| Warren Zevon | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Warren William Zevon |
| Born | January 24, 1947 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | September 7, 2003 (aged 56) Los Angeles, California |
| Genre(s) | Rock, folk rock, hard rock, alternative rock, pop rock, album rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1965-2003 |
| Label(s) | White Whale Records (1965-1967) Imperial Records (1969-1971) Asylum Records (1976-1982) Virgin Records (1987-1989) Giant Records (1991-1995) Artemis Records (2000-2003) |
| Associated acts | Jackson Browne David Lindley Waddy Wachtel Bruce Springsteen Hindu Love Gods Linda Ronstadt The Everly Brothers Richie Hayward Jack Casady Chick Corea Jerry Garcia David Gilmour Neil Young Don Henley Timothy B. Schmit Bob Dylan Joe Walsh Emmylou Harris Tom Petty The Eagles Manfred Mann |
| Website | Warren Zevon official site |
Warren William Zevon (January 24, 1947 – September 7, 2003) was a Grammy Award-winning American rock singer-songwriter and musician. Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of Folk music and rock music. Hard rock (also referred to as heavy rock) is a variation of Rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage and Psychedelic rock Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of Pop rock is a hybrid of Pop music and Rock music that uses catchy pop style with light lyrics over top of guitar-based songs Album-oriented rock (sometimes referred to as Adult-oriented rock or as West Coast Rock) abbreviated AOR and originally called album-oriented radio Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with Speech. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is a German -born American rock Singer-songwriter and Musician. David Lindley (born 1944 in San Marino California) is an American Guitarist and Multi-instrumentalist (his instruments include a variety Robert "Waddy" Wachtel (born May 24 1947 in Jackson Heights Queens New York City) is a Los Angeles Musician, Composer Hindu Love Gods was a short-lived American Blues project basically consisting of three quarters of R Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15 1946 in Tucson Arizona) is an American popular vocalist and Entertainer whose vocal styles in a variety The Everly Brothers ( Don Everly, born Isaac Donald Everly February 1 1937 Brownie Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Richie Hayward (born February 6[[ 946]] in Clear Lake Iowa is the drummer and one of the founding members of the band Little Feat. Jack Casady (born John William Casady April 13 1944 in Washington D Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American Jazz Pianist Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia (August 1 1942 &ndash August 9 1995 was a Musician, Songwriter, Artist, and Lead guitarist and David Jon Gilmour CBE (born 6 March 1946 is an English Musician, best known as the Lead guitarist one of the lead Singers Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, Musician Donald Hugh " Don " Henley (born July 22, 1947, in Gilmer Texas, U Timothy Bruce Schmit (born October 30, 1947, in Oakland, California) is an American Bass guitar player and Singer Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh (born November 20, 1947) is an American Guitarist, songwriter and Rock musician He has been a Emmylou Harris (born April 2 1947) is an American country, folk, alternative rock, and Alternative country Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty (born October 20 1950 is an American singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist This article is about Manfred Mann the band For Manfred Mann the man see Manfred Mann (musician. Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a He was noted for his offbeat, sardonic view of life which was reflected in his dark, sometimes humorous songs, which often incorporated political or historical themes. Sardonicism (connected with guffaw) characterizes —as distinct from Sarcasm — not a contumely or bitter but a ferocious painful derision
Contents |
Early life and music
Zevon was born in Chicago, Illinois, to William "Stumpy" Zevon (formerly "Zivotovsky" relative of folk/blues-singer, Jedaiah Zivotovsky),[1] a boxer, small-time criminal and Mickey Cohen associate who was of Russian Jewish origin, and Beverly Cope Simmons, a Mormon from Salt Lake City, Utah. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen ( September 4 1913 in Brooklyn New York – July 29 1976 in Los Angeles, Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ TalkMormon#Latter Day Saint vs Latter-day Saint --> Mormon Salt Lake City is the Capital and the most populous city of the U He soon moved to California. By the age of 13, Zevon was an occasional visitor to the home of Igor Stravinsky where he, alongside Robert Craft, briefly studied modern classical music. Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (Игорь Фёдорович Стравинский) ( &ndash 6 April 1971 was a Russian born Composer, considered by many to Robert Lawson Craft (born October 20, 1923) is an American conductor and writer Zevon's parents divorced when he was 16 and he soon quit high school and moved from Los Angeles to New York to become a folk singer.
Zevon turned to a musical career early, including a stretch with high school friend Violet Santangelo as part of a Sonny and Cher-type male/female duo called lyme & cybelle (in a 60s-ish affectation, the band name eschewed capitalization). Sonny & Cher were an American Pop music duo made up of husband and wife team Sonny Bono and Cher in the 1960s and 1970s He spent time as a session musician (notably as piano player and band leader for the Everly Brothers) and jingle composer. The Everly Brothers ( Don Everly, born Isaac Donald Everly February 1 1937 Brownie Muhlenberg County, Kentucky He wrote several songs for his White Whale label-mates the Turtles ("Like the Seasons" and "Outside Chance"), though his participation in their recording is unknown. White Whale Records is probably best known as the Record label of The Turtles. The Turtles are an American pop and Folk rock band which produced at least a dozen memorable radio-friendly chart singles but remain best known for In the 1960s, Zevon also toured and recorded with Manfred Mann. This article is about Manfred Mann the band For Manfred Mann the man see Manfred Mann (musician. Another early composition ("She Quit Me") was included in the soundtrack for the film Midnight Cowboy (1969). Midnight Cowboy is a 1969 Drama film based on the 1965 novel of the same name by James Leo Herlihy. Zevon's first attempt at a solo album, Wanted Dead or Alive (1969), was produced by 1960s cult figure Kim Fowley but did not fare well in the marketplace. Wanted Dead or Alive is the first album by Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1969 Kim Fowley (born July 21, 1939) is an American Record producer, Impresario, Songwriter and occasional Recording artist Flashes of Zevon's later writing preoccupations of romantic loss and noir-ish violence are present in songs like "Tule's Blues" and "A Bullet for Ramona". Zevon's second effort, Leaf in the Wind, was scrapped (though a belated release was contemplated just prior to his death). In the early '70s, Zevon toured regularly with the Everly Brothers as keyboard player and band leader/musical coordinator. His dissatisfaction with his career led him to move to Spain briefly, where he played in a small bar in Sitges near Barcelona owned by David Lindell, a former mercenary. Sitges (ˈsidʒəs in Catalan in English Catalonia, Spain is a small city about 35 kilometres southwest of Barcelona renowned worldwide for its Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia Together they penned Zevon's classic "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner". " Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner " is a song composed by Warren Zevon and David Lindell and performed by Zevon
Return to L. A. and major-label debut
In the mid-1970s, Zevon returned to Los Angeles, where he roomed with then-unknown Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham and became associated with the then-burgeoning West Coast music scene. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West There, he collaborated with Jackson Browne, who would produce and promote Zevon's self-titled major-label debut, with the Eagles, who appeared on Zevon's second album, and with Linda Ronstadt, who both appeared on Zevon's albums and covered many of his songs, including "Hasten Down the Wind", "Carmelita", "Poor Poor Pitiful Me", and "Mohammed's Radio". Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is a German -born American rock Singer-songwriter and Musician. Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15 1946 in Tucson Arizona) is an American popular vocalist and Entertainer whose vocal styles in a variety " Carmelita " is a rock song written by Warren Zevon. " Poor Poor Pitiful Me " is a rock song written by Warren Zevon. Zevon's first tour in 1977 included guest appearances in the middle of Jackson Browne concerts, one of which is documented on a widely circulated bootleg recording of a Dutch radio program under the title The Offender meets the Pretender.
Though a much darker and more ironic songwriter than Browne and other leading figures of the era's L. A. -based singer-songwriter movement, Zevon shared with his '70s L. Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics A. peers a grounding in earlier folk and country influences and a commitment to a writerly style of songcraft with roots in the work of artists like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7 1943) is a Canadian Musician, Songwriter, and Though only a modest commercial success, the Browne-produced Warren Zevon (1976) would later be labelled a masterpiece in the first edition of the Rolling Stone Record Guide and is cited in the book's most recently revised (November 2004) edition as Zevon's most realized work. Warren Zevon is a Rock and roll album by Warren Zevon. This album was recorded in 1975 and released in 1976 (see 1976 in music) The Rolling Stone Album Guide, previously known as The Rolling Stone Record Guide, is a book that along with its sister publication Rolling Representative tracks include the junkie's lament "Carmelita"; the Copland-esque outlaw ballad "Frank and Jesse James"; "The French Inhaler", a scathing insider's look at life and lust on the L. Aaron Copland (November 14 1900 &ndash December 2 1990 was an American Composer of concert and film music as well as an accomplished Pianist. A. music scene; and "Desperadoes Under the Eaves", a chronicle of Zevon's growing alcoholism. "Desperados Under the Eaves" is a song written and performed by Warren Zevon off of the 1976 album Warren Zevon. It was during this period that Zevon's excessive vodka intake earned him the nickname "F. Scott Fitzevon", a reference to the great but doomed American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose early, alcohol-fueled death Zevon seemed bent on repeating. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24 1896 – December 21 1940 was an American writer of Novels and Short stories, whose works are evocative of the
Success
In 1978, Zevon released his breakthrough album, Excitable Boy, to critical acclaim and popular success. Excitable Boy is the third Album by Warren Zevon, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music. The title tune (about a juvenile sociopath's murderous prom night) name-checked "Little Susie", the heroine of former employers the Everly Brothers' signature tune "Wake Up Little Susie", while songs such as "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" and "Lawyers, Guns and Money" used deadpan humor to wed geopolitical subtexts to hard-boiled narratives. Sociopathy is a loosely-defined term that may be used to refer to Psychopathy Antisocial personality disorder Dissocial The Everly Brothers ( Don Everly, born Isaac Donald Everly February 1 1937 Brownie Muhlenberg County, Kentucky " Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner " is a song composed by Warren Zevon and David Lindell and performed by Zevon Warren William Zevon (January 24 1947 &ndash September 7 2003 was a Grammy Award -winning American rock Singer-songwriter and Musician Tracks from this album received heavy FM airplay and the single release "Werewolves of London", which featured Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, was a relatively lighthearted version of Zevon's signature macabre outlook and a top-thirty hit. " Werewolves of London " is a Song composed by LeRoy Marinell, Waddy Wachtel, and Warren Zevon and performed by Zevon Rolling Stone called the album one of the most significant releases of the 1970s and placed Zevon alongside Neil Young, Jackson Browne, and Bruce Springsteen as one of the four most important new artists to emerge in the decade. Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, Musician Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is a German -born American rock Singer-songwriter and Musician. Later, Bob Dylan would use a line from Zevon's lyrics for "Accidentally Like a Martyr" as the title of his late-'90s comeback album, Time Out of Mind. Time Out of Mind is Bob Dylan 's 30th Studio album, released in 1997 by Columbia Records.
Zevon followed Excitable Boy with 1980s Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School. Excitable Boy is the third Album by Warren Zevon, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music. Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School is the fourth Album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1980 This album was dedicated to Ken Millar, better known under his nom-de-plume as detective novelist Ross Macdonald. Ross Macdonald is the Pseudonym of the American - Canadian Writer of Crime fiction Kenneth Millar ( December 13 Millar was a literary hero of Zevon's who met the singer for the first time while participating in an intervention organized by Rolling Stone journalist Paul Nelson that helped Zevon temporarily kick his substance addictions. Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published Paul Nelson (born January 21 1936 in Warren Minnesota, and died circa June 28 2006 in New York City was a folk and rock Music critic who Featuring a modest novelty hit with the single "A Certain Girl" (Zevon's cover of an old R&B novelty record by Ernie K-Doe scraped its way to #45 on the Billboard Singles Chart), the album sold briskly but was uneven, and signaled a decline rather than a step toward commercial and critical consistency. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry It contained a collaboration with Bruce Springsteen called "Jeannie Needs a Shooter", and the ballad "Empty-Handed Heart" dealing with Zevon's divorce from second wife Crystal and featuring a descant sung by Linda Ronstadt. Descant or Discant can refer to several different things in music depending on the period in question etymologically the word means a voice ( cantus) Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15 1946 in Tucson Arizona) is an American popular vocalist and Entertainer whose vocal styles in a variety In 1980 came the live album Stand in the Fire (dedicated to Martin Scorsese), recorded over five nights at the Roxy in Los Angeles. Stand in the Fire is a live Album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released Dec For other people and places named Roxy see Roxy and Roxy Theatre The Roxy Theatre (often just The Roxy) is a famous
Personal crisis and first comeback
Zevon's 1982 release The Envoy is perhaps the least known of his major-label studio albums, an erratic but characteristic set that included such compositions as "Charlie's Medicine" (yet another treatise on addiction) and "Jesus Mentioned", the first of Zevon's two musical reactions to the squalid death of Elvis Presley (the other is the song "Porcelain Monkey" on 2000s Life'll Kill Ya album). The Envoy is an album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1982 by Asylum (see 1982 in music) Life'll Kill Ya is an Album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 2000 The title track was dedicated to Philip Habib, US special envoy to the Middle East during the early 1980s. Philip Charles Habib ( February 25, 1920 &ndash May 25, 1992) was a United States career diplomat known for work in Vietnam In the liner notes for the 1996 I'll Sleep When I'm Dead anthology, Zevon stated that after the song came out, Habib sent him "a very nice letter of appreciation on State Department stationery". The lyrics from another track, "The Hula Hula Boys", were excerpted in Hunter S. Thompson's 1983 book, The Curse of Lono. Hunter Stockton Thompson ( July 18, 1937 &ndash February 20, 2005) was an American Journalist and Author, most The Curse of Lono is a book by Hunter S Thompson describing his experiences in Hawaii in 1980
After the disappointing reception for The Envoy, Zevon was dropped by his label Asylum Records, a fact Zevon discovered only when he read about it in the Random Notes gossip column of Rolling Stone. The Envoy is an album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1982 by Asylum (see 1982 in music) Asylum Records is an American Record label, owned by Warner Music Group, founded by agent-managers David Geffen and Elliot Roberts in 1971 Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published The trauma caused him to relapse into serious alcoholism, and he voluntarily checked himself into an unnamed rehab clinic somewhere in the state of Minnesota. Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers Zevon retreated from the music business for several years, during which he finally overcame severe alcohol and drug addictions.
In this interim period, Zevon collaborated with Bill Berry, Peter Buck and Mike Mills (all of R.E.M.), and back-up singer Bryan Cook to form a loose side-project called Hindu Love Gods. William "Bill" Thomas Berry (born July 31, 1958) is an American musician and multi-instrumentalist best known as the Drummer in Alternative Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956 in Berkeley California) is the guitarist and co-founder along with Bill Berry, Mike Mills This article is about Mike Mills the REM bassist Other similar sounding articles include the Irish journalist Michael Mills and Mike Mills (director. REM is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe ( lead vocals) Peter Buck ( Guitar Hindu Love Gods was a short-lived American Blues project basically consisting of three quarters of R The group released the non-charting single "Narrator" on the IRS label in 1984, then went into abeyance for several years.
Berry, Buck and Mills served as the core of Zevon's next studio band when he re-emerged in 1987 by signing with Virgin Records and recording the album Sentimental Hygiene. Virgin Records is a British Record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell Sentimental Hygiene is an album by rock Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1987 The release, hailed as his best since Excitable Boy, featured a thicker rock sound and taut, often humorous songs like "Detox Mansion", "Bad Karma" (which featured R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe on backup vocals), and "Reconsider Me". REM is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe ( lead vocals) Peter Buck ( Guitar John Michael Stipe (born January 4 1960 in Decatur Georgia) is an American singer who is the lead vocalist for the Alternative rock band R Included were contributions from Neil Young, Bob Dylan, George Clinton, as well as Berry, Buck, and Mills. Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, Musician Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major Also on hand were long-time collaborators Jorge Calderón and Waddy Wachtel. Jorge Calderón, originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a multi-talented musician Songwriter, and Record producer best known for his collaborations Robert "Waddy" Wachtel (born May 24 1947 in Jackson Heights Queens New York City) is a Los Angeles Musician, Composer
During the Sentimental Hygiene sessions, Zevon also participated in an all-night jam session with Berry, Buck, and Mills, as they worked their way through rock and blues numbers by the likes of Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson and Prince. Bo Diddley ( December 30 1928 &ndash June 2 2008, born Ellas Otha Bates) was an original and influential American For the album by Redman, see Muddy Waters (album. For the college football coach see Muddy Waters (football coach. Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8 1911 – August 16 1938 is among the most famous of Delta blues musicians Prince, from the Latin root Princeps, is a general term for a Monarch, for a member of a monarch's or former monarch's family and is a Though the sessions were not initially intended for release, they would eventually see the light of day as a Hindu Love Gods album.
However the immediate follow-up to Sentimental Hygiene was 1989's Transverse City, a futuristic concept album inspired by Zevon's interest in the work of cyberpunk science fiction author William Gibson. Sentimental Hygiene is an album by rock Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1987 Transverse City is an album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1989 In Popular music, a concept album is an Album which is "unified by a theme which can be instrumental compositional narrative or lyrical" Cyberpunk is a Science fiction genre noted for its focus on " High tech and low life. William Ford Gibson (born March 17 1948 is an American - Canadian writer who has been called the "noir prophet" of the Cyberpunk subgenre It featured guests including Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward, Jefferson Airplane bassist Jack Casady, keyboard player Chick Corea and guitarists Jerry Garcia, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and Neil Young. Little Feat is an American band formed by Singer-songwriter, Frontman and Guitarist Lowell George and keyboard player Bill Richie Hayward (born February 6[[ 946]] in Clear Lake Iowa is the drummer and one of the founding members of the band Little Feat. Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band from San Francisco, a pioneer of the Psychedelic rock movement Jack Casady (born John William Casady April 13 1944 in Washington D Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (born June 12, 1941) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American Jazz Pianist Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia (August 1 1942 &ndash August 9 1995 was a Musician, Songwriter, Artist, and Lead guitarist and Pink Floyd are David Jon Gilmour CBE (born 6 March 1946 is an English Musician, best known as the Lead guitarist one of the lead Singers Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, Musician Key tracks include the title song, "Splendid Isolation", "Run Straight Down" (which had a promotional video that featured Zevon singing in a factory while Gilmour played his guitar solos) and "They Moved the Moon", the latter among Zevon's eerier ballads.
Later years and second comeback
Transverse City was a commercial disappointment, and Virgin Records let Zevon go shortly after the album's release. Zevon, however, almost immediately signed with Giant Records, and the first issue under Zevon's contract with his new label was the self-titled Hindu Love Gods album recorded during the Sentimental Hygiene sessions. Giant Records was launched as a joint-venture in 1990 between Warner Bros Hindu Love Gods is the only Album by American band Hindu Love Gods, released in 1990 The album included a cover of Prince's "Raspberry Beret," which became a #23 Modern Rock hit in the US. Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American musician " Raspberry Beret " is the first US (and second UK) single from Prince and The Revolution 's 1985 album Around
In 1991, Zevon, once again a solo artist, released Mr. Bad Example. Mr Bad Example is an Album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1991 This album featured the modest pop hit "Searching for a Heart" and the rocker "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead", later utilized for the title of the neo-noir film directed by Gary Fleder, (after some skirmishing over the unauthorized use of Zevon's song title, the Zevon track was licensed to play over the film's end credits). Neo-noir (from the Greek Neo, new and the French noir black is a type of Motion picture that prominently utilizes elements of Film Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead is a 1995 movie directed by Gary Fleder and written by Scott Rosenberg. Gary Fleder (born December 19, 1962 in Norfolk Virginia) is an American Film director, Screenwriter, and producer
Zevon toured the United States (with the Odds), Europe, and Australia and New Zealand during this period. Odds are a Canadian Alternative rock band active 1987–1999 and reformed in 2007 as The New Odds.
Owing to his reduced circumstances, his performances were often true solo efforts (with minimal accompaniment on piano and guitar); 1993's live Learning to Flinch documents such a tour. Learning to Flinch is a live acoustic Album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1993 The disc received some airplay on college radio and was considered Zevon's Unplugged. Acoustic music refers to music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means as opposed to Electronic means Zevon often played in Colorado to allow for an opportunity to visit with his long-time friend Hunter S. Thompson. Hunter Stockton Thompson ( July 18, 1937 &ndash February 20, 2005) was an American Journalist and Author, most
A lifelong fan of "hard-boiled" fiction, Zevon was close to several prominent writers who also collaborated on his songwriting during this period, including Thompson, Carl Hiaasen and Mitch Albom. Carl Hiaasen (ˈhaɪəsɛn (born March 12, 1953) is an American Journalist and Novelist. Mitchell David Albom (born May 23, 1958 in Passaic New Jersey) is a best-selling author journalist screenwriter playwright radio and television Zevon also served as musical coordinator for an ad-hoc rock group called the Rock Bottom Remainders, a collection of writers performing rock and roll standards at book fairs and other events. The Rock Bottom Remainders is a Rock and roll band consisting of published writers most of them both amateur musicians and popular English-language Book, Magazine This group included Stephen King, Dave Barry, Matt Groening and Amy Tan, among other popular writers, and it has continued to perform one benefit concert per year since Zevon's death. Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American Author, Screenwriter, Musician, Columnist, David "Dave" Barry (born July 3, 1947) is a bestselling American author and Pulitzer Prize -winning columnist who wrote a nationally Matthew Abram Groening (ˈɡreɪnɪŋ GRAY-ning) (born February 15 1954 is an American Cartoonist, television producer and writer from Portland Amy Tan (Chinese 譚恩美 pinyin Tán Enmei (born February 19, 1952) is an American Writer of Chinese descent whose works An affiliated project Zevon both played on and wrote liner notes for is the offbeat 1998 album Stranger Than Fiction, a two CD set attributed to the Wrockers containing rock covers and originals by many of the Remainders authors plus such notables as Norman Mailer and Maya Angelou. Norman Kingsley Mailer ( January 31, 1923 &ndash November 10, 2007) was an American Novelist, Journalist, Maya Angelou (ˈmaɪə ˈændʒəloʊ (born Marguerite Ann Johnson on April 4, 1928) is an American Poet, Memoirist Zevon oversaw music for the short-lived revival of the television series Route 66 (1993, NBC), contributing that series' main title theme, "If You Won't Leave Me I'll Find Somebody Who Will". Route 66 is an American TV series in which two young men traveled across America
Occasionally, between 1982 and 2001, Zevon filled in for Paul Shaffer as bandleader on Late Show with David Letterman. Paul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM (born November 28, 1949 in Fort William, now Thunder Bay, Ontario) is a Canadian The Late Show with David Letterman is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS One example was in 1998 when Shaffer traveled to Canada to film his cameo in Blues Brothers 2000. Blues Brothers 2000 is a 1998 musical / Comedy Film and Sequel to the 1980 film The Blues Brothers
In 1995, Zevon released the self-produced Mutineer. Mutineer is an Album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1995 The title track was frequently covered by Bob Dylan live on tour in the 2000s, and Zevon's cover of cult artist Judee Sill's "Jesus Was a Crossmaker" predated the wider rediscovery of her work a decade later. Judee Sill (born Judith Lynn Sill, October 7, 1944 - November 23, 1979) was an American singer and Songwriter. The album, however, suffered the worst sales of Zevon's career, in part because his label, superagent Irving Azoff's short-lived Giant Records, was in the process of going out of business. Irving Azoff (born December 12, 1947) is an American Personal manager, representing recording artists in the Music industry such as Giant Records was launched as a joint-venture in 1990 between Warner Bros Rhino Records released a Zevon "best-of" compilation that same year, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology). Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty Record label and production company owned by Warner Music Group. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology is a greatest hits Album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1996
After another five-year layoff, Zevon signed with industry veteran Danny Goldberg's Artemis Records and again rebounded with the mortality-themed 2000 release Life'll Kill Ya, containing the hymn-like "Don't Let Us Get Sick" and an austere version of Steve Winwood's '80s hit "Back in the High Life Again". Danny Goldberg,, President of Gold Village Entertainment (GVE has worked in the music business as a personal manager record company President public relations man and journalist since Artemis Records was a New York -based Independent record label, founded in July 1999 by former Chairman / CEO Danny Goldberg Life'll Kill Ya is an Album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 2000 Stephen Lawrence "Steve" or "Stevie" Winwood (born 12 May 1948 in Handsworth, Birmingham) is an English Singer-songwriter With record sales reasonably brisk and adulatory music critics giving Zevon his best notices since Excitable Boy, Life'll Kill Ya is seen as his second comeback. Life'll Kill Ya is an Album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 2000 He followed with 2002's My Ride's Here (with morbid prescience of things to come, Zevon is shown seated in a hearse on the cover), which included "Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song)" (which was co-written by Tuesdays with Morrie author Mitch Albom, and featured a spoken guest vocal from TV host David Letterman) and the ballad "Genius", later taken as the title for a 2002 Zevon anthology, and a song whose string section illustrates the lasting influence of Stravinsky on Zevon's work. My Ride's Here is an album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 2002 Tuesdays with Morrie is a bestselling nonfiction book by American Writer Mitch Albom, published in 1997 (ISBN 0-385-48451-8 Mitchell David Albom (born May 23, 1958 in Passaic New Jersey) is a best-selling author journalist screenwriter playwright radio and television David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American late-night Talk show host and Comedian and the host since 1993
At about this time, he and actor Billy Bob Thornton formed a close friendship, bonding over their common experiences with obsessive-compulsive disorder. William Robert Thornton (born August 4 1955 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD is a Chronic Anxiety disorder most commonly characterized by obsessive Distressing Intrusive thoughts [2]
Cancer, death and The Wind
In interviews, Zevon described a lifelong phobia of doctors and said he seldom received medical assessment. Phobias Phobias (in the clinical meaning of the term are the most common form of Anxiety disorders An American study by the National Institute of Mental Health In 2002, after a long period of untreated illness and pain, Zevon was encouraged by his dentist to see a physician; when he did so he was diagnosed with inoperable mesothelioma (a form of cancer associated with exposure to asbestos, and also the same cancer that killed Steve McQueen). Mesothelioma is a form of Cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to Asbestos. Asbestos is a group of Minerals with long thin fibrous Crystals The word "asbestos" (῾ἀσβεστος is derived from a Greek adjective Terrence Steven "Steve" McQueen (March 24 1930 – November 7 1980 was an American movie Actor, nicknamed "The King of Cool" Refusing treatments he believed might incapacitate him, Zevon instead began recording his final album. The album, The Wind, includes guest appearances by close friends including Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Jackson Browne, Timothy B. Schmit, Joe Walsh, David Lindley, Billy Bob Thornton, Emmylou Harris, Tom Petty, and others. The Wind is the last studio Album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 2003 Donald Hugh " Don " Henley (born July 22, 1947, in Gilmer Texas, U Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is a German -born American rock Singer-songwriter and Musician. Timothy Bruce Schmit (born October 30, 1947, in Oakland, California) is an American Bass guitar player and Singer Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh (born November 20, 1947) is an American Guitarist, songwriter and Rock musician He has been a David Lindley (born 1944 in San Marino California) is an American Guitarist and Multi-instrumentalist (his instruments include a variety William Robert Thornton (born August 4 1955 Emmylou Harris (born April 2 1947) is an American country, folk, alternative rock, and Alternative country Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty (born October 20 1950 is an American singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist At the request of the music television channel VH1, documentarian Nick Read was given access to the sessions; his cameras documented a man who retained his mordant sense of humor, even as his health was deteriorating over time. VH1 (known as VH-1 Video Hits One from 1985 to 1994 and VH1 Music First until 2003) is an American Cable television
On October 30, 2002, Zevon was featured on the Late Show with David Letterman as the only guest for the entire hour. Events 637 - Antioch surrenders to the Muslim forces under Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of Iron bridge. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The band played "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" as his introduction. Zevon performed several songs and spoke at length about his illness. Zevon was a frequent guest and occasional substitute bandleader on Letterman's television shows since Late Night first aired in 1982. Late Night with David Letterman was a nightly hour-long comedy Talk show on NBC hosted by David Letterman. He noted, "I may have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years. " It was during this broadcast that Zevon first offered his oft-quoted insight on facing death: "Enjoy every sandwich. " He also took time to thank Letterman for his years of support, calling him "the best friend my music's ever had". For his final song of the evening, and his final public performance, Zevon performed "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" at Letterman's request. " Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner " is a song composed by Warren Zevon and David Lindell and performed by Zevon
Zevon previously stated that his illness was expected to be terminal within months after the diagnosis in the fall of 2002; however, he lived to see the birth of twin grandsons in June 2003 and the release of The Wind on August 28, 2003. Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Owing in part to the first VH1 broadcasts of Nick Read's documentary Warren Zevon: Keep Me In Your Heart (which brought fresh attention to Zevon's illness), the album entered the national record charts at number 16, Zevon's highest placement since Excitable Boy. VH1 (known as VH-1 Video Hits One from 1985 to 1994 and VH1 Music First until 2003) is an American Cable television Excitable Boy is the third Album by Warren Zevon, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music. When his diagnosis became public, Zevon told the media that he just hoped to live long enough to see the next James Bond movie, Die Another Day, a goal he also accomplished. James Bond 007 is a Fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve Novels and two Short story Die Another Day is a 2002 film the 20th in the James Bond series, and the fourth and final film to star Pierce Brosnan as fictional MI6
Warren Zevon died on September 7, 2003, aged 56, at his home in Los Angeles, California. Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Wind was certified gold by the RIAA in December 2003 and Zevon received five posthumous Grammy nominations, including Song Of The Year for the ballad "Keep Me In Your Heart". The Wind won two Grammys, with the album itself receiving the award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, while "Disorder in the House", Zevon's duet with Bruce Springsteen, was awarded Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal. These posthumous awards were the first Grammys of Zevon's more than 30-year career. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered over the Pacific ocean.
Posthumous releases and biographical works
A tribute album titled Enjoy Every Sandwich: Songs of Warren Zevon was released October 19, 2004. Enjoy Every Sandwich Songs of Warren Zevon is a Tribute album released in 2004 to the late Warren Zevon by many famous musicians Events 202 BCE - The Battle of Zama results in the defeat of Carthage and Hannibal. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Zevon's son, Jordan Zevon, did a large part of the work on the album and performed "Studebaker", a previously unreleased Warren Zevon composition. Jordan Zevon (born August 7, 1969) is the son of rock musician Warren Zevon. A second tribute album, titled Hurry Home Early: the Songs of Warren Zevon (the line "hurry home early" is from the song "Boom Boom Mancini", on Sentimental Hygiene) was released by Wampus Multimedia on July 8, 2005. Sentimental Hygiene is an album by rock Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1987 Wampus Multimedia is an American media company founded by artist and producer Mark Doyon. Events 939 - The Major Occultation or Ghaybat el-Kubra of Muhammad al-Mahdi 1099 - First Crusade: 15000 Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
On February 14, 2006, VH1 Classic premiered a video from a new compilation, Reconsider Me: The Love Songs. Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. VH1 Classic is an American Television network started on May 8, 2000. Reconsider Me The Love Songs is an Album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 2006 The video, titled "She's Too Good For Me", aired every hour on the hour throughout the day.
First-ever CD issues of the Zevon albums Stand in the Fire and The Envoy were released on March 27, 2007 by Rhino Records alongside a Rhino re-issue of Excitable Boy, with the three albums expanded from all previous versions by four tracks each. Stand in the Fire is a live Album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released Dec The Envoy is an album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1982 by Asylum (see 1982 in music) Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Excitable Boy is the third Album by Warren Zevon, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music. Noteworthy rarities in these editions include the outtakes "Word of Mouth" and "The Risk" from the The Envoy sessions and "Frozen Notes (Strings Version)", a melancholic outtake from Excitable Boy performed on acoustic piano with a string quartet in the style of 1976's Warren Zevon LP. The Envoy is an album by American Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1982 by Asylum (see 1982 in music) Excitable Boy is the third Album by Warren Zevon, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music. Warren Zevon is a Rock and roll album by Warren Zevon. This album was recorded in 1975 and released in 1976 (see 1976 in music) Also included on the expanded Excitable Boy CD is the brief but hilarious "I Need A Truck", Zevon's first-ever acapella studio release. Excitable Boy is the third Album by Warren Zevon, released in 1978 (see 1978 in music.
On May 1, 2007, Ammal Records, the new label started up as a partnership with New West Records by Zevon's former boss at Artemis Danny Goldberg, released Preludes - Rare and Unreleased Recordings, a two-disc anthology of Zevon demos and alternate versions culled from 126 pre-1976 recordings found inside an old road case after Zevon's death. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Danny Goldberg,, President of Gold Village Entertainment (GVE has worked in the music business as a personal manager record company President public relations man and journalist since Preludes Rare and Unreleased Recordings is a two-CD compilation of music and interviews including unreleased outtakes and demos by Singer-songwriter Warren The album contains five previously unreleased songs: "Empty Hearted Town", "Going All the Way", "Steady Rain", "Stop Rainin` Lord" and "The Rosarita Beach Cafe", along with Zevon's original demo for "Studebaker", the song performed by Jordan Zevon on the Enjoy Every Sandwich tribute record. Enjoy Every Sandwich Songs of Warren Zevon is a Tribute album released in 2004 to the late Warren Zevon by many famous musicians Selections from an interview between Zevon and Austin-based radio personality Jody Denberg are blended with about 40 minutes of music on the collection's second disc.
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon, a biography/oral history compiled by ex-wife Crystal Zevon, was published in 2007 by Ecco Books. Dixon is an unincorporated village located in Rio Arriba County in the U I'll Sleep When I'm Dead The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon is a biography/oral history of rock musician Warren Zevon compiled by his ex-wife Crystal The book is comprised of interwoven interviews from many of Zevon's friends and associates, and is notable for its unvarnished portrayal of Zevon (reputedly at his request).
In 2006, Zevon's song "Lawyers, Guns and Money" was used as the theme song for producer Jerry Bruckheimer's short-lived Fox network TV series Justice. Jerome Leon Bruckheimer (born September 21, 1945) better known by his professional name Jerry Bruckheimer, is an American film Justice was a short-lived Legal drama produced by Jerry Bruckheimer that aired on FOX in the USA on CTV in Canada on Warner The series ended after only 13 episodes. Coincidentally, seven years earlier Zevon's song "Even A Dog Can Shake Hands" was used as the theme song for the show Action, which also ran for 13 episodes. Action is a short-lived comedy series about a Hollywood producer named Peter Dragon who is trying to recover from his last box-office failure
In 2006, Zevon's song "Keep Me In Your Heart" (The Wind, 2003) was included in the Boston Legal season 2 episode "Too Much Information", which features Michael J. Fox portraying a man dying of lung cancer, a situation not unlike Zevon's when he wrote the song. The Wind ( 1928) is an American dramatic Silent film directed by the Victor Sjöström. Boston Legal is an American Legal drama - Comedy created by David E Michael J Fox (born Michael Andrew Fox; June 9 1961 is a Canadian / American
The Showtime television series Californication has featured frequent references to the work of Warren Zevon. Showtime is a subscription television Brand used by a number of channels and platforms around the world but primarily refers to a group of channels in the United Californication is a Showtime TV series production created by Tom Kapinos and starring David Duchovny as Hank Moody a troubled novelist When doing a crossword puzzle, one question was "5 letter word for excitable boy" to which the answer is Zevon. In "Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder", the protagonist, Hank, tells a surfer girl he meets at the store "Life'll kill ya", the name of a Zevon song and album. In the same episode, his daughter's band plays "Don't Let Us Get Sick" and later in the episode a cover of the song is played as well. And in "California Son", the episode opens with "Mohammed's Radio". In "The Devil's Threesome", Hank tells his agent, "Your shit's fucked up", to which his agent responds rhetorically, "My shit's fucked up?" in reference to Zevon's "My Shit's Fucked Up". Finally, the season finale, "The Last Waltz", opens with the Enjoy Every Sandwich cover of Zevon's "Reconsider Me".
The book Dexter in the Dark by Jeff Lindsay has a reference to the songs Model Citizen and Long Arm of the Law in it. Dexter in the Dark is a 2007 novel written by Jeff Lindsay. This is the third book in the Dexter series preceded by the 2004 novel Jeffrey Dean Lindsay is a Chemical engineer and Patent agent who received attention defending The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
The Irish poet Paul Muldoon has written a long poem called 'Sillyhow Stride (in memory of Warren Zevon)', published in his 2006 book Horse Latitudes. Paul Muldoon (born 20 June 1951 is a writer academic and educator as well as Pulitzer Prize -winning poet from County Armagh, Northern Ireland Horse Latitudes is tenth collection of Poetry from the Northern Irish poet Paul Muldoon.
Discography
- Wanted Dead or Alive - 1969
- Warren Zevon - 1976
- Excitable Boy - 1978
- Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School - 1980
- Stand in the Fire - 1981
- The Envoy - 1982
- A Quiet Normal Life: The Best of Warren Zevon - 1986
- Sentimental Hygiene - 1987
- Transverse City - 1989
- Hindu Love Gods - 1990
- Mr. Bad Example - 1991
- Learning to Flinch - 1993
- Mutineer - 1995
- I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology) - 1996
- Life'll Kill Ya - 2000
- My Ride's Here - 2002
- Genius: The Best of Warren Zevon - 2002
- The Wind - 2003
- Reconsider Me: The Love Songs - 2006
- Preludes - Rare and Unreleased Recordings - 2007
Footnotes
External links
- Warren Zevon official site
- "Life and Death on The Late Show", American Spectator November 22, 2002
- "Warren Zevon On the Loose in Los Angeles" by Dave Marsh, Rolling Stone, March 9, 1978
- "Warren Zevon's Resurrection: How He Saved Himself From a Coward's Death" by Paul Nelson, Rolling Stone, March 19, 1981
- "Warren Zevon Takes Control" by Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, September 16, 1982
- "An Excitable Boy, They All Said" by Jonathan Valania, Philadelphia Weekly, November 20, 2002
- "Interview: Jackson Browne Remembers Warren Zevon" by David Fricke, Rolling Stone, September 19, 2003
- "Warren Zevon’s Traveling Circus - June 1978" by Dinky Dawson, Crawdaddy!, December 5, 2007
- Warren Zevon live audio recordings at Archive.org
- Jordan Zevon's Official Site
- Warren Zevon at Rolling Stone
- Sillyhow Stride (in memory of Warren Zevon) poem at the Times Literary Supplement, 31 May 2006
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic