, the guitarist for The Band. Among the accusations Helm makes against Robertson is conspiring with record companies to steal song-writing credits from other members of The Band, arranging the group's break-up as a part of a private agenda, and conspiring with The Last Waltz
The Last Waltz
The Last Waltz was a concert by the rock group The Band, held on American Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco...
director Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
(a personal friend of Robertson's) to make Robertson appear to be the leader and most important member of the group.
Helm's bitterness toward Robertson is balanced by his effusive praise of other musicians, especially other members of The Band, even pausing to admire Robertson's stage presence and talent as a guitarist.