I was looking at an old music thread here, and somebody didn't know Warren Zevon. A thread is born.

Warren Zevon's biggest hit was Werewolves of London.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MRu8N2K0NY

Zevon was literate and funny and smart as hell. He wrote songs about anything and everything. A song about a mercenary fighting in Africa, who is dead! Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epYGM9KC6S4

Zevon told rich complex stories with his songs. He was a true original.

Lawyers, Guns, and Money: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwXMkfeH95k

"I went home with a waitress, the way I always do. How was I to know she was with the Russians too? I was gambling in Havana. I took a little risk. Send lawyers, guns and money. Dad, get me out of this."

I could go on and on about Warren Zevon. Rub the pot roast across your chest, get excited, and honor this genius.

I have enjoyed Warren Zevon's music for years. The following song is from his last album (The Wind), a cover of Bob Dylan's Knocking on Heaven's Door:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKHFWpaTUmY


-Zeno

Bonus track, Disorder in the House (with Bruce Springsteen)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siqJq...eature=related

My favorite use of consonance in a song:

"Little old lady got mutilated late last night...."

And he knew he was dying. That's powerful.

And his hair was perfect

He rubbed the pot roast all over his chest.

I was gambling in Havana,
I'm a desperate man,
Send lawyers, guns and money,
The **** has hit the fan.

His 2nd to last album's themes dealt with his impending death. After he got all that out of his system, he recorded his last album of songs that he wanted to do just for the joy of performing music.

I don't know anything about how he might have known he was dying, but that was a great rendition. Open up open up open up open up open up...

Dylan was a genius, but what an odd genius that he was channeling something that others could do so much better ... some of my favorite songs are those that somebody else ripped from Dylan and did better.

That was a man, right there.

The first I heard of this guy he was talking about his terminal illness and said as long as he lived to see the next Bond film (that was soon to come out), that's all he wanted. lol.

IIRC he did make it.

warren zevon was the ****ing man.

This is one of my favorite Zevon songs, Boom Boom Mancini:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCpdkbo-_co

"Hurry home early. Hurry on home. Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon."

Mancini was a popular boxer in the 80's and unfortunately killed a man in the ring.

"The name of the game is be hit and hit back."

Complete badass.

you're the man kioshk. this is just the thread that we need to rescue humanity from eternal destruction. i feel very passionately about warren zevon, so im gonna think for a bit and make a long post. until then i just wanna say

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7lOYCO2Xn8

I can saw a woman in two, but you wont wanna look in the box when im through.
I can make love disappear, for my next trick ill need a volunteer.

Not only did Du Ku Kim die as a result of this fight, it was broadcast live on national television back when boxing still captured the imagination of the casual sports fan. Mancini's career was never the same after this.

I love this song but I don't remember his fight against Bobby Chacon.

I saw the Mancini/Kim fight live when it happened....on TV, I mean.

And how Warren Zevon is so under appreciated while Billy Joel is huge, I'll never know.

I did too, Dominic. Mancini was so charismatic. I remember his father had also been a fighter.

I guess when your creative genius seems to have the magical power to stop time dead in its tracks around 1968, that you are only going to reach a niche market.
What a hidden gem!
His lack of recognition says a lot about the intellectual level of contemporary culture.
But I still prefer Dylan's Knocking on Heaven's Door.

This is Gorilla, You're a Desperado

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2O91T6ZeW0

A gorilla takes his place in human society

"Big gorilla at the LA Zoo, snatched the glasses right off my face. Took the keys to my BMW. Left me here to take his place. I wish the ape a lot of success. I'm sorry my apartment's a mess. Most of all, I'm sorry if I made you blue. I'm betting the gorilla will too."

National TV Saturday afternoon fights used to be great. I was in college at the time and remember watching this fight with a bunch of friends. Du Ku Kim put up a good fight through the middle rounds but definitely seemed to run out of gas prior to being knocked out in the 14th round.

None of us watching knew anything about Kim's physical condition until the next day when we heard news reports of him being on life support. To this day it is the only time I have watched a fight in real time when one of the combatants was killed.

Warren Zevon is awesome. I posted this in the "other" song off a classic album thread, but one of my favorite Zevon songs is Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner.

"They can still see his headless body stalking through the night / In the muzzle flash of Roland's Thompson gun."

Warren was great. His lyrics are great, his sound is great, and his personality as a performer was great. He died way too soon. One of my favorite quotes of all time is "Enjoy every sandwich."

Blarg - He had inoperable cancer. He had a few months to live so recorder as best he could. Got some visits from various musicians in his last weeks who said their good-bye's, etc.

I saw Warren Zevon in concert I think 2 different times (might have been three but I can't remember it). Good times. Glad I saw him. First time was on my birthday. My best friend at that time had the same birthday as me and I told him we had to find something super-cool to do on "our" birthday even though it was on a Tuesday. He found out that Zevon was in concert not far from us.

Preach, Brother Dom, Preach !!!

I want "My Ride's Here" played at my funeral.

Not for a long time, you understand.

I think it was Max what figured out that my icon was Warren's logo.

You guys might want to check out the "Hindu Love Gods"... which consisted of REM (minus Stipe) with Warren singing.

On one of his greatest hits compilations the Gods do a cover of Raspberry Beret.