I just found this by accident. What a gem. Elizabeth sounds like a very nice person. I am 78 now and my dream of being a rock and roll bass player is not going to happen. The Band was always one of my favorites. As a wannabe bass player, my eyes were usually on Rick Danko. Not only was he a great bass player, but he also had THE best stage moves ever.
Thank you Mr Forbes. These guys have brought me immense joy, joy and tears, since the early ‘70s. Their music was so impactful for me. I don’t want to reopen a can of worms on the heels of Robbie’s passing, but it’s tragic that these boys could not have shared their success more fairly. Bless Elizabeth.
Rick danko was so cool. I was about 10 feet from him on November 12,1965 in cleveland, ohio when he was backing up bob dylan on dylans right. I can close my eyes and see him bobbing up and down playing that bass guitar. Saw the band and dylan together again in January of 1974 at the maple leaf gardens. I took a greyhound bus up to Toronto from Cleveland, Ohio. Never forget 20,000 people on their feet. What memories.
I was at the Maple Leaf Gardens concert as well. The sound was fantastic. The Band played the first set, Dylan did a solo set and they all played together for the third set. I was mulling about the stage before the final set when Rick Danko came on stage and plugged in his bass. I still remember his energy from that moment! Stellar musician and singer.
I cannot stand it. I am 25 years old and I owe so much to Rick Danko and the rest of The Band. I have bought all of their albums even all of them on vinyl as well. Where did that money go? obviously not their pockets. For how much they've impacted my life and of course the music industry, they should all have plenty of money. Richard and Rick didn't get what they deserved. To see Rick's widow in a "retirement" home breaks my heart. One of the most influential bands in the world and yeah they get ALL the respect, but damn man....
Rick was a heroin user most all his life, still he toured and continued to play up until the night he died. The Band influenced so many musicians in rock history. Seems they should have lived very comfortably in their later part of life
@@lastnamefirst4035 wild w their money. rick had a divorce..imagine one check for 300k, in 1960s, for a few minutes of cowriting, and by 1990s being in jail and poor.
@@zippymufo9765 Robertson didn't screw them out of royalties. As the original writer of most of their greatest hits, he gets songwriter royalties that they didn't share in. Levon felt that they all should have shared those royalties, as the songs ended up being collaborations by the time they were performed and produced, but that's not how it works. All the members got royalties for albums sold, but the real money was in the songwriting, where Robbie clearly came out ahead. An unfortunate situation, to put it mildly.
I quickly became friends with Rick, he was that kind of guy. "Hey Bob" he said, "I'm gonna be inducted in into the Rock Hall of Fame!" And then he is gone. He still lives in our hearts. I played my songs on my guitar for him. He played my grandpa's old beautiful 59 Gibson ES-175. Whipping out jazz chords and I said "You can't do that." He stopped and I said "You are a bass player!" Lol He was one of a kind.
I wish they all could have shared old age together, they just all deserved that . Their humanity always telegraphed right on through all the song , such gifted souls who gifted us . Rip Richard ,Rick & Levon Peace and love to Garth and Robbie and to the Manuel ,Danko ,Helm ,Hudson and Robertson families.
This scene tears me up. She shouldn’t have ended up broke and in a Senior housing situation. I love your Uncle’s music and passion for his craft. But there’s little justice for her ending up in that situation.
Rick is my favorite member of The Band and I don’t even know why. He was so dang cool in The Last Waltz, from his clothes to his mannerisms and humility. I’m sorry his wife didn’t have some retirement from Ricks career but I know that many famous musicians are actually not rich. That music business is tough and dirty.
Sad to see Levon in his condition. Even in his final years he kept his spirits up and sense of humor. Unfortunately, people make bad choices for themselves and their lives which could later affect their health. To clear the record, Rick died from a heart attack rather than drug use. The Band were phenomenal musically as their talents individually contributed to the amazing music. The truly were brothers. Their music still sounds incredible today. It has withstood the test of time. It still tears my heart out that they are gone far too soon. Thanks for the video.
Levon Helm was the drummer with The Band. Rick Danko played bass with The Band, but as well with other greats such as Paul Butterfield. Elizabeth Danko was of course Rick's (second) wife. Rick passed away in 1999, his wife in 2013.
And now Robbie Robertson. I (German) discovered The Band when I watched "The last Waltz" with friends in the UK in the 80s.. What a superb concert!!!!! I watched it again recently. With tears in my eyes.
I don’t know whether to write a poem to this surviving Angel or fall to my knees and weep… this is an unbelievable travesty that beautiful but burdened with addiction Rick Danko’s widow had to live out her final days in a place so stark, sad and barren of life, music and art! Good lord, this is tragic.
I used to walk past that little senior development in Kingston: the places we end up! And that one is better than most. But those boys did burn through their money, put more up their noses and into their veins than most of us make in a lifetime. And look, they're still smoking!
Unfortunately, when you spend your whole adult life eating poorly, partying hard ( alcohol, all kinds of drugs, smoking) not exercising properly, and generally abusing yourself physically, the odds are great that you’ll have a sad demise. God bless them all, and thank you for all the great music and memories!
Well Elizabeth, what did John say? Life is what happens when youre making other plans. Oh boy, we ride high one day, low the next...smile anyways, Im with ya there!
My understanding is that Rick had an opiate addiction that followed a near-fatal car wreck back in 1968. According to accounts, he wrecked his car and somehow managed to crawl out with a broken neck. He spent weeks in traction, proposing to his first wife, Grace, while still in his hospital bed after she informed him of her pregnancy. That’s why they didn’t tour after Big Pink came out. Danielle...if I have any of that factually incorrect, please correct me. I’m a huge fan of Rick and the guys, so I don’t want to spread disinformation. According to Sandra Tooze’s excellent bio of Levon, Rick and Elizabeth had been foreclosed on and were living in a motel at the time of Rick’s passing. My GUESS is that Rick did that final tour to try to make some quick money...which likely killed him. So sad. How can you NOT love Rick Danko?
Robbie said in an interview some years later, perhaps after he wrote his book, I was willing to go to the edge, but not to go over it, some went over the edge.
Thank god i lived in the times these great men lived. Now we have the great evil of islam on our doorsteps. If that happens i hope its the end of the world. God bless Rick God bless Levon when i listen to these guys i am the richest happiest man in the whole world.
+John Donegan In all my time on youtube, I don't think I've ever read a more sincere, heartfelt statement, that rings as true as this one. Although technically, the internet was around my whole life, for the first 5 years of my life it was not very popular, and TBH I think it was a much better time for the world in general. I can't even imagine how cool it must've been to be alive at a time when so much great music was being made, and everybody wasn't on the internet 24/7.Whenever I listen to 'The Band' all the bizzare bullshit going on in the world around us just seems to fade away, a very pleasant sensation, especially now in 2015 when even Americans can't love eachother.I BLAME THE INTERNET...TAKE THAT BILL GATES, you've ruined America, and therefore the world!!!You will feel the wrath of God Billy Boy, I know you THINK you're God, but all nerds do..that's why the internet sucks.!(Sorry for ranting)AND WHEN YOU FEEL THE WRATH OF GOD, Mr. Gates, a deafening sound will descend upon your smug, cunty ears from the heavens, the sound of 4 heavenly Angels voices singing these words , "How does it FEEEEEL?!, How does it FEEEL, to be on your own, like a complete unknown, with no direction home....like a rolling stone..."" Those were the voices of 'The Band' , not A band, sir, THE Band, and they just pwned your ass, Mister Gates.How does it feel to be owned, Mr. Gates??Nothing you think you own actually belongs to you...You're nothing more than a rolling stone gathering more moss than the north side of a south-facing maple tree in a damp, tropical climate!! Ha! That's all, it's just moss on you Bill, just moss, burn it, give it to the poor, the computerless nerds, just know that you have been owned like a rolling stone, and got kicked before you could put a dent in my truck! END RANT..pwned
Jeez Lester, go easy man! Bill knoweth not what he do. Btw, aren't you playing foggy mountain breakdown in hee haw heaven anyway? That rapid fire banjo pickin probably scared hendrix.
It is amazing that you found a way to include an ignorant swipe at a religion in a comment that was meant to pay honor and tribute to Levon and Rick. I read your post in total disgust. What does Islam, in any regard, have to do with these two fine men? You do them a strong disservice by your inclusion of a religious slur in your remarks. I shake my head in amazement.
This is very poignant. She's right though, this is the stuff that's farthest from your mind when your young and full of beans...gettin' old; but I intend to not 'go gentle into that good night.'
@@wesleybrown23 Wrong. Insider accounts disagree with you. Some nobody named Ronald Cornett Hawkins has stated that Robbie was taking care of business while three of them were partying too much, and Garth was tunnel-visioned on his craft. John Simon and Johnathan Taplin have said the same thing, that Robbie wrote the songs that Richard didn’t. There’s a lot of people who read Levon’s book and accepted it as Gospel. But, I’d advise reading Testimony...Robbie’s book...and Sandra Tooze’s biography of Levon for the fuller picture.
I guess truth always stands in between. Robbie did most of the writing, but the others collaborated a lot to the lyrics, mainly Levon. In addiction to this, all the songs had incredibly enrichment by the arrangements they all added to Robbie'S ideas. And what about Levon's, Richard's and Rick's stunning vocals? In The Last Waltz, Robbie is basically miming in front of a switched off microphone, just to stress the fact that HE was the leader. Without his pals, Robbie has written (beautiful) soundtracks for decades, but not many songs, up until his last album.
@@liaghetta not sure about the others collaborating in any significant way on the lyrics, as that seemingly would earn one an undisputed share of the songwriting credit. my understanding is robbie brought the lyrics and basic melodies which the group then collaborated together on polishing off the final arrangement. It's funny how nobody ever complains about Lennon & McCartney claiming songwriting credit for all the Beatles songs they wrote; nobody says that was unfair to George & Ringo.
@@robertbruce6865 You are correct. I read Robbie's book, and also Barney Hoskyns biography of The Band, it gives a pretty balanced view, certainly Robbie was no saint, but he is not the villain many want to make him out to be.
None of them had to end up on welfare if they had been smart about the money they made. I love all of them, I especially have a soft spot for Rick, so I'm not being judgemental, but as Hoskyns wrote in his biography of The Band, they only have themselves to blame.
I just found this by accident. What a gem. Elizabeth sounds like a very nice person. I am 78 now and my dream of being a rock and roll bass player is not going to happen. The Band was always one of my favorites. As a wannabe bass player, my eyes were usually on Rick Danko. Not only was he a great bass player, but he also had THE best stage moves ever.
I’m 51 and agree with you 100% , Rick is the Bomb 💥
such a handsome guy. How could you not fall in love with that face
We did Elizabeth. Still do. My heart aches every time I see his face.
Thank you Mr Forbes. These guys have brought me immense joy, joy and tears, since the early ‘70s. Their music was so impactful for me. I don’t want to reopen a can of worms on the heels of Robbie’s passing, but it’s tragic that these boys could not have shared their success more fairly. Bless Elizabeth.
Rick danko was so cool. I was about 10 feet from him on November 12,1965 in cleveland, ohio when he was backing up bob dylan on dylans right. I can close my eyes and see him bobbing up and down playing that bass guitar. Saw the band and dylan together again in January of 1974 at the maple leaf gardens. I took a greyhound bus up to Toronto from Cleveland, Ohio. Never forget 20,000 people on their feet. What memories.
I saw them 2 nights in a row at the Montreal Forum. Wish I could go back to those days!
I was at the Maple Leaf Gardens concert as well. The sound was fantastic. The Band played the first set, Dylan did a solo set and they all played together for the third set. I was mulling about the stage before the final set when Rick Danko came on stage and plugged in his bass. I still remember his energy from that moment! Stellar musician and singer.
I cannot stand it. I am 25 years old and I owe so much to Rick Danko and the rest of The Band. I have bought all of their albums even all of them on vinyl as well. Where did that money go? obviously not their pockets. For how much they've impacted my life and of course the music industry, they should all have plenty of money. Richard and Rick didn't get what they deserved. To see Rick's widow in a "retirement" home breaks my heart. One of the most influential bands in the world and yeah they get ALL the respect, but damn man....
taxes, manager, bad investments.....read levons book. he tells tour 74 $ into condos.
Rick was a heroin user most all his life, still he toured and continued to play up until the night he died. The Band influenced so many musicians in rock history. Seems they should have lived very comfortably in their later part of life
@@lastnamefirst4035 wild w their money. rick had a divorce..imagine one check for 300k, in 1960s, for a few minutes of cowriting, and by 1990s being in jail and poor.
Accordingly to Levon Helm, Robinson screwed the rest of the band out of their royalties.
@@zippymufo9765 Robertson didn't screw them out of royalties. As the original writer of most of their greatest hits, he gets songwriter royalties that they didn't share in. Levon felt that they all should have shared those royalties, as the songs ended up being collaborations by the time they were performed and produced, but that's not how it works. All the members got royalties for albums sold, but the real money was in the songwriting, where Robbie clearly came out ahead. An unfortunate situation, to put it mildly.
I quickly became friends with Rick, he was that kind of guy. "Hey Bob" he said, "I'm gonna be inducted in into the Rock Hall of Fame!" And then he is gone. He still lives in our hearts. I played my songs on my guitar for him. He played my grandpa's old beautiful 59 Gibson ES-175. Whipping out jazz chords and I said "You can't do that." He stopped and I said "You are a bass player!" Lol
He was one of a kind.
I wish they all could have shared old age together, they just all deserved that . Their humanity always telegraphed right on through all the song , such gifted souls who gifted us . Rip Richard ,Rick & Levon Peace and love to Garth and Robbie and to the Manuel ,Danko ,Helm ,Hudson and Robertson families.
You are truly missed, Auntie Elizabeth. :( But I am glad you are back in Rick's arms.
This scene tears me up. She shouldn’t have ended up broke and in a Senior housing situation. I love your Uncle’s music and passion for his craft. But there’s little justice for her ending up in that situation.
Rick is my favorite member of The Band and I don’t even know why. He was so dang cool in The Last Waltz, from his clothes to his mannerisms and humility. I’m sorry his wife didn’t have some retirement from Ricks career but I know that many famous musicians are actually not rich. That music business is tough and dirty.
Sad to see Levon in his condition. Even in his final years he kept his spirits up and sense of humor. Unfortunately, people make bad choices for themselves and their lives which could later affect their health. To clear the record, Rick died from a heart attack rather than drug use. The Band were phenomenal musically as their talents individually contributed to the amazing music. The truly were brothers. Their music still sounds incredible today. It has withstood the test of time. It still tears my heart out that they are gone far too soon. Thanks for the video.
Levon Helm was the drummer with The Band. Rick Danko played bass with The Band, but as well with other greats such as Paul Butterfield. Elizabeth Danko was of course Rick's (second) wife. Rick passed away in 1999, his wife in 2013.
This made me so sad, Rick was the best. Love you Mrs. Danko hang in there.
ummm she died 5 years ago....sorry.
Danko was a super underrated bass player, tuba player bass style, he has that Klaus Voormann thing going on
Thank you Robert for posting this. I had never heard a word about her. Good to see Levon, too. Deeply appreciated. Peace. Out.
She seems lovely. I'm glad Rick had a caring wife
Rick certainly was a handsome devil.
that's the legendary Levon Helm singing on legendary Rick Danko.
We know idiot
@@Twilight-cl3zc check yourself before you post nasty.
@@Twilight-cl3zc why so fucking rude?
If someone were to ask me to name my favorite singer, I would without hesitation name Rick Danko.
What a find. Rick, Levon, Paul, may you all rest in peace.
Come on man you can't forget Richard
I watched this documentary on Amazon a few months back. You should look it up sometime.
And now Robbie Robertson.
I (German) discovered The Band when I watched "The last Waltz" with friends in the UK in the 80s.. What a superb concert!!!!!
I watched it again recently. With tears in my eyes.
heroes are turning into star dust right before our eyes
Love, tears and prayers. Thanks for posting.
I don’t know whether to write a poem to this surviving Angel or fall to my knees and weep… this is an unbelievable travesty that beautiful but burdened with addiction Rick Danko’s widow had to live out her final days in a place so stark, sad and barren of life, music and art! Good lord, this is tragic.
i dream about Rick also..I love him
Classy lady, sure miss her stories.
This is intense. Love it.
*｡ﾟ✿precious memories*｡ﾟ✿
I used to walk past that little senior development in Kingston: the places we end up! And that one is better than most. But those boys did burn through their money, put more up their noses and into their veins than most of us make in a lifetime. And look, they're still smoking!
Unfortunately, when you spend your whole adult life eating poorly, partying hard ( alcohol, all kinds of drugs, smoking) not exercising properly, and generally abusing yourself physically, the odds are great that you’ll have a sad demise.
God bless them all, and thank you for all the great music and memories!
Can you imagine the music they would have produced if they got back together 20 years later?
Pretty lady. She must have been gorgeous in youth...
❤its hard
That seems to be what happens , she ended up in a senior living facility, it’s tough when you lose your mate. God bless
beautiful and sad
Well Elizabeth, what did John say? Life is what happens when youre making other plans. Oh boy, we ride high one day, low the next...smile anyways, Im with ya there!
Who is that on the couch with Levon at the end, is that Larry Campbell?
Yes.
MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YA'LL XO
So sad!! God Bless
Was the video part of a documentary or movie?
What is this from?
Yeah, where is this from?
bushybottom Ain't in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm (@2010)
Where's this from?
majeng g Ain't in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm (@2010)
xpat73 nnn
A bit of Robbie's legacy
I'm not sure if i understood. Was she referring to Rick being an addict through his final years?
They don't tell you about ' getting old ' losing your partner and not having enough $$.
My understanding is that Rick had an opiate addiction that followed a near-fatal car wreck back in 1968. According to accounts, he wrecked his car and somehow managed to crawl out with a broken neck. He spent weeks in traction, proposing to his first wife, Grace, while still in his hospital bed after she informed him of her pregnancy. That’s why they didn’t tour after Big Pink came out.
Danielle...if I have any of that factually incorrect, please correct me. I’m a huge fan of Rick and the guys, so I don’t want to spread disinformation.
According to Sandra Tooze’s excellent bio of Levon, Rick and Elizabeth had been foreclosed on and were living in a motel at the time of Rick’s passing. My GUESS is that Rick did that final tour to try to make some quick money...which likely killed him.
So sad. How can you NOT love Rick Danko?
@@robertbruce6865 You are correct about Rick's car accident. It is all in Robbie's book "Testimony".
You will be released Lizz.
How old was that at the time. He looks a lot like Townes Van Zandt
What song is levon singing along to?
Levon sings "You'll Never Again Be Mine" from The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams
th-cam.com/video/BN8Bera7kqM/w-d-xo.html
thanks
Robbie was the smart one when it came to drugs. He did them, but didn’t succumb.
Robbie said in an interview some years later, perhaps after he wrote his book, I was willing to go to the edge, but not to go over it, some went over the edge.
would have enjoyed the clip but the audio was so poor I never made out a single word.
Thank god i lived in the times these great men lived. Now we have the great evil of islam on our doorsteps. If that happens i hope its the end of the world. God bless Rick God bless Levon when i listen to these guys i am the richest happiest man in the whole world.
+John Donegan In all my time on youtube, I don't think I've ever read a more sincere, heartfelt statement, that rings as true as this one. Although technically, the internet was around my whole life, for the first 5 years of my life it was not very popular, and TBH I think it was a much better time for the world in general. I can't even imagine how cool it must've been to be alive at a time when so much great music was being made, and everybody wasn't on the internet 24/7.Whenever I listen to 'The Band' all the bizzare bullshit going on in the world around us just seems to fade away, a very pleasant sensation, especially now in 2015 when even Americans can't love eachother.I BLAME THE INTERNET...TAKE THAT BILL GATES, you've ruined America, and therefore the world!!!You will feel the wrath of God Billy Boy, I know you THINK you're God, but all nerds do..that's why the internet sucks.!(Sorry for ranting)AND WHEN YOU FEEL THE WRATH OF GOD, Mr. Gates, a deafening sound will descend upon your smug, cunty ears from the heavens, the sound of 4 heavenly Angels voices singing these words , "How does it FEEEEEL?!, How does it FEEEL, to be on your own, like a complete unknown, with no direction home....like a rolling stone..."" Those were the voices of 'The Band' , not A band, sir, THE Band, and they just pwned your ass, Mister Gates.How does it feel to be owned, Mr. Gates??Nothing you think you own actually belongs to you...You're nothing more than a rolling stone gathering more moss than the north side of a south-facing maple tree in a damp, tropical climate!! Ha! That's all, it's just moss on you Bill, just moss, burn it, give it to the poor, the computerless nerds, just know that you have been owned like a rolling stone, and got kicked before you could put a dent in my truck! END RANT..pwned
Jeez Lester, go easy man! Bill knoweth not what he do. Btw, aren't you playing foggy mountain breakdown in hee haw heaven anyway? That rapid fire banjo pickin probably scared hendrix.
It is amazing that you found a way to include an ignorant swipe at a religion in a comment that was meant to pay honor and tribute to Levon and Rick. I read your post in total disgust. What does Islam, in any regard, have to do with these two fine men? You do them a strong disservice by your inclusion of a religious slur in your remarks. I shake my head in amazement.
Good grief. Watch fox news alot?
❤Rick
This is very poignant. She's right though, this is the stuff that's farthest from your mind when your young and full of beans...gettin' old; but I intend to not 'go gentle into that good night.'
Is that Levon Helm there with her?
No, it’s just footage spliced together. He’s not there with her.
@@paschkefan that would have been more sad if elizabeth and levon were both in senior living care
Is she still around?
No, she passed shortly after this
Getting old sux
Shes not that old at the time. Maybe 65 penniless and living in a nursing home. Drugs will do that.
God Levon looked half dead too....
He looked really bad
Sadly, what really killed Rick was his addiction to heroin.
A lot of it went to heroin he admitted that "one year" he spent about $1---200,000 on heroin
It went to robby robertson and the executives..this is hundreds of millioms probally...they still sale records
@@wesleybrown23 Wrong.
Insider accounts disagree with you. Some nobody named Ronald Cornett Hawkins has stated that Robbie was taking care of business while three of them were partying too much, and Garth was tunnel-visioned on his craft. John Simon and Johnathan Taplin have said the same thing, that Robbie wrote the songs that Richard didn’t.
There’s a lot of people who read Levon’s book and accepted it as Gospel. But, I’d advise reading Testimony...Robbie’s book...and Sandra Tooze’s biography of Levon for the fuller picture.
I guess truth always stands in between. Robbie did most of the writing, but the others collaborated a lot to the lyrics, mainly Levon. In addiction to this, all the songs had incredibly enrichment by the arrangements they all added to Robbie'S ideas. And what about Levon's, Richard's and Rick's stunning vocals? In The Last Waltz, Robbie is basically miming in front of a switched off microphone, just to stress the fact that HE was the leader. Without his pals, Robbie has written (beautiful) soundtracks for decades, but not many songs, up until his last album.
@@liaghetta not sure about the others collaborating in any significant way on the lyrics, as that seemingly would earn one an undisputed share of the songwriting credit. my understanding is robbie brought the lyrics and basic melodies which the group then collaborated together on polishing off the final arrangement.
It's funny how nobody ever complains about Lennon & McCartney claiming songwriting credit for all the Beatles songs they wrote; nobody says that was unfair to George & Ringo.
@@robertbruce6865 You are correct. I read Robbie's book, and also Barney Hoskyns biography of The Band, it gives a pretty balanced view, certainly Robbie was no saint, but he is not the villain many want to make him out to be.
Shame robertson didn’t end up on welfare also!.
None of them had to end up on welfare if they had been smart about the money they made. I love all of them, I especially have a soft spot for Rick, so I'm not being judgemental, but as Hoskyns wrote in his biography of The Band, they only have themselves to blame.
Just say no!