By Scott Bernstein May 26, 2020 • 12:26 pm PDT
Robbie Robertson claims he gave his fellow co-founding member of The Band, Levon Helm publishing and songwriting credits even though, “Levon didn’t write songs.” The controversial topic came up in a new interview published by Salon, which came in promotion of the recently released The Band documentary Once Were Brothers.
Helm spoke a number of times about how disappointed he was with the way songwriting credits and publishing was distributed among members of The Band in the decades leading up to his death in 2012. Levon tackled the subject in his autobiography This Wheel’s On Fire. “When [1969’s The Band LP came out, I discovered that I was credited for writing half of ‘Jemima Surrender’ and that was it,” Helm wrote. “Richard [Manuel] was a co-writer on three songs. Rick [Danko] and Garth [Hudson] went uncredited. Robbie Robertson was credited on all twelve songs. Somebody had pencil whipped us. It was an old tactic: divide and conquer.”
Robbie was asked about the situation by Salon’s Gary M. Kramer and here’s his response:
Here’s something that I’ve not said before. To this day, on The Band’s songs, I share the publishing and songwriting credit with Levon. The other guys said they wanted to sell their part of the publishing. When we started out, everyone was supposed to write songs. [When they didn’t] I thought they were being lazy. But some people can write songs, and some can’t. Levon didn’t write songs. I gave him credit on some songs because he was around. Garth was a great musician, but he couldn’t write. Ringo Starr doesn’t write songs. Charlie Watts doesn’t write songs, and they don’t share publishing credit with the other guys in their groups. After 16 years together, Levon never once mentioned songwriting. When it came up, I was generous about it. I did stuff I didn’t have to do, and I did it to be a good friend. It was 10 or 15 years after that when Levon was struggling financially, and he’s blamed someone else for what happened with him. This was another case of that.
Robertson also discusses his relationship with filmmaker Martin Scorsese, his acting career, the changes in the music industry and a number of other topics besides the documentary. Head here to read the entire article. Once Were Brothers is available to rent and purchase via Amazon.com.
[Hat Tip – Jambands.com]
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When it comes to the intricate world of music credits and the dynamics within bands, it's crucial to understand the complexities and nuances involved. As someone deeply entrenched in music history and the workings of bands, let's delve into the concepts interwoven in the article you provided.
Firstly, the article revolves around the controversy surrounding songwriting credits in The Band, focusing on Robbie Robertson's assertion that he shared publishing and songwriting credits with Levon Helm despite Helm's purported lack of songwriting contributions.
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Songwriting Credits: The allocation of songwriting credits within bands is a highly contentious issue. It involves legal, financial, and creative aspects, often impacting relationships between band members. This article highlights the disparity in credit distribution among The Band members for their songs.
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Band Dynamics: The inner workings of bands often involve disparities in creative input, leading to conflicts over credits and royalties. The tensions between Robertson and Helm in The Band shed light on the complexities of collaboration and credit sharing within musical groups.
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Publishing Rights: Publishing royalties are a significant part of a musician's income. How these royalties are divided among band members is a critical aspect of fairness and ethics in the music industry. Robertson's claim to sharing publishing credits with Helm is a key point in this article.
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Personal Perspectives: The article showcases conflicting perspectives between Robertson and Helm regarding songwriting contributions and the fairness of credit allocation. Helm's autobiography adds a personal viewpoint to the dispute, reflecting his disappointment and feelings of being slighted.
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Music Industry Dynamics: The discussion extends beyond The Band's internal conflicts to broader industry trends and changes. Robertson touches upon shifts in the music industry, emphasizing the financial struggles faced by musicians.
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Relationships in the Music Industry: The article also touches on Robbie Robertson's relationship with filmmaker Martin Scorsese, providing a glimpse into the interconnectedness of music and other creative fields.
In essence, this article offers a snapshot of the intricate dynamics within The Band, shedding light on the controversies surrounding songwriting credits, personal perspectives of band members, and broader issues within the music industry. It's a window into the multifaceted nature of band dynamics, creative collaboration, and the impact of credit distribution on relationships within musical groups.
