Farewell, Levon Helm and Adam (MCA) Yauch
Levon Helm (1940-2012) Within the last few weeks, we've lost two musical treasures, and two guys I have admired for many years, Levon Helm and Adam (MCA) Yauch. Both men died of cancer: Levon at age 72 and MCA at the ridiculously young age of 47. The loss of these two great musicians has led me to dig out their discographies--thankfully I have a lot of their stuff--and listen to their music with fresh ears and also consider my personal relationship with their respective musical groups, the Band (Levon) and the Beastie Boys (MCA). My parents had copies of the Band's self-titled "Brown Album" and Stage Fright . I have memories of hearing the Band when I was a kid and just not getting it. It just wasn't music that had any impact on me as a youth. Plus, the five guys glowering on the cover of the "Brown Album", unsmiling and with big beards, just looked mean and scary (except, perhaps, for Garth Hudson. He could have passed for Santa Claus...