• Jan. 24, 1947 - Sept. 7, 2003
• Zevon was famous for his darker sense of humor, heard in songs like "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner" and "Excitable Boy." He was good friends with many famous musicians who enjoyed his company, including Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Billy Bob Thornton, Don Henley, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Neil Young, REM, and the Everly Brothers.
• After being diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer in 2002, Warren Zevon appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman in an episode where he was the only guest. This was the last time he performed publicly, ending with "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner." Letterman was a huge Zevon fan and often had him on the show. Zevon even filled in from time to time for the show's bandleader, Paul Shaffer.
• Zevon got a big-time boost from two members of the music scene in Los Angeles, where he was based. Jackson Browne got him a record deal and produced his self-titled 1976 album. Three songs from that album were then covered by Linda Ronstadt: "Hasten Down The Wind" later in 1976 and "Carmelita" and "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" in 1977. Zevon landed his hit "Werewolves Of London" the following year.
• VH1 aired a documentary about the making of his final album: The Wind (2003), which he recorded knowing he did not have long to live.
• His most abstract album was 1989's techno-overtoned Transverse City.
• In an act of public homage, Bob Dylan performed many of Zevon's songs in concert after he announced his disease. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Andy - Circleville, OH
• Many of the songs on his final album The Wind were recorded in his living room because he has too sick to visit a studio. He made this final album to put out some of his previously released and unreleased songs before he died. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Tristan - Bloomington, MN

Comments: 3

• Pat from Albuquerque, NmMany of Warren's songs have a wry sense of humor. From "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner,"(but how does he aim?),
  to"Poor Poor Pitiful Me," first made famous by Linda Ronstadt, there are a lot of musical jokes in there...
• Michelle from Maplewood, Mnmy favorite of his song's would have to be warewolves of london and i think it is a good song to remember Warren Zevon by
• Joshua from Twin Cities, MnZevon's semi-official "logo," which appeared on the back of many of his album covers, was a human skull with a lit cigarette in its mouth and wearing sunglasses - which turned out to be eerily prophetic (not to mention somewhat ironic, as the form of lung cancer that killed Zevon is one associated mainly with asbestos exposure, rather than cigarette smoke).
  

More Songfacts:

DowntownPetula Clark

When Petula Clark reached #1 in the US with "Downtown" in 1965, she became the first female singer from England to hit #1 in the US during the Rock Era (after 1955).

We're Not Gonna Take ItTwisted Sister

Musically, the Twisted Sister song "We're Not Gonna Take It" is based on the Christmas tune "O Come All Ye Faithful."

You Don't Know How It FeelsTom Petty

MTV reversed the word "joint" in Tom Petty's "You Don't Known How It Feels" so it was unintelligible, but gave the video a VMA anyway.

Just Give Me A ReasonPink

Pink wrote "Just Give Me A Reason" about how one partner can feel jilted over something trivial, like how her boyfriend passes her the butter.

E.T.Katy Perry

Katy Perry's song "E.T." came from a beat originally intended for the rap group Three Six Mafia. When her producer accidentally pulled up the beat, Perry asked to use it.

Cat's In The CradleHarry Chapin

Harry Chapin's wife Sandy wrote the lyrics to "Cat's In The Cradle," which were actually about her first husband.

Editor's Picks

Chrissie Hynde of The PretendersSongwriter Interviews

The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.

Evolution Of The Prince SymbolSong Writing

The evolution of the symbol that was Prince's name from 1993-2000.

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New WordsSong Writing

Where words like "email," "thirsty," "Twitter" and "gangsta" first showed up in songs, and which songs popularized them.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.