Stars honor Levon Helm at 'Love for Levon' concert

Thursday October 4, 2012 2:40 PM By Kirthana Ramisetti

Photo credit: AP | Musicians Mavis Staples, Joe Walsh and Roger Waters perform onstage at the Love for Levon Benefit to Save the Barn Concert in East Rutherford, N.J.. (Oct. 3, 2012)

John Mayer, My Morning Jacket and Roger Waters were among the musicians who came together last night to honor the late Levon Helm for the “Love for Levon” concert. Held at the Izod Center in New Jersey, fans came to pay tribute to The Band singer and drummer, who passed away from throat cancer this year at 71.

The concert was held to raise money to help Helm’s family keep their Woodstock home, and echoed the collaborative spirit of Helm’s famed Midnight Rambles, the concerts he hosted at his home studio with fellow veteran musicians.

According to Rolling Stone, songs performed at “Love for Levon” included Mayer and Ray LaMontagne's take on “Tears of Rage” (a track by Bob Dylan and The Band), Joe Walsh and Robert Randolph's rendition of the The Band classic, “Up on Cripple Creek," and Pink Floyd singer/bassist Waters teaming up with My Morning Jacket to perform “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” another The Band hit. Rogers also dueted with Helm’s daughter Amy on “Wide River to Cross.”

The concert wrapped with all of the night’s performers -- which also included surprise guests Jakob Dylan, Mavis Staples, Lucinda Williams and Band organist Garth Hudson -- gathering for a spirited performance of The Band’s most famous song, “The Weight.” 

Photo: Mavis Staples, Joe Walsh and Roger Waters perform at the Love for Levon benefit concert.

Tags: Woodstock , Levon Helm , Love for Levon , Midnight Rambles , music , concerts