A Weird Evening With Robbie Robertson

To mark the 40th anniversary of The Last Waltz, Robbie Robertson of The Band has put out an autobiography titled Testimony. 

Earlier this evening, Robertson took the stand at St. James' Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

I almost didn't make it because I needed to go to the bathroom. I tried going at the Shaw's and at Dunkin Donut's but they were occupied. When I arrived at St. James', I was told the bathroom was inaccessible to the public because it was part of "Mr. Robertson's Green Room." So I had run back down the street, found a Panera, ordered a plain bagel and then did my duty.

All our books were preautographed. Robertson would not let anyone take pictures, sign any books or records, questions had to be submitted in advance and that when the event was over we were to leave the church "quickly and quietly." Rock journalist Peter Guralnick didn't have a clue as to how ask a question. All this caused a lot of people to walk out of the event. They did so quickly, but not quietly.

It is a shame because Robertson had some interesting stories to tell up to and including seeing Howlin' Wolf play, getting booed on stage during Bob Dylan's electric phrase, collaborating with Dylan at Big Pink, his film soundtrack work with Martin Scorsese and burning down a club in Tulsa, Oklahoma that didn't pay them. But he added that they were careful to get Leon Russell's musical equipment out of the club beforehand. Robertson lamented the recent passings of Russell, Leonard Cohen and Mose Allison.

At 73, Robertson is buying with several projects. He is in the midst of scoring a new Scorsese film called Silence set in 17th Century Japan, recording a new solo album and planning to produce a TV documentary on the history of rock 'n roll featuring Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis. Robertson says the time is right to do such a show really, really well. Well, I think he better do it really, really fast.

When Robertson discussed making The Last Waltz with Scorsese he made a point of saying the film there was no need to show the audience and didn't need one. Forty years later, it seems that Robertson still doesn't need an audience.