[Glenn]

Who?

[Choose Ye This Day]

Zevon’s music is wonderful. That he was a jerk in real life doesn’t surprise me in the least—most rock stars are, even minor stars.

“Accidentally, Like a Martyr” is still his best song.

[johnny7]

Send Lawyers Guns and Money...

[Tijeras_Slim]

I sorta suspected this might be the case. Great songwriter though.

[Jeffrey_D.]

I always enjoyed his music, it was unique to him, and always a different cut from the norm of the day

[reagan_fanatic]

I really liked Werewolves of London. Great song, and I still enjoy it when it comes on the radio.

[outofstyle]

My daughter was given this book by her boyfriend. That caused me to revisit Zevon's work. In fact, I was listening to him just now when I read your post. He really was a genius, especially as a lyricist. I am sorry I missed the last half of his career. His last CD "The Wind," when he knew that he only had a few months to live, is "breath taking." The title is telling in that he was dying of lung cancer and literally could not breath.

He may have had a rough life, but he went out like a gentleman, and a brave one at that.

[nctexan]

Could his "Excitable Boy" be a little autobiographical?

Well, he went down to dinner in his Sunday best
Excitable boy, they all said
And he rubbed the pot roast all over his chest
Excitable boy, they all said

He took in the four a.m. show at the Clark
Excitable boy, they all said
And he bit the usherette's leg in the dark
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy

He took little Suzie to the Junior Prom
Excitable boy, they all said
And he raped her and killed her, then he took her home
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy
After ten long years they let him out of the home
Excitable boy, they all said
And he dug up her grave and built a cage with her bones
Excitable boy, they all said
Well, he's just an excitable boy

[Duke Nukum]

I never really watched The Larry Sanders Show, mostly because I didn’t have HBO at the time, but I somehow caught the one with Zevon and it was hilarious from what I recall.

Zevon was in the green room going on and on about how much he hated Werewolves. He goes out and does a song. Larry Sanders says Werewolves is his favorite and gets his audience to applaud for that song so Zevon ends up having to do it with a grimace.

[Dems_R_Losers]

Luckily, I got to see Zevon live at the old Bayou club in Washington, DC many years ago. Amazing talent. Just him and a guitar and he made more and better music than most of the bands I have seen. I have every one of his albums. I think "Accidentally Like a Martyr" is one of the greatest songs ever written.

I also saw Bruce Springsteen the week that Zevon died. Johnny Cash died the same week. He did a really heartfelt tribute to both of them.

[JennysCool]

Zevon was one of the true originals. And one of the greats.

[samson1097]

Every time I hear him performing Knockin on Heavens Door, I get choked up. He recorded that knowing he was dying a few months later, and to hear his voice and think about that is really something for me.

[Non-Sequitur]

Well, I went home with the 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'm the innocent bystander
Somehow I got stuck
Between the rock and the hard place
And I'm down on my luck
And I'm down on my luck
And I'm down on my luck

Now I'm hiding in Honduras
I'm a desperate man
Send lawyers, guns and money
The shit has hit the fan

Send lawyers, guns and money...

[Lancey Howard]

''When Elektra picked Werewolves as the single, Warren and I just about threw up,'' recalls guitarist/producer Waddy Wachtel in the book. ``We were insulted, depressed. . . . They took that piece of s - - - after we gave them Tenderness on the Block and Johnny Strikes Up the Band? Meanwhile, it's the only hit we ever had.''

My respect for Zevon just went up a few more notches.
Think I'll play 'Carmelita' now....

[doodad]

I have always enjoyed his stuff as well. My wife met him years ago and said he was a slob, trying to get some from all the girls.

Ping for weegee.

[50sDad]

I always thought of him as Randy Newman’s evil twin.

[hophead]

Just before he died Letterman (a good friend) had WZ on for the entire show. Letterman asked him if he had a few words of wisdom to share since he knew he was dying. Zevon thought for a moment and said, “Enjoy Every Sandwich”. Words we should all remember. Thus my tagline for years.

[RightWhale]

Werewolves of London, the infectious song Zevon is best known for, gave him little pleasure.

That's how it goes. 'Crazy Train' was a throwaway for Ozzie and Rhoads.