Robbie actually learned most of his guitar techniques through his own experience and experimentation. The Hawks guitar player who was tasked with teaching Robbie felt threatened and refused to help him, leaving Robbie to his own devices, even going as far as turning his back on Robbie during performances so Robbie couldn’t see what he was doing! As for his songwriting skills, his wife Dominique Bouvier was a French Canadian journalist who introduced Robbie to philosophy and poetry, which filled the gap created by Robbie’s early (age 14) exit from the education system to pursue his career in music. Meanwhile, Levon saw himself as the leader (boss), having been the first to join Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks and being slightly older. But as fame brought wealth and accompanying toadies, Levon, Rick, Richard and Garth all started using drugs and losing their focus and motivation, leaving Robbie to do most of the writing and acting as spokesman, so Levon only has himself to blame.
Robbie was the first to marry and grew tired of the demands of touring. His wife wasn’t into fame and the music scene either. He was frightened by the many crashes that snuffed out the lives of many talented musicians, so Robbie wanted to withdraw and work on his own projects. But Levon really needed the energy and adulation of live audiences, so he resented Robbie’s choices. Levon made himself out to be the victim, but Levon made his own choices.
Most members of The Band used “downers - drugs such as marijuana, LSD and even heroin (Levon used heroin for 4 years and you can hear it in his voice on recordings from that era). Robbie was turned on to “uppers” such as amphetamines by Bob Dylan, and he later went on to use cocaïne, especially when he shared a home with Martin Scorsese for 4 years. He’s just wired differently from the other members of The Bans.
