Robbie Robertson's memoir Insomnia details his late-1970s excesses

Robbie Robertson's posthumous memoir Insomnia recounts his late-1970s partying, relationships and drug use while following up his 2016 memoir Testimony. Robertson died in 2023 and arbitration over his estate is currently pending in Los Angeles.

Robbie Robertson's posthumous memoir Insomnia focuses on a period in the late 1970s when he was temporarily separated from his wife and immersed in Hollywood life. The book picks up where his 2016 memoir Testimony left off after the Band's Last Waltz. It recounts close companionship with Martin Scorsese, extensive socializing, encounters with several actresses, and heavy drug use, while offering relatively little about rock 'n' roll. Insomnia was published after Robertson's death in 2023. Key details: - The memoir covers Robertson's split from his wife in 1977, his time living with Martin Scorsese, and the making and aftermath of The Last Waltz. - It describes sexual relationships with figures including Geneviève Bujold, Jennifer O'Neill, Carole Bouquet and others, and documents substantial drug use during that period. - Martin Scorsese reportedly requested edits to the manuscript and did not welcome revisiting that era. - Robertson died of prostate cancer on Aug. 9, 2023, and legal disputes over his estate led to arbitration proceedings in Los Angeles that are currently pending. - Insomnia follows Testimony (2016), which ended with the Band's 1976 farewell concert. Summary: Insomnia offers a personal, detailed account of Robertson's late-1970s lifestyle and relationships, shifting focus from his musical career to private moments and struggles. The memoir's publication comes after his 2023 death and follows his earlier memoir Testimony. Arbitration in Los Angeles is currently pending to resolve disputes over Robertson's estate.