Times Like These: Celebrating Later Years Rick Danko
When one thinks of Rick Danko, commonly people think of his looks from the 1960s and 1970s. Tall and well-groomed with tousled hair and sharp, prominent features, Rick was one of the most popular members of The Band for his looks (albeit Levon and Robbie might have come out slightly ahead in popularity). Both women and men alike continue to find him to this day irresistibly handsome and charming, and his big smile and vibrant, down-to-earth personality keep him constantly being so well-loved and enamoring. I know for myself that when I watched The Last Waltz version of “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” on YouTube and saw his picture on his birthday in 2019, I was fixated on his entire countenance and soft, gentle looks. I find myself having a frequent “fanboy” moment when I see or hear him, and I am heavily influenced by his ’60s and ’70s fashion. His fashion sense is the personification of my masculinity and how I wish to present my wardrobe with soft designs and colors but make enough of a statement with floral or other western prints or flares, hats, boots, and vests that make you stand out without being flashy. While he was never on the cover of GQ magazine or voted “best-dressed man”, Rick knew how to perfectly piece together an outfit that expressed who he was without necessarily drawing attention to himself.
Nobody, however, stays young forever and it is unfair to have those expectations of a celebrity. While Rick may have one of the most loyal fan bases, I would be sweeping it under the rug if I didn’t discuss an issue I frequently encounter within the circle. When one posts a photograph or video of Rick in the 1990s, a common statement is one regarding his looks. If you are a fan of The Band, I am sure you know what I am referring to. His weight brings out so many remarks that it is all people choose to notice about him. Comments such as “Wow. He really let himself go.”, “What a shame he did this to himself he was so gorgeous.”, or ones that are completely cruel and body shame/make weight jokes infiltrate the videos and photos posted. I have spent many moments replying back in a chastising manner especially those latter comments because it fills me with such anger to see Rick being bullied.
Besides the “I hate Robbie Robertson” discussions, nobody makes cutting comments about any other members of The Band. No one says “Well if Levon Helm hadn’t smoked those cigarettes his voice wouldn’t be so shot”, or “If Richard Manuel hadn’t been an addict he would have been able to perform”, and rightfully so. People do not deserve to be shamed for the way that they are due to personal health issues, whether it has been self-inflicted or not. Yes, it is not a secret that Rick had his addiction struggles, but if you take a look at his life, he went through so much pain and grief that drastically impacted his life. After his only biological son Eli passed away, Rick’s self-destructive issues accelerated and he turned to over-eating as a coping mechanism for trying to quit drugs. I have read stories of his eating habits in the 1990s, and it was essentially a slow suicide even though it was not his intention. He would just drown his grief in the food and in a shockingly short span of time, he ended up gaining a couple hundred extra pounds before his heart just gave out on him.
While it was a shock to see how Rick looked towards the end of his life compared to his younger self, this did not diminish his value to me one bit. If anything, I find the ’90s Rick era incredibly inspiring. This decade was full of hard work trying to “better the neighborhood”. He was active in numerous charities such as for displaced children, domestic violence, animal advocacy, and especially environmental causes. Rick was involved in many charities and fundraisers for decades but with the ’90s bringing about the beginning of extreme environmental awareness, he jumped on board and decided to make the change personal. His last album Live On Breeze Hill was made with recycled materials, no plastic, and with soy-based ink. This was quite ahead of its time in terms of being responsible with packaging.
Rick Danko never judged anyone, especially for their appearance. He would treat everyone equally and valued what their heart and intentions were like over something as petty and minor as what their size was. Rick gave it his all for his fans even as his health was rapidly failing. His life was music, and I think had he not been able to keep it up, we may not have had him for as long as we were able to. He deserves the respect and appreciation for everything he gave to his fans and equivalating his value to as long as he was young and a sex symbol is incredibly shallow and disrespectful. It is not being a fan when you are holding that celebrity to an impossible standard. Of course, we would all have loved and preferred Rick to love and take care of himself better so he would still be here, but that, unfortunately, was not the case. It is better to love him for all 55 years we were blessed to have him for and to see the man who still shone bright and vibrant, full of love, life, and music to give to all who would be there and listen.
