speed of dark

This Friday marks four years since Warren Zevon's death at the young age of 56 from cancer--a form associated with exposure to asbestos, not from smoking.

Zevon was barely past his teens when he began playing with music legends the Everly Brothers and writing songs with 60's popstars the Turtles. His first album, Wanted Dead or Alive was released in 1969. He is probably best-known for "Werewolves of London" and "Lawyers, Gun, and Money" from 1978's Excitable Boy, and I know that's when I first became aware of him. During his life he worked with an incredible list of musicians: Bruce Springsteen (on Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School - 1980), members of R.E.M. (with Hindu Love Gods), Neil Young and Bob Dylan (Sentimental Hygiene - 1987), Jerry Garcia and David Gilmore of Pink Floyd (Transverse City - 1989).

He was closely associated with the elite of the golden age of California rock--the Eagles, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Ry Cooder, and David Lindley--but he carved his own niche with his dark and ironic style, which often reflected his battles with addictive substances and self-destructive behavior.

His song-writing ranged from biting irony and noirish humor to tender ballads like "Hasten Down the Wind" (Warren Zevon-1976) and "El Amor de Mi Vida" (The Wind-2003) to bleak observations from the gutter like "Carmelita" (Warren Zevon) and "Bed of Coals" (Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School).

After being diagnosed with inoperable mesothelioma in 2002, Zevon was featured on the Late Show with David Letterman on October 30 of that year as the only guest for the entire hour. He had been a frequent guest and occasionally substituted for the show's bandleader, Paul Schaffer, since the Late Show first aired in 1982. During this broadcast Zevon offered his often-cited view on facing death: "Enjoy every sandwich," which became the title of a tribute album by friends and son Jordan in 2004.

Although he lived much longer than the three months his doctors estimated he had at his diagnosis, he missed seeing his last album, The Wind, released barely a week before his death in August 2003, be certified gold and win two Grammy awards after being nominated for five. In 2007, a total of three CDs, some re-released albums in expanded versions and some never-before released rare and early tracks, have been made available: Stand In the Fire (1981) and The Envoy (1982) by Rhino Records and Preludes - Rare and Unreleased Recordings by Ammal Records.

His ex-wife Crystal Zevon has written I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon, chronicling the rollercoaster life of this rock and roll animal. The project had Zevon's blessing, and he requested that she include his worst along with his best. His story is told by her and his family, close friends like Jackson Browne and Billy Bob Thornton, and literary pals Stephen King and Dave Barry.

Here's to a beautiful, bad boy and a reminder to all of us to enjoy every sandwich.

Detox Mansion from Sentimental Hygiene (1987)
(Attention Amy Winehouse: take notes.)

Splendid Isolation from Transverse City (1989)

Mr. Bad Example from Mr. Bad Example (1991)
I'm Mr. Bad Example, intruder in the dirt
I like to have a good time, and I don't care who gets hurt
I'm Mr. Bad Example, take a look at me
I'll live to be a hundred, and go down in infamy

There's all of Zevon's wicked, dark humor and not a shred of maudlin sentimentality in the lyrics to "Life'll Kill Ya" or the equally ironic "Don't Let Us Get Sick" that incredibly preshadow his diagnosis:
From the President of the United States
To the lowliest rock and roll star
The doctor is in and he'll see you now
He don't care who you are
Some get the awful, awful diseases
Some get the knife, some get the gun
Some get to die in their sleep
At the age of a hundred and one
Life'll Kill Ya from Life'll Kill Ya (2000)
This album contains many of my favorites including "Porcelain Monkey," "For My Next Trick I'll Need a Volunteer," and the disturbingly naked "Hostage-O."

My Ride's Here from My Ride's Here (2002)
I was staying at the Westin
I was playing to a draw
When in walked Charlton Heston
With the Tablets of the Law
He said, "It's still the Greatest Story"
I said, "Man, I'd like to stay
But I'm bound for glory
I'm on my way
My ride's here..."

Dirty Life and Times from The Wind (2003)
There's no mistaking Ry Cooder on guitar, and it sounds like Dwight Yoakum and Cooder on backing vocals. An amazing roster of musicians helped Zevon "record as many songs as fast as I can" for this final album.

David Lindley provides vocals in this cover from the tribute album:
David Lindley and Ry Cooder: Monkey Wash Donkey Rinse from Enjoy Every Sandwich (2004), originally on Mutineer (1995)

This questionable-quality video of Zevon performing an acoustic version of "Lawyers, Guns, and Money" for BBC in 1994 displays his power as a solo performer.

This video memorial montage is set to "Werewolves of London" and includes Zevon's remark on David Letterman that he "made a tactical error in not going to a physican for 20 years."

Website | Fansite: Zevonaticism | Wikipedia | Lyrics
Buy at Amazon.com, nearly the entire discography on iTunes, and eMusic
Also of note: The Warren Zevon Guitar Songbook