Levon Helm Hospitalized, Misses Midnight Ramble

Levon Helm, former drummer and vocalist for The Band, was hospitalized on Saturday with a cold but is expected to make a full recovery and be released within the next few days, according to his manager. The ailment caused him to miss Saturday’s Midnight Ramble concert at his Woodstock, New York, home.

“Because he’s got COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], a little bit of a cold to you and me is a lot more serious for him,” Helm’s manager, Barbara O’Brien, told the Poughkeepsie Journal . She told the Kingston Daily Freeman on Monday that Helm’s ailment is “totally unrelated” to his recent bout with throat cancer.

Helm, 70, told O’Brien to offer refunds or exchanges to ticketholders at Saturday’s show, although “99 percent” decided to stay, O’Brien said. Justin Guip, chief engineer of Helm’s studio, covered for him on drums.

Photos: Levon Helm’s Ramble With My Morning Jacket

Helm has been holding Rambles once or twice a month since 2004. Guests have included Elvis Costello, Phil Lesh, My Morning Jacket and many others.

Levon Helm hospitalized with cold [Daily Freeman]

Levon Helm hospitalized, but OK [Poughkeepsie Journal via Spinner]