Levon Helm Studios Sues Amy Helm, Alleging Millions in Self-Dealing
Levon Helm Studios has filed a federal lawsuit against Amy Helm, daughter of the late Band drummer and singer Levon Helm, accusing her of causing at least $2 million in damages through financial mismanagement during her nine years as president of the Woodstock, New York venue known as the Barn. The suit, filed in federal court in New York, was brought by the studio's newly installed president Brian Parillo — a musician and longtime shareholder — and pits Amy Helm against her stepmother Sandra 'Sandy' Helm, who backed the leadership change that removed Amy from management in May 2026. Rolling Stone
According to the lawsuit, a review of the studio's financial records uncovered millions of dollars in self-dealing transactions allegedly authorised by Amy Helm or carried out for her benefit between 2017 and 2026. The complaint says she charged roughly $400,000 to Levon Helm Studios for expenses including touring costs, personal tax repayments, health and life insurance, her driver, and her personal lawyer's fees. Of that amount, $167,000 was so unrelated to the company's business that her accountant — also named as a defendant — categorised it as "Due from Amy." Rolling Stone
The suit alleges that Amy Helm forced the studio to repay a pandemic-era small business loan that had been taken out to support her touring company, rather than the studio itself. It also accuses her of taking out nearly $200,000 in loans from the Estate of Levon Helm, including from an LLC set up to distribute royalties from Levon's final three albums. Because of those loans, the lawsuit claims, the LLC was unable to pay royalties to the session musicians who helped record those albums for four years. Rolling Stone
The financial picture the lawsuit paints is one of mounting losses. In 2017, the studio took in $120,000 in gross profit against $134,000 in additional expenses, resulting in a loss of about $14,000. By 2022, gross profit had risen to $344,000, but expenses had climbed to $652,000 — leaving a loss of $308,000. The complaint alleges that losses grew steadily larger during Amy Helm's tenure. Rolling Stone
The lawsuit also includes trademark infringement claims over Amy Helm's continued use of the name "Midnight Ramble" — the storied concert series Levon Helm hosted at the Barn. A separate filing on June 4 in Ulster County Surrogate's Court had earlier placed the dispute in the probate system. Rolling Stone
Security camera footage of an alleged altercation on May 28, two days after Amy Helm was ousted from the studio's management group, is referenced in the complaint. Prior reporting indicated her removal centred on roughly $50,000 and what were described as "unexplained transfers." Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Amy Helm has publicly denied the allegations. In a statement issued on July 30, she called a settlement proposal in the dispute "extortion" and said she had tried to protect her stepmother Sandra during the conflict. She also claimed that "disturbing circumstances" led to her ouster after Sandra Helm backed the leadership change. Times Union
Levon Helm, who died in 2012, co-founded The Band and built the Barn into a beloved recording and performance space in Woodstock. The Midnight Ramble concerts he hosted there drew musicians and fans from across the country. The studio has continued to operate as a recording venue and live music space under its new management.
