Singer Warren Zevon Dies
Sep 8, 9:49 AM EST
Associated Press
Warren Zevon, who wrote and sang the rock hit "Werewolves of London" and was among the wittiest and most original of a broad circle of singer-songwriters to emerge from Los Angeles in the 1970s, has died. He was 56.
A lifelong smoker until quitting several years ago, Zevon announced in September 2002 that he had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and had only months to live. He spent much of that time visiting with his two grown children and working on a final album.
Zevon died in his sleep Sunday at his home, publicist Carise Yatter said.
He faced death with the same dark sense of humor found in much of his music, including songs like "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," "Life'll Kill Ya" and "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead."
Zevon said he "chose a certain path and lived like Jim Morrison and lived 30 more years. You make choices and you have to live with the consequences."
He released his first album, "Wanted — Dead or Alive," to little notice in 1969, but gained attention in the '70s by writing a string of popular songs for Linda Ronstadt, including "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me," "Carmelita" and "Hasten Down the Wind."
His next two albums, 1976's "Warren Zevon" and 1978's "Excitable Boy," followed those songs with darkly humorous tales of prom-date rapists; headless, gun-toting soldiers of fortune; and werewolves who drank pina coladas at singles bars and were particular about their hair.
They cemented Zevon's reputation as one of rock music's most politically incorrect lyricists, giving him a lifelong cult following that included gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and "Late Show" host David Letterman, who provided backing vocals on "Hit Somebody," Zevon's 2001 elegy to a professional hockey goon who longs to be a goal-scoring hero.
"I always like to have violent lyrics and violent music," Zevon told The Associated Press in 1990. "The knowledge of death and fear of death informs my existence. It's a safe, kind of cheerful way of dealing with that issue."
Other admirers included Bob Dylan, whom Zevon cited as one of his principal songwriting influences and who performed on his 1987 album "Sentimental Hygiene." Still another was Bruce Springsteen, who co-wrote "Jeannie Needs a Shooter," Zevon's tale of a lover shot to death by a woman's jealous father.
Not that all of his music was dark and violent. His body of work contained some straight-out comedy as well, including "Mr. Bad Example," "The Hula Hula Boys" and "Gorilla You're a Desperado." The latter told the tale of a Los Angeles Zoo ape who escapes by locking a yuppie in his place and going off to live in the man's apartment, only to end up depressed and divorced.
His compositional style reflected a number of genres, from hard-driving rock to folk, as well as classical, polka and other influences. In his final months, he summoned the energy to complete a last album, "The Wind," released in August. It includes the poignant "Keep Me in Your Heart," a cranky "Disorder in the House" and a remake of Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."
Zevon, born in Chicago to Russian immigrant parents, moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s, making a living writing jingles for television commercials. He also composed the song "She Quit Me Man" for the movie "Midnight Cowboy." He was just out of his teens when he went to work for the Everly Brothers, first as a pianist and later as their band leader.
In his last months, he told various interviewers he had no regrets, expressing particular gratitude that he had quit drinking in time to watch daughter Ariel and son Jordan grow up.
"I got to be the most (expletive deleted) rock star on the block, at least on my block," he once said. "And then I got to be a sober dad for 18 years. I've had two very full lives."
His family had noted that he lived far longer than was expected at the time of his diagnosis, long enough to enjoy twin grandsons born to Ariel.
Source: MSN
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I had the pleasure of seeing Warren Zevon play live when I was younger and he put on a fantastic show. People remember him more for "Werewolves Of London" but he had many great songs. His last album was just released and it dealt with his struggles with lung cancer and his facing mortality. I saw the VH1 special about his struggles to make the album and was amazed that he willed himself to live long enough to finish it. He was diagnosed and given less than 3 months to live but managed to live almost 15 months after his diagnosis. He claimed on the special that he couldn't go until the album was done. The album was released nationwide in August.
Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.
--Victor Hugo
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Cool site of the moment:http://www.zod2008.com/
That's sad to hear . . . .
Werewolves of London
I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain
He was looking for a place called Lee Ho Fook's
Going to get himself a big dish of beef chow mein
Werewolves of London
If you hear him howling around your kitchen door
Better not let him in
Little old lady got mutilated late last night
Werewolves of London again
Werewolves of London
He's the hairy-handed gent who ran amuck in Kent
Lately he's been overheard in Mayfair
Better stay away from him
He'll rip your lungs out, Jim
I'd like to meet his tailor
Werewolves of London
Well, I saw Lon Chaney walking with the Queen
Doing the
I saw Lon Chaney, Jr. walking with the Queen
Doing the
I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's
His hair was perfect
Werewolves of London
Draw blood
Wow I missed that Aqlo thanks for the link. I'm sure they will reshow the special on VH1 this week. If you get the chance I highly reccomend it as it is a very powerful show.
Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.
--Victor Hugo
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Cool site of the moment:http://www.zod2008.com/
Another one from my generation....gone too young.
One of the best phrases ever:
Better stay away from him
He'll rip your lungs out, Jim
I'd like to meet his tailor
Great song, can't say I know much else of his work. Can anybody say what else was worth checking out?
Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
Send Lawyers Guns and Money
Life Will Kill You
and of course Carmelita
Well, I'm sittin' here playing solitaire
With my pearl-handled deck
The county won't give me no more methadone
And they cut off your welfare check
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Well, I pawned my Smith Corona
And I went to meet my man
He hangs out down on Alvarado Street
By the Pioneer chicken stand
PS: and there's Muhammed's Radio, I posted the whole dealie in one of the war threads.
You know, the Sheriff's got his problems too
He will surely take them out on you
In walked the village idiot and his face was all aglow
He's been up all night listening to Mohammed's Radio
Don't it make you want to rock and roll
All night long
Mohammed's Radio
I heard somebody singing sweet and soulful
On the radio, Mohammed's Radio
Everybody's desperate trying to make ends meet
Work all day, still can't pay the price of gasoline and meat
Alas, their lives are incomplete
I've heard of him. For a long time I thought a black guy sung werewolves of london. lol
I recommend anything from Mr. Zevon. He was a great artist and song writer. I can remember listening to him all through out high school.
Rest in Peace Warren.
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I always dug Warrens music and especially remember "Send Lawyers Guns and Money"
He definately was one of the more original lyricists.
a sad loss. i`ve drunk a few vodkas myself listening to warren zevon.
kiwibank
The local music weekly just did an article on him this week. I had no idea he was ill 'til I read that just the other day. It was nice that he was able to get one last album out before he checked out. I can certainly identify with his feeling of having led two lives. RIP, ye ol' Werewolf.
Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner and Lawyers, Guns, And Money were my two favorites of his. Used to listen to Zevon drinking many Black and Tans with the ilustrious Dan Smith, my friend who joined the army in order to drive a tank...
Wow, mojo-ris-in, you musta really liked him. I heard he was gonna die of cancer a few months back. I just don't know what everyone liked, I think his music sucked, his singing voice sucked, but some lyrics were okay. There's so much better music out there if you search for it, who the heck would wanna waste time listening to WZ?
Smoke 'em if ya got 'em.
"Phuck the RIAA!" As long as real musicians get paid for live perfomances, that is fair. But to expect pay for recordings is a joke! That's just a way to avoid having to perform every day! LAZY!!! Music was around long before the RIAA hijacked it, charged us for it, and convinced us we could only get it through them! Pick up an instrument and learn to play!
You listen to what you want and I'll listen to what I want. If you don't like him why waste your time posting in a thread honoring him, his music, his struggle and his ultimate death?
Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.
--Victor Hugo
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Cool site of the moment:http://www.zod2008.com/
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