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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
I knew very little about Robbie or The Band going into this. Just that he was a talented indigenous musician and composer. I knew a couple songs by The Band, and I knew that before they were their own group they had backed Bob Dylan and a couple other more famous cats. I knew that Robbie had been close with Martin Scorsese and they'd done a number of films together, and that their final collaboration, Killers of the Flower Moon, was dedicated to Robbie. The rest was all news to me, and I found this book to be both entertaining and educational. Pretty good read overall!
A wonderful memoir from Robertson which takes his life up to The Last Waltz and it's immediate aftermath.
It's wonderfully written and hugely involving. It's also a great tribute to his bandmates, not least Levon Helm.
Robertson has been something of a divisive character, not least because of Helm's own autobiography but other books (e.g. Barney Hoskyn's Small Town Talk) help to put his gripes into a more appropriate context.
Everyone in The Band lost something when they ceased working together. Robertson no less than anyone else. The Band - God only made one of those.
It's wonderfully written and hugely involving. It's also a great tribute to his bandmates, not least Levon Helm.
Robertson has been something of a divisive character, not least because of Helm's own autobiography but other books (e.g. Barney Hoskyn's Small Town Talk) help to put his gripes into a more appropriate context.
Everyone in The Band lost something when they ceased working together. Robertson no less than anyone else. The Band - God only made one of those.
I have read a lot of musician biographies but this one was by far the best. Robbie Robertson is a true storyteller and this book is an honest recounting of the rise and fall of The Band. The performing arts has lost an amazing member, but his influence will live on.
Robbie Robertson's Testiomy is worth reading, if...
1. You are a fan of The Band or Bob Dylan.
2. You love the history of classic rock and folk music.
3. You enjoy stories of famous people and their escapades.
4. You want to learn more about the drug-filled music euphoria of the late 1960s-early 1970s.
Don't read this book if you've never heard of The Band. Don't read this book if you expect good writing. This book is essentially the ramblings of a rock star. They're hilarious and fascinating ramblings (especially if you already know the music and want to hear the stories behind it).
1. You are a fan of The Band or Bob Dylan.
2. You love the history of classic rock and folk music.
3. You enjoy stories of famous people and their escapades.
4. You want to learn more about the drug-filled music euphoria of the late 1960s-early 1970s.
Don't read this book if you've never heard of The Band. Don't read this book if you expect good writing. This book is essentially the ramblings of a rock star. They're hilarious and fascinating ramblings (especially if you already know the music and want to hear the stories behind it).
Growing up, The Band played around the house quite a bit, as background noise that I appreciated but didn't investigate any more than a kid might ask about the origins of the livingroom rug. I found Robbie Robertson on my own later, with his self-titled album and "Somewhere Down the Crazy River."
It was enough to follow him across years, through the Red Road Ensemble and his trip-hop adventures. He's just as much a sucker for narrative as I am, and it shines in his lyrics.
It took years before I asked about his backstory, which is incredible. To be able to sit down with several hundred pages of story (history, his story), is such a treat, and ultimately, a spectacular love letter to his brothers in arms.
It was enough to follow him across years, through the Red Road Ensemble and his trip-hop adventures. He's just as much a sucker for narrative as I am, and it shines in his lyrics.
It took years before I asked about his backstory, which is incredible. To be able to sit down with several hundred pages of story (history, his story), is such a treat, and ultimately, a spectacular love letter to his brothers in arms.
informative
reflective
fast-paced
As a big fan of the music of The Band and Robbie Robertson, reading this book was like taking a walk down memory lane hand in hand with Robbie's amazing voice narrating. Putting Robbie's ego aside, he is a testament to doing what you love and the money will follow. High school dropout joins a band and becomes a self-made man!
It was intriguing to read about Robbie's long history with Bob Dylan. Much of the narrative sometimes seems like a justification for claiming writing credits.
It was intriguing to read about Robbie's long history with Bob Dylan. Much of the narrative sometimes seems like a justification for claiming writing credits.
Highly entertaining. Yes, it is about Jaime. But he is the one who took the time to write it all down. Yes, it is questionable about some of the remembrances and some of the money issues, but, it is his version.
Loved all the asides, and his humour about things.
Amazing story.
Loved all the asides, and his humour about things.
Amazing story.
Very few people are as big a fan of The Band and Robbie as I. (I named my son after Levon.) I've been eagerly awaiting this book for years and it was a joy to read. No real surprises for me personally (except for the Edie Sedgwick section!!!) but if I had one criticism, it would be disappointment that he didn't continue the story after The Last Waltz. I would've loved to hear about the making of the first solo album, Storyville, etc.
Levon Helm’s “This Wheel’s on Fire” is a spiteful, angry book that makes a very compelling case that Robbie Robertson was an asshole and not a chill hang.
Roberson’s “Testimony” does very little to dissuade that notion, full of philosophical and borderline-pretentious musings on his importance as a creator, as an artist.
But “This Wheel’s on Fire” also made a (much less compelling) case that Robertson was also a thief, a trickster and a traitor. That, Robbie has a problem with.
In the first half of this book, following the band forming and Robbie’s 60s escapades, are largely fine. A little too long, a little too overwhelmed with the Importance™️ of the times. But that second half, where he’s actually digging into his side of the story, his Testimony about what The Band meant to him, and how it hurt him to lose friends to drugs, apathy and life in the road—it’s heartbreaking.
I have no problem believing that Robertson was insufferable and controlling and thought too much of himself. But God only made one of those.
Roberson’s “Testimony” does very little to dissuade that notion, full of philosophical and borderline-pretentious musings on his importance as a creator, as an artist.
But “This Wheel’s on Fire” also made a (much less compelling) case that Robertson was also a thief, a trickster and a traitor. That, Robbie has a problem with.
In the first half of this book, following the band forming and Robbie’s 60s escapades, are largely fine. A little too long, a little too overwhelmed with the Importance™️ of the times. But that second half, where he’s actually digging into his side of the story, his Testimony about what The Band meant to him, and how it hurt him to lose friends to drugs, apathy and life in the road—it’s heartbreaking.
I have no problem believing that Robertson was insufferable and controlling and thought too much of himself. But God only made one of those.