Martin Scorsese reflects on his friendship with Robbie Robertson: “I just miss Robbie, period”
Following the release of Killers of the Flower Moon, a feature film that was soundtracked by his late friend Robbie Robertson, director Martin Scorsese has reflected on the pair’s long history together.
Scorsese and Robertson forged a productive collaboration that originated when the New York auteur directed the 1978 documentary The Last Waltz. The film captured the farewell concert of The Band, a profoundly influential musical group led by Robertson, in 1976, marking the onset of their successful creative partnership.
After that release, Robertson worked on the soundtracks for many of Scorsese’s efforts in various capacities. Those credits include Raging Bull, Casino, The Departed, and The Irishman. However, after recording the soundtrack for the western drama Killers of the Flower Moon, the former Band guitarist passed away aged 80 in August 2023 after a year-long battle with prostate cancer.
During a new interview with Variety, Martin Scorsese reflected on his decades-long friendship and collaborative partnership with the roots rock legend. “I just miss Robbie, period,” he told the publication. “The friendship, the work, the tales he told — all of it.”
“It meant a lot to both of us that we did this project together,” Scorsese explained about the Golden Globe-nominated soundtrack of his latest movie, stating that “Killers of the Flower Moon was a kind of culmination” of their entire friendship.
Scorsese maintained that despite the project’s style and whatever he thought the movie needed, Robertson would always go above and beyond to provide – and usually gave him more than he expected. This followed a customary back-and-forth around rhythm, mood and “emotional shading”.
Focusing on the majesty of Robertson’s final offering to his movies, Scorsese commented: “I wanted something that expressed their (the Osage people’s) absolute elation and ecstasy when they struck oil for the first time — it had to be something explosive, orgasmic. That’s what Robbie gave me. The ‘wolf cry’ guitar sound… a gusher of sound that harmonised with the gusher of oil.”
However, he added that there will never be anyone quite like his old friend. “I’ll work with people who bring something different,” the director added, “But I would never imagine that someone could replace Robbie.”
Listen to Robbie Robertson’s soundtrack for Killers of the Flower Moon below.
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