Singer-songwriter Warren Zevon was known for his offbeat, narrative songs, often employing humor or political satire and involving complex, esoteric references. After a career spanning nearly 40 years, Zevon announced that he had been diagnosed with inoperable mesothelioma in 2002. He recorded and released a final album discussing his illness, 2003's The Wind, before succumbing to the disease in September of that year.
Fast Facts:
- Born January 24, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois
- Died: September 7, 2003
- Lifelong phobia of doctors
- Zevon's father had been an associate of famed crime boss Mickey Cohen
- Suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Wanted to live long enough to see Die Another Day, which he did
- Mesothelioma also took the life of Steve McQueen
Albums
- 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)
- Sentimental Hygiene (1987)
- Transverse City (1989)
- Hindu Love Gods (1990)
- Mr. Bad Example (1991)
- Learning to Flinch (1993)
- Mutineer (1995)
- Life'll Kill Ya (2000)
- My Ride's Here (2002)
- The Wind (2003)
Career Overview
Zevon started his music career as a folk singer and session muscian. An early composition of his, "She Quit Me," was featured in the film Midnight Cowboy. He released his first solo album in 1969, Wanted Dead or Alive, but it largely failed to attract mainstream attention.
In 1976, Zevon recorded a self-titled album with the help of Jackson Browne, The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt. He followed this up in 1978 with the most successful album of his career, 'Excitable Boy, which included the hit songs "Lawyers, Guns and Money" and "Werewolves in London."
Zevon's career continued through the 1980s and 1990s, sometimes sidetracked by Zevon's continual struggles with alcoholism and mental illness.
After his 2002 cancer diagnosis, Zevon refused medical treatment, worried that it was impair his ability to record his final album, The Wind. On October 30 of that year, he appeared as the lone guest on The Late Show with David Letterman, and performed multiple songs from the album in between discussions of his illness. A quote from the appearance - "Enjoy Every Sandwich" - was used as a tribute album recorded after his death and featuring performances by Don Henley, Adam Sandler, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Billy Bob Thornton and The Pixies. Zevon received five posthumous Grammy nominations for the album, and won two of the awards, the first he had ever received.
