This Wheel's on Fire

The Band, who backed Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965 and then turned out a half-dozen albums of beautifully crafted, image-rich songs, is now regarded as one of the most influential rock groups of the '60s. But while their music evoked a Southern mythology, only their Arkansawyer drummer, Levon Helm, was the genuine article. From the cotton fields to Woodstock, from seeing Sonny Boy Williamson and Elvis Presley to playing for President Clinton, This Wheel’s on Fire replays the tumultuous history of our times in Levon’s own unforgettable folksy drawl. This edition is expanded with a new epilogue covering the last dozen years of Levon's life.

Levon Helm met Ronnie Hawkins at the age of 17 and formed what would soon become the Band. He maintained a successful career as a singer and actor until his death in 2012. Stephen Davis is the author of numerous books, including Hammer of the Gods, Jim Morrison, More Room in a Broken Heart, Old Gods Almost Dead, and Walk This Way. He lives in Milton, Massachusetts.