Fresh Air, Levon Helm and Jane Rule, December 11, 2007

Hear drummer Levon Helm (formerly with The Band), Canadian author Jane Rule, and TV critic David Bianculli on this edition of Fresh Air.

When The Band supported Bob Dylan on stage in 1965, Time magazine described the combination as "in some ways, the most decisive moment in rock history." They went on to record their own highly influential albums Music From Big Pink and The Band in 1968 and 1969. The band split up 30 years ago. Since then, Helm has performed solo and with other musicians, and he's acted. He was Loretta Lynn's father in the biopic Coal Miner's Daughter and was cast in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. Helm was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1996, he received surgery and radiation, and for a time, he couldn't sing. Helm has a new album, his first solo studio album in 25 years. It's called Dirt Farmer.

Then, we remember Canadian author Jane Rule. She died November 27th at the age of 76. The cause was complications of liver cancer. Rule was one of the best known and most widely read lesbian writers. She is best known for her 1985 novel Desert of the Heart, which was later adapted into the movie Desert Hearts. She also wrote Memory Board. (Original Airdate: 1/29/1988)

Finally, TV critic David Bianculli has some holiday gift suggestions for the television viewers on your list. [Broadcast Date: December 11, 2007]