And although they forged a career as one of the best-selling rock bands in history, the only thing rock 'n' roll about them is their music -- no drug overdoses, no sex scandals, no trashing of hotel rooms.

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But Helm is best known for providing the vocals to such rock 'n' roll standards as "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, " the latter a tale of a Confederate veteran sizing up his wasted land.

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Although based on traditional Mande music, this is an entirely new sound as powerful as the best rock 'n' roll bands, and certainly more danceable.

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