About this episode

This mini episode explores Robbie Robertson's late-life reflection in his work 'Insomnia'.

In this mini episode, we dive into Robbie Robertson’s Insomnia — a vivid, late-life reflection from one of rock’s most self-mythologizing figures. Less a memoir and more a cinematic vignette, Insomnia captures the years between 1976 and 1980, when Robertson drifted through post-Band life alongside artists, filmmakers, and excess. The song played during the episode is entitled "At Last" from Scorsese's Raging Bull, produced by Robertson and performed with his former bandmates Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Topics covered

• Robbie Robertson
• rock music
• post-Band life
• memoir
• cinematic vignette
• 1976-1980
• music history

Keywords

• Robbie Robertson
• Insomnia
• rock music
• memoir
• At Last
• Raging Bull
• music history
• 1976-1980

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Scorsese

Books & works: Insomnia, At Last, Raging Bull

More episodes of The Band: A History

• The Battle For Levon Helm Studios · July 14, 2026 · 18 min
• The Lost Album · February 22, 2026 · 46 min
• Richard Manuel’s Final Chapter · January 3, 2026 · 38 min
• Jim Weider · December 15, 2025 · 25 min
• The Band is Back! · September 22, 2025 · 28 min
• Cahoots Revisited · September 15, 2025 · 13 min

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