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Warren Zevon
1,120,578 plays (76,759 listeners)
singer-songwriter, rock, classic rock, folk, alternative… see all
(1969 – 2003)
Warren William Zevon (January 24, 1947 – September 7, 2003), born in Chicago, Illinois, was a rock and roll musician and songwriter. He was noted for his offbeat, sardonic view of life which was reflected in his dark, sometimes humorous songs, which often incorporated political or historical themes.
He was born to a Russian Jewish father and a Mormon mother and soon moved to California. At the age of 12/13, Warren Zevon was a regular visitor to the home of Igor Stravinsky where he, along with Robert Craft, would study music.
He turned to a musical career early, including a stretch as part of a Sonny and Cher-type male/female duo called Lyme and Cybelle, and spent time as a session musician (notably as piano player for the Everly Brothers) and jingle composer. He wrote several songs for his White Whale label-mates the Turtles, though his participation in their recording is unknown. Another early composition (“She Quit Me”) was included in the soundtrack for Midnight Cowboy, released in 1969. His first attempt at a solo album, Wanted Dead or Alive (1969), did not fare well, and his second effort, Leaf in the Wind, was scrapped (though release was considered just prior to his death). In the early 70s he toured regularly with the Everly Brothers as keyboard player and band leader/musical coordinator. His dissatisfaction with his career and the opportunities for a song-writer led him to move to Spain briefly, where he played in a small bar owned by a former mercenary. Together, they penned Zevon’s classic “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner.”
He was born to a Russian Jewish father and a Mormon mother and soon moved to California. At the age of 12/13, Warren Zevon was a regular visitor to the home of Igor Stravinsky where he, along with Robert Craft, would study music.
He turned to a musical career early, including a stretch as part of a Sonny and Cher-type male/female duo called Lyme and Cybelle, and spent time as a session musician (notably as piano player for the Everly Brothers) and jingle composer. He wrote several songs for his White Whale label-mates the Turtles, though his participation in their recording is unknown. Another early composition (“She Quit Me”) was included in the soundtrack for Midnight Cowboy, released in 1969. His first attempt at a solo album, Wanted Dead or Alive (1969), did not fare well, and his second effort, Leaf in the Wind, was scrapped (though release was considered just prior to his death). In the early 70s he toured regularly with the Everly Brothers as keyboard player and band leader/musical coordinator. His dissatisfaction with his career and the opportunities for a song-writer led him to move to Spain briefly, where he played in a small bar owned by a former mercenary. Together, they penned Zevon’s classic “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner.”
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See moreVideos
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Play
Warren Zevon - Hasten Down The Wind
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Play
Warren Zevon - Excitable Boy
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Play
Warren Zevon Lawyers, Guns and Money
Top Albums
Shoutbox
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Leslian wrote:
Usually i don't judge people based on their music preferences. but people who don't like Warren Zevon are bad people. it's just that simple.
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ednaha wrote:
Every Zevon song was a gem. I wish there were more tracks playable on last.fm. Oh, well. Enjoy every sandwich.
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TheDucChick wrote:
Kid Rock paid good money and Jordan took it. Some re-releases in the works including the S/T. On vinyl, too.
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TrixRabbi wrote:
Took me a little while to really get into stuff other than Werewolves, but my music taste evolves so much I kept coming back to him and I'm finally really getting into the Excitable Boy album.
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TheFishV2 wrote:
How was Kid Rock allowed to perpetrate such anti-lulz?
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PinKkFloyDd wrote:
Quite the underrated songwriter.
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rottmadgers wrote:
"I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" and "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" do it for me every single time...
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omgmangojuice wrote:
Awesome stuff. his son Jordan's music is also really good.
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hablamosnico wrote:
Wooo 1 million plays!
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McGerkey wrote:
Roland was actually my first Warren Zevon song.
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Ulfrinn wrote:
Yeah, if it weren't for werewolves I probbaly wouldn't be listening to Zevon. Werewolves hooks you in, and then your bombarded with so many other great songs. It's like the gateway.
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chuckbeikert wrote:
I don't think people should be upset that "Werewolves" is perpetually at the top of the list. I have almost all of Zevon's old stuff on vinyl and newer stuff on cd. I count him among my favorite artists. I think that qualifies me as a fan. How many of us heard "Werewolves" before say..."Roland" or "Mohammed's Radio?" Were it not for the popularity and FM airplay of that song far fewer of us would be aware of his other stuff.
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McGerkey wrote:
Life'll Kill Ya is where it's at.
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rottmadgers wrote:
His debut is my personal favorite.
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rottmadgers wrote:
Love Warren. You are truly missed, good sir.
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Taren wrote:
Zevon is the best song writer of our generation. ): He's really missed.
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VanillaScarab wrote:
I saw Chuck Norris walkin' with the Queen, an' everybody was kung fu fightin'!
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jimtag wrote:
ONE full track? WTF? Excitable Boy? Lawyers, Guns & Money? Johnny Strikes Up The Band?
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N3croyeti wrote:
So is Warewolves of London popular now that Kid "the cancer of music" Rock sampled it or something?
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TheDucChick wrote:
Drat...now I see only partials. I'll be Rhino or Virgin has something up their sleeve. Jordan's been itching for a boxed set.
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