Warren Zevon Appreciation Thread

McHaven · #1 12-15-2009, 11:11 PM

Its finals time at college and every year I turn on "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" by Zevon during the late night study sessions. My father got me into Zevon years ago and I had never really listened to the bass on these albums. Tonight while I was listening to a lot of his catalog, there's some fantastic bass playing. Turns out, Zevon has had a lot of big name bassists as well as other star guests on a ton of his albums. So many of the big names credit him as an influence, but he never got any of the attention.

Here's a list of bassists he's worked with
Jorge Calderon
Bob Glaub
Jack Casady
John Patituci
Leland Sklar
Flea
Tony Levin
Mike Mills
Skip Battin
Larry Klein

Aside from that he's worked with countless other big names on guitar/drums/vocals. David Gilmour, Mick Fleetwood, Don Henley, Springsteen, Stevie Nicks. The list just goes on and on.

Zevon is the great singer/songwriter. He put up with his lack of fame for years, lived through terrible addictions and always put out quality work. The man practically does not remember 1975-1990, but his albums are perfect. Sadly he passed in 2003 from incurable lung cancer. However, his lasting catalog continues to inspire me.

Anyone else?

kesslari · #2 12-15-2009, 11:18 PM

Zevon was a brilliant songwriter with an incredible, often dark sense of humor. From "Lawyers, Guns and Money" to "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" and "Excitable Boy" on one end of the spectrum, through "Werewolves of London" on another end, and through the really touching "Keep Me in Your Heart" - he left a brilliant legacy. He recorded his last album in a big hurry, knowing he was dying of cancer. The songs on it have incredible passion in them.
I saw him in the '70's, and he was wasted, but fantastic. Then again, so were most of us...

Mr-Wunderful · #3 12-16-2009, 08:52 AM

I love Zevon. I was fortunate to see him in Dallas in the early 90's (sober) great show. The Odds were his opening act as well as his backing band.

bassbully · #4 12-16-2009, 09:47 PM

I was always a fan but never dug into his catalog until recent. I have bought several of his albums and they are Gems. Although he often came across as abrasive and odd he was a talented writer with heart and soul...he will be missed. Some fav's Mohamed's Radio, Hasten Down the wind, Roland ,lawyers, French Inhaler and the list goes on..and on.

lunarpollen · #5 12-16-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr-Wunderful

I love Zevon. I was fortunate to see him in Dallas in the early 90's (sober) great show. The Odds were his opening act as well as his backing band.

I saw him in NY City on that tour (Mr. Bad Example). The guitarist from the Odds totally messed up the guitar solo to Werewolves of London, it was pretty funny. Saw him a few years later at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. His Stand in the Fire album shows him at his best, live, IMO. Unfortunately a lot of his albums were kind of lacking, in the production department. That dull generic California rock sound where nothing really sounds great and everything just sounds "there." If only he had some great production to match up with his excellent songwriting and the excellent musical performances, it would have really made his records shine.

WildTrkey · #6 12-16-2009, 10:02 PM

'Nightime in the Switching Yard' is funky as it gets. 'My $#!^$ #%@&'d up.' is also priceless. The guy was genius. Ever heard 'The Hockey Song (Hit Somebody)' ?

flatwounds · #7 12-17-2009, 04:48 AM

Love Zevon.

One of my favourite song writers. My cousin gave my father the My Ride's Here album one year for Christmas. First I'd heard of him, but soon became hooked.

Desperadoes Under the Eaves has to be one of my favourites of all time. Accidentally like a Martyr is beautiful also.

If you haven't checked it out yet, check out Zevon's last appearance on Letterman. The entire show was dedicated to him.

Mojo-Man · #8 12-17-2009, 11:42 AM

I'm a big Zevon fan.
Glaub, and Sklar kill on those albums.

ventichai · #9 12-17-2009, 11:45 AM

there was a bootleg of a solo show floating on the net when he was still able to perform.
great skill set... very dark humor as he was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel

Stingray5 · #10 12-17-2009, 08:46 PM

I'm in. HUGE Zevon fan. Regret never having got to see him live. Doesn't matter though. He's probably one of my biggest non-bass related musical influences.

My wife never took to him, so one time, after a long layoff, I put on 'Accidentally Like a Martyr', and she loved it. Kept asking me who it was and I wouldn't tell her and when I finally caved in she was like, "really?!'

Was such a talented man..