March 10, 2011

Robertson to write memoirs

Robbie Robertson set to pen memoirs

The Band's frontman also ready to release new albumCanadian rock icon Robbie Robertson is getting ready for a busy year, after signing a deal to pen his memoirs and a new album set for release this spring.

The book, set to be released within the next two years through Random House, will follow on the heels of the April 5 release of How To Become Clairvoyant—his first solo album in 13 years.

"I'm very excited about doing it," Robertson, the former frontman of The Band, told Reuters.

"I just have to roll up my sleeves, get a cabin in the woods and do it properly."

The 67-year-old singer-songwriter said he had considered collaborating with other writers on a number of occasions, but felt he could do a better job of telling of the story of the popular 1960s and 1970s group himself.

A number of titles have been written about The Band over the years, including British author Barney Hoskyns' 1993 book Across The Great Divide, which Robertson dismissed as "very imaginative and random, and it wasn't what happened at all."

In addition to his 12 years with The Band, Robertson's memoir will document his solo work and movie collaborations with artists such as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and Martin Scorsese.
Comment:  For more on the subject, see Robertson in Songwriters' Hall of Fame and Robertson Works with Clapton, Reznor.

2 comments:

Burt said...

I am interested to know what happened between Robertson and Levon Helm. I am a great fan of both artists because Helm knew Jesse Ed Davis personally in the early years (1960s) and Robertson seems to have come full circle with his native roots.

What happened?

Rob said...

I don't know. Read Robertson's book when it comes out. ;-)