Levon Helm quotes
Born
May 26, 1940 Elaine, Arkansas, U.S.
Died
April 19, 2012.
Occupation
Musician.
Levon Helm was an American musician. He was a drummer and vocalists for The Band.
There were no rules, other than that the song should sound good and be fun to play.
– Levon Helm
If you feel like you’re getting into a rut with a song, a night off usually fixes it.
– Levon Helm
I love horns, and the bigger the band, the better it sounds to my ear.
– Levon Helm
I don’t fool with a lot of things that I can’t have fun with. There’s not much reward in that.
– Levon Helm
If you give it good concentration, good energy, good heart and good performance, the song will play you.
– Levon Helm
My parents wanted me to be smart and be a scholar, and the best I could do was graduate high school.
– Levon Helm
Conway Twitty was always our local hero while I was growing up. He had a series of good bands. I wanted to sit in, if Conway would let me. And he did a couple of times.
– Levon Helm
The way to do it is to put as much life into the song as I can. You can either get it to breathe or you can’t.
– Levon Helm
Good times don’t last long sometimes.
– Levon Helm
Songs don’t wear out. Good songs are good now. If they were a comfort during those hard times in the past, they’ll be a comfort in today’s age.
– Levon Helm
I’ve had all the lessons I could get. I’ve learned from everybody I’ve ever met.
– Levon Helm
It’s different playing in a studio than it is playing live, of course.
– Levon Helm
The Band never really played big concert tours. We never sold millions and millions of albums.
– Levon Helm
Anytime I switch to another instrument, I immediately turn it into another kind of drum so that I can understand it better.
– Levon Helm
Drums just always sounded like the most fun part of that good music for me.
– Levon Helm
We live in an age of miracles.
– Levon Helm
You got to pick one – pay your medical bills or pay the mortgage. Most people can’t do both, and I’m no different.
– Levon Helm
Don’t we all want what’s best for each other?
– Levon Helm
I don’t think I’m a millionaire, but I’m comfortable.
– Levon Helm
By the time The Band did The Last Waltz, the chemistry had changed, and it wasn’t a thrill anymore to live that studio kind of life.
– Levon Helm
I never subscribe to the stay-at-home policy. I’m not sick of the road or sick of eating in good restaurants around the country. I like to travel.
– Levon Helm
I’ve always thought it was easier for girls to sing harmonies because their voices can go to that higher plane so much more easy than a male voice.
– Levon Helm
If things are going slow, I’m itchy.
– Levon Helm
The rock star stuff never came up for us. The Band was never attacked by groupies before, during or after any show that we ever played.
– Levon Helm
Most of our stuff was trial and error. You live with a tape recorder, you turn it on, you play the song and you listen to it.
– Levon Helm
Dad and mom would have preferred that I be a doctor, a lawyer, a scientist, or a great humanitarian.
– Levon Helm
Well, somebody’s got to sing. They won’t hire you unless you sing.
– Levon Helm