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Robbie Robertson Visits Levon Helm in the Hospital: 'I Will Love Him Forever'

Robbie Robertson of The BandMichael Loccisano, Getty Images

The Band's Robbie Robertson has put aside years of acrimony to visit Levon Helm in the hospital. In a Facebook note posted just hours ago, Robertson wrote of seeing the singer and drummer, who is dying from cancer, for "one last time."

"Last week I was shocked and so saddened to hear that my old band mate, Levon, was in the final stages of his battle with cancer. It hit me really hard because I thought he had beaten throat cancer and had no idea that he was this ill. I spoke with his family and made arrangements to go and see him.

"On Sunday I went to New York and visited him in the hospital. I sat with Levon for a good while, and thought of the incredible and beautiful times we had together. It was heartwarming to be greeted by his lovely daughter Amy, whom I have known since she was born. Amy's mother, Libby Titus, and her husband, Donald Fagen, were so kind to help walk me through this terrible time of sadness. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sandy.

"Levon is one of the most extraordinary talented people I've ever known and very much like an older brother to me. I am so grateful I got to see him one last time and will miss him and love him forever."

According to the Poughkeepsie Journal, a dispute over songwriting credits led to the falling out between Helm and Robertson around the time of The Last Waltz. The pair have reportedly not spoken in decades.

Levon Helm on His Cancer Battle

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iwasthere

Barbara - you sound brainwashed. If you were in a band in which you wrote the majority of the songs and took credit accordingly - with all band members on board, you might be a little stunned when your band members, 10 years later changed their 'tune" and changed their mind. It was severe drug addiction that dictated Levon's "new" ideas about credits and publishing. Ask anyone who was around at the time.

April 22 2012 at 12:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joan Petito

hi

April 21 2012 at 11:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Armando

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April 20 2012 at 7:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Barbara Pedrick Blie

Levon was an inspirational guy who brought joy with his music and who lived a life of loyalty and dignity.
Too bad Robbie could not bring himself to visit long ago and then actually share the credit and the financial rewards of all the music that was in fact written jointly. I've been in bands with guys like Robbie. it hurts.
It was nice of Levon's family to allow the visit.

April 19 2012 at 4:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Barbara Pedrick Blie's comment
grtsch6134

you assume robbie was the one at odds with levon.........

April 19 2012 at 9:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iwasthere

sounds like you read Levon's (lies) book and took everything at face value. Did Levon write a single song after Robbie left the Band? NO. All covers. He wasn't a song-writer. He could sing and play his heart out, there's no question about that.

April 22 2012 at 12:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Zach

Robbie - it takes his imminent death to make amends? You couldn't have done this 5 years ago. You could have made millions of dollars playing concerts together and people would have loved to see you two together!

April 19 2012 at 8:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
usermr7366

This guy is a legend !! God bless him ! "The Weight" !!

April 19 2012 at 5:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Pam

I think it was gracious of Robbie to do that, and of Levon's family to allow him to come and see him one last time. As we get older, it's easier to realize that life is short, and disagreements that seemed major at one time are not so major in the grand scheme of things. Robbie seems to have been genuinely touched, and shaken by the realization that he is losing his friend and partner of many years.

April 19 2012 at 12:56 AM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
Buckingham's

Hey Levon, got any Beemans? I'll pay ya back later.

April 19 2012 at 12:40 AM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Buckingham's's comment
jukamibi

"I might have me a stick", although not an astronaut Levon certainly had the RIGHT STUFF!!

April 19 2012 at 5:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
johnazz25

thank you levon and his family, for the opportunity for us to hear your music. It is special to all of us, and levon will remain in our hearts forever

April 19 2012 at 12:02 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
wolf1250

sorry to hear of his illness will always remeber the great music he did

April 18 2012 at 11:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply