Warren Zevon
Overview
Warren William Zevon ' was an American rock
singer-songwriter
and musician
noted for including his sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes.
Zevon's work has often been praised by well-known musicians, including Jackson Browne
, Bruce Springsteen
, Bob Dylan
, and Neil Young
. His best-known compositions include "Werewolves of London
", "Lawyers, Guns and Money
", "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
" and "Johnny Strikes Up The Band," all of which are featured on his third album, Excitable Boy
(1978).
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
noted for including his sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes.
Zevon's work has often been praised by well-known musicians, including Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
, Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, and Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
. His best-known compositions include "Werewolves of London
Werewolves of London
"Werewolves of London" is a rock song composed by LeRoy Marinell, Waddy Wachtel, and Warren Zevon and performed by Zevon. Included on Zevon's 1978 album Excitable Boy, it featured accompaniment by bassist John McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac.The single was released by Asylum as...
", "Lawyers, Guns and Money
Lawyers, Guns and Money
"Lawyers, Guns and Money" is a song by Warren Zevon, the closing track on his 1978 album Excitable Boy.The lyrics describe going home with a waitress who is "with the Russians too". The narrative goes on to speak of "gambling in Havana", with the request that "Dad" send "lawyers, guns and money "...
", "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
"Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" is a song composed by Warren Zevon and David Lindell and performed by Zevon. It was first released on his 1978 album Excitable Boy. It is the last song he ever performed in front of an audience, on the Late Show with David Letterman, before his death in...
" and "Johnny Strikes Up The Band," all of which are featured on his third album, Excitable Boy
Excitable Boy
Excitable Boy is the third album by Warren Zevon, released in 1978. It includes the top 40 success "Werewolves of London". The album brought Warren to commercial attention and remains the best-selling album of his career. A remastered and expanded edition was released during 2007.The tracks...
(1978).
Quotations
I write songs about things that I'm simultaneously trying to not think about.
Quoted in David Bowman, "My Lunch with Warren Zevon," Salon.com (2000-03-17)
It just sort of happened. I wrote like what I'd always read and what was in the movies... I'm sure popular music is supposed to be like this.
Quoted in David Bowman, "My Lunch with Warren Zevon," Salon.com (2000-03-17), answering the question "What led you to stake out the noir Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner|Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner genre?"
Well, first of all, let me say that I might have made a tactical error in not going to a physician for 20 years. It was one of those phobias that really didn’t pay off.
The Late Show with David Letterman (2002-10-30)
Enjoy every sandwich.
Advice given by Warren on The Late Show with David Letterman when he knew he had terminal mesothelioma (2002-10-30)