The members of The Band first worked together as The Hawks, the backing band of rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins from 1959 until 1963. Afterwards, Bob Dylan recruited the quintet for his history-making 1965/1966 world tour and they joined him on the informal recordings that became the acclaimed Basement Tapes.
Dubbed "The Band" by their peers, the group left the comfort of their communal home in Saugerties, NY to begin recording as a group unto themselves. The Band recorded two of the most important albums of the late 1960s: their 1968 debut Music from Big Pink (featuring the hit single "The Weight") and 1969's The Band. These critically praised albums helped conceive country rock as something more than a genre, but rather as a celebration of "Americana." As such, throughout their career they would repopularize traditional American musical forms during the psychedelic era. The Band dissolved in 1976; Martin Scorcese's landmark concert film "The Last Waltz" documented their final performance. They reformed in 1983 without founding guitarist and main songwriter Robbie Robertson.
Although always more popular with music journalists and fellow musicians than the general public, The Band has remained an admired and influential group. They have been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Their music fused many elements: primarily old country music and early rock and roll, though the rhythm section often had a bouncy, funky punch reminiscent of Stax or Motown, and Robertson cites Curtis Mayfield and the Staple Singers as major influences. At its best, however, The Band's music was an organic synthesis of many musical genres which became more than the sum of its parts. The group's songwriting was also remarkable as, unlike much earlier rock and roll, and following upon the example set previously by The Byrds, very few of their early compositions were based on conventional blues and doo-wop chord changes.
The Band comprised Robbie Robertson (guitar); Richard Manuel (piano, harmonica, drums, saxophone); Garth Hudson (organ, piano, clavinet, accordion, synthesizer, saxophone); Rick Danko (bass guitar, violin, trombone); and Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, guitar, bass guitar) Excepting Robertson, all were multi-instrumentalists; each person's primary instrument is listed first. There was little instrument-switching when they played live, but when recording, the musicians could offer all manner of subtle aural colors and textures to enhance songs. Hudson in particular was able to coax an impressive range of timbres from his Lowrey electronic organ; on the choruses of "Tears of Rage", for example, it sounds startlingly like a mellotron. Helm's drumming was rarely flashy, but he was often praised for his subtlety and funkiness. Critic Jon Carroll famously declared that Helm was "the only drummer who can make you cry," while prolific session drummer Jim Keltner admits to appropriating several of Helm's techniques.
Singers Manuel, Danko, and Helm each brought a distinctive voice to The Band: Helm's gritty, southern voice had more than a hint of country, Danko sang in a soaring, unfettered tenor, and Manuel alternated between fragile falsetto and a wounded baritone. The singers regularly blended in unorthodox, but uncommonly effective harmonies. Though the singing was more or less evenly shared between the three men, both Danko and Helm have stated that they saw Manuel as the Band's "lead" singer.
Robertson was the unit's chief songwriter (though he sang lead vocals on only three or four songs in The Band's career). This role, and Robertson's resulting claim to the copyright of most of the compositions, would become a point of much antipathy between the group's members, especially between Robertson and Helm.
Producer John Simon is cited as a "sixth member" of The Band for producing and playing on Music from Big Pink, co-producing and playing on The Band, and playing on other songs up through The Band's 1993 reunion album Jericho.
On 10 December 1999 is when Rick Danko died in his sleep at age 56. He had been a long-time drug user. In 1997 he had been found guilty of trying to smuggle heroin into Japan. He told the presiding judge that he had begun using the drug (together with prescription morphine) to fight life-long pain resulting from a 1968 auto accident. No drugs were found in his system at the time of his death. Following the death of Rick Danko, The Band broke up for good.
Levon Helm died on 19 April 2012 from complications of throat cancer.
Stage Fright
The Band Lyrics
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Who suffered so much for what he did
They gave this plough boy his fortune and fame
Since that day, he ain't been the same
See the man with the stage fright
Just standing up there to give it all his might
And he got caught in the spotlight
You want to start all over again
I've got fire water right on my breath
And the doctor warned me I might catch a death
Said, "you can make it in your disguise
Just never show the fear that's in your eyes"
See the man with the stage fright
Just standing up there to give it all his might
He got caught in the spotlight
But when we get to the end
He wants to start all over again
Now if he says that he's afraid
Take him at his word
And for the price that the poor boy has paid
He gets to sing just like a bird, oh, ooh
Your brow is sweating and your mouth gets dry
Fancy people go drifting by
The moment of truth is right at hand
Just one more nightmare you can stand
See the man with the stage fright
Just standing up there to give it all his might
And he got caught in the spotlight
But when we get to the end
He wants to start all over again
You want to try it once again
Please don't make him stop
Let him take it from the top
Let him start all over again
The Band's Stage Fright explores the themes of performance anxiety and the pressure that comes with success. The lyrics describe a lonely kid who, after achieving fortune and fame, suffers from stage fright. He's caught in the spotlight and feels immense pressure to deliver a flawless performance, with the fear of being judged by his audience. He drinks to calm his nerves, and his doctor warns him of the risky behavior, but still, he turns to it every time he performs.
The lyrics further highlight the sophisticated people observing in the audience, intensifying the feeling of uneasiness and pressure on the singer. However, the song provides some hope, with the plea of letting the singer "take it from the top" and "start all over again."
In conclusion, Stage Fright is an emotional representation of the dark side of fame and the strain it can put on the mental health of performers. It's also a message to give artists grace and space as they strive to perfect their craft and entertain us in the best way they can.
Line by Line Meaning
Now deep in the heart of a lonely kid
Once there was a solitary child
Who suffered so much for what he did
This child had experienced great pain in exchange for his actions
They gave this plough boy his fortune and fame
Ironically, this child from a rural background became successful and wealthy
Since that day, he ain't been the same
However, his newfound success changed him greatly
See the man with the stage fright
Observe the performer who is afraid of being on stage
Just standing up there to give it all his might
Although he is anxious, he is still trying to give his best performance
And he got caught in the spotlight
Unfortunately, his fear was exposed to the audience under the spotlight
But when we get to the end
Despite the fear, when the performance ends
You want to start all over again
He wishes to restart from the beginning
I’ve got firewater right on my breath
The performer has been drinking heavily
And the doctor warned me I might catch a death
The singer has been warned that his excessive drinking could lead to health issues
Said, 'you can make it in your disguise
The doctor recommended that the performer hide his fear on stage
Just never show the fear that's in your eyes'
The doctor suggested that he should try to conceal his anxiety or nervousness during his performance
Now if he says that he's afraid
If he admits to being afraid
Take him at his word
Then believe him
And for the price that the poor boy has paid
Considering what the performer had to go through
He gets to sing just like a bird, oh, ooh
His ability to sing like a bird is his reward
Your brow is sweating and your mouth gets dry
When you are nervous, you sweat and your mouth can become dry
Fancy people go drifting by
Sophisticated people walk past the performer
The moment of truth is right at hand
The crucial moment is approaching
Just one more nightmare you can stand
Another bad experience you can withstand
You want to try it once again
You would like to attempt it again
Please don't make him stop
Please don't ask him to quit or pause
Let him take it from the top
Allow him to start again from the beginning
Let him start all over again
Let him begin anew
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Robbie Robertson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind