Renowned musician Bob Dylan has released a statement regarding the passing of his late collaborator Robbie Robertson, who died at the age of 80 on Wednesday. In the statement, Dylan shared his message on his website in three sentences expressing his shock at the news of Robertson’s passing – describing him as a lifelong friend whose absence has left a profound void in the world.

The partnership between Dylan and Robertson dates back to 1965, when they were introduced through a mutual acquaintance. A swift connection led to Dylan enlisting Robertson and his fellow Hawks bandmates – Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, and Garth Hudson – as his backing ensemble. This collaboration played a pivotal role in shaping Dylan’s sonic evolution during a crucial period of transformation.

Following Dylan’s relocation to Woodstock, N.Y., in 1966, The Band was inspired to make a similar move, marking a momentous creative phase for both entities. During this time, the two groups often engaged in jam sessions and exchanged ideas on songwriting, resulting in the emergence of now iconic musical material. Some of these sessions materialized in the release of The Basement Tapes in 1975.

Although the Band eventually shifted their focus to their independent work following the triumph of Music From Big Pink, their connection with Dylan endured. Their collective efforts culminated in their collaborative work on 1974’s Planet Waves, and a reciprocal exchange occurred when Dylan joined The Band for a performance featuring tracks like “Forever Young” and “I Shall Be Released” during The Band’s poignant final show in 1976.

The bond between Dylan and Robertson persevered even after the Band disbanded, with their friendship enduring through the decades. Reflecting on their camaraderie, Robertson revealed an anecdote in 2020, recalling a missed opportunity to collaborate on Dylan’s Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour. At the time, Robertson was deeply engrossed in composing the score for Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman and other projects. Robertson recounted that although the timing wasn’t right for that particular project, Dylan felt that the creative endeavor was ready to be unveiled to the world.

See Dylan’s statement here.