Death of Rick Danko, the Band
'The flame still burns'
Thanks to Hank Beukema, long time Danko fan for the pictures here
Rick Danko, musician and songwriter of the Band died yesterday. He was fifty six. The name won't mean alot to anyone who thinks that poets connected to the Isle of Wight end around the time of Tennyson or Keats. But this singular artist from Simcoe, Ontario deserves a place in our history.
Forelands Farm the day before Dylan arrived (Doug Watson)
In August 1969 Bob Dylan and the Band came to stay and play on the Isle of Wight. The Band arrived first by about a week, then Dylan and his wife Sara arrived. For a week they practiced in the barn at Forelands Farm where Dylan stayed with George Harrison as his guest.
Bob Dylan had been persuaded back to play live again after a long layoff following his motorbike accident in 1967. Save for a couple of guest appearances with the Band, the Isle of Wight Festival would be Dylan's first proper live set for nearly two years.
The Band, Garth Hudson, Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel and Rick Danko stayed at a house in Blackwater near Newport.
On Sunday, August 28th, 1969 Bob Dylan and the Band brought the Foulk Brother's second Isle of Wight Festival to a close. The Band opened with a set of their music and were joined by Dylan for a performance that lasted an hour. Many criticised Dylan at the time for the shortness of his set but he played exactly to what his contract said, no more, no less.
Rick Danko was the Band's lead vocalist, bass and occasional mandolin player. He co-wrote This Wheels On Fire with Bob Dylan. His vocals on Unfaithful Servant and Stagefright in particular are the kind to shiver the backbone.
No footage has ever surfaced of the Band or Bob Dylan's 1969 set on the Isle of Wight. However the Band's Last Waltz is as good an indication of their power and artistry. In particular watch the performance of the Band on It Makes No Difference in the film after a nondescript song by Neil Diamond.
Danko's vocal on this one is plain awesome. Robbie Robertson on electric lead guitar plays out of his tree (and probably was . . .) and if Garth Hudson's saxophone solo, riding on the tailgate of one Robertson's inspired killer licks, doesn't move ya. Check yer pulse.
A while back this year Rick Danko was being held in a Japanese jail for heroin possession. Just this summer he was playing to around fifty folks in a New York State bar. The irony couldn't have been lost on him that the helicopters were whizzing into Woodstock where the merchant men were having a field day selling peace and love by the truckload.
The Band, Joe Cocker, Richie Havens and the Who played the 1969 Woodstock Festival. They all played the Isle of Wight Festival four weeks later.
I wouldn't walk across the road to see half the acts posing at festivals these days but what I wouldn't have given to have been in that New York State bar listening to one of the truly great vocalists.

Mike Plumbley