Ain’t In It For My Health: A Film About Levon Helm, directed by Jacob Hatley, finds the musician thrust into the spotlight after a Grammy nomination and increasing popularity, but he is also now forced to confront the dark times after The Band’s demise. He’s haunted by throat cancer, bankruptcy, drug addiction and the tragic loss of band mates Richard Manuel and Rick Danko.
The film will make its world premier at this year’s SXSW Festival in Austin, TX, from March 12 – 21. A schedule of show times will be announced at a later date.
American musical icon Levon Helm recently won his second consecutive Grammy Award in the category of “Best American Album” for Electric Dirt, his second release on Vanguard/Dirt Farmer Music. Win or lose, he is an artist who will not go quietly into the night.
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No one does it better than Levon..all he’s been through and still going…he is my hero…I have a brain disease and if it wasn’t for his music and his midnight rambles I honestly don’t know where I would be..He makes me feel so much better just hearing him play..That smile he has melts my heart…and the joy on his face while he watches his daughter Amy Helm sing says it all…God Bless You Levon…♥♥♥
It truly is amazing the life that this man has lead both on and off the stage.It goes to show you what itestinal fortitude really is.Levon has always been one of my favorite singers in all genres of music and of course we all know what eclectic brand of music that “THE BAND” made.Since “The Band’s” demise in the great 1976 Thanksgiving hoorah that bcame the movie “The Last Wa;tz”,Levon has contiued to surround himself with great musicians.Even when “The Band” regrouped in the late 80’s early 90’s sadly w/o Robbie Robertson the essence of that sound(That Band) sound was always present and shown through in every show.I remember when he and the Cate Brothers had teamed up for some shows back in the late,late 70’s into the 1980’s.They opened up for the Grateful Dead along with Roy Buchanan in Lewiston,Maine on 9/6/80,whew!!! What a show great performances by all the bands that played that day,and of course Levon was at peak performance.Not the only time seeing him and some other great musicians together,be it The Carrier Dome in Syracuce to (little did we know that it would be last show for Jerry)the Grateful Deads last perfomanceI had the oppertunity to get to know Rick Danko a bit (through mutual friends) before his demise and he was a very gregereous type of person the last time Rick and I talked was about a year before his passing and omn that night he was looking pretty rough to say the least.Still sounded great though.It was always nice to see him because he alway’s rembered my name and always had a hearty hanshake.I rmember seeing Rick open up for The Jerry Garcia Band in Boston at the Orpheum theatre for 2 shows.Which basically could have been One show and Rick opened both shows with just his acoustic guitar looking and acting kinda nervous at the first show and by the time the second one rolled around he was a bit more relaxed.It was rather comical when he played “Stagr Fright” well into his way to short of a set,but oh well.I’d love to go and catch a “Midnight Ramble” but the tickets are pretty hard to get.Who know’s someday.Don’t say it won’t happened just because it hasn’t happened yet!!!!! Thanks Levon for all the musical joy you have brought me and many,many others through the years.Hope there are still many more to come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!