Talk:Rick Danko/Archive 1

Birth date
Confusion over birth date - sources point to 1943

"It was not immediately known what caused the death of the Canadian-born musician, which came a day after his 56th birthday." &mdash; Calgary Herald

"Canadian-born musician Rick Danko, one of the founding members of the Woodstock-era group The Band, died yesterday, the day after his 56th birthday." &mdash; Ottawa Citizen.

lots of issues | leave me a message 19:11, 3 Jun 2005 (UTC)


 * And this interview, an interview with the man himself, points to 29 December 1942.
 * http://theband.hiof.no/articles/rd_120799.html


 * There is much confusion, due to the fact that he died in December, that the 9 December date is more often repeated. But I think he knew his own birthday. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.206.213.106 (talk • contribs) 6 May 2006


 * I checked the interview you've linked to and Danko doesn't address what year he was born in. However, I found an interview with his brother Terry and he says that the year was '43. He also explains why there is so much confusion over it. - tSR - Nth Man (talk) 21:57, 26 November 2010 (UTC)
 * Rick Danko's publicist and biographer Carol Gaffin has written about the confusion on her blog. -- Rrburke (talk) 14:27, 4 April 2011 (UTC)

Drug use
I'm confused by the last sentence in the article. His drug use had nothing to do with his terrible shape and condition? Is this true? He may not have died from an overdose, but didn't a lifetime of abuse debilitate his physical health incredibly? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.135.223.187 (talk • contribs) 1 February 2006

I never met the man apart from shaking his hand as he walked to the stage at Fryfoggles in London sometime in 82 or 83. I think of him most days because I loved his voice and his phrasing was unique to only him. Right or wrong I also saw him a bit of a tragic figure in so far as he seemed so naive and genuine in an industry that can gobble people like that up in a heart beat. I think people found him to be slightly lost when The Band split up. I will never forget that scene in The Last Waltz where Scorsese asks him what he's been up to and he sheepishly looks down at the consol, turns up the volume to his newly recorded 'Sip the Wine' and mutters that he's just trying to stay busy. He had so much talent it just seemd to ooze from his skin. Everyone knows he liked to party and it may have taken years off his life but he lived more in his short time in the spotlight then most of us will our entire lives. 209.202.84.222 (talk) 19:50, 26 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Nice and poetic. But this is an encyclopaedia. Or it's supposed to be. Phrases such as "his heart finally gave out," and saying he was clean at the time of his death don't mean anything. Did he kick heroin a week before he died, after it had already ravaged his body? Early death where drugs are a complicating factor is what we scientists call "science." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.13.62.237 (talk) 04:27, 3 August 2010 (UTC)

Cause of death
i find the use of the phrase 'his heart finally gave out' unusual and confusing. there is no mention of previously existing heart disease. if there was, it should be described and documented. if it is intended to be romantic and poetic, it isn't encyclopedic and should be replaced with something more straightforward. Toyokuni3 (talk) 05:07, 5 January 2009 (UTC)

Nice Job
This page has looked pretty lacking in the past. It's really been developed nicely! The new pictures look great! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.140.192.220 (talk) 02:48, 14 February 2009 (UTC)
 * Thank you. (Blush)-- I was shocked to find such notable musicians like the members of The Band, having little text and no photographs! I mean, how can you have an encyclopedia without photos of who/what is being discussed? :) --leahtwosaints (talk) 23:42, 14 July 2009 (UTC)

"No photographs" on here is usually the result of the scarcity of free use images, in my experience. Britmax (talk) 22:39, 15 September 2009 (UTC)