# Warren Zevon Dead at 56 **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 8, 2003, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270 "2003-09-08T11:33:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/61 "2003-09-09T13:28:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lost4life \* > \*\*Hey asshat, we’re all mourning here and you decide to break in and defend cigarettes? My friend has a few months to live because of smoking. True she made those decisions, but I’m not going to show up at her funeral and eulogize with “Now let’s not blame the cigarettes, the tobacco companies are the real victims here, what with the lost revenue and all…” It’s called tact, get some. \*\* I think the underlined part is what he meant. Not the cigarettes themselves, but the act of smoking them. They don’t ruin your health just sitting there in the carton. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/62 "2003-09-09T13:59:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rilchiam \* > \*\*I think the underlined part is what he meant. Not the cigarettes themselves, but the act of smoking them. They don’t ruin your health just sitting there in the carton. \*\* And my point was that you don’t jump into a thread where people are grieving about losing someone they cared for to cancer in order to correct the mourners and defend cigarettes. It’s tacky, lame, and out of place. If he had O.D.ed, I wouldn’t pop in and tell everyone who’s upset that “we shouldn’t blame the crack, after all, it didn’t do anything.” Go start a separate thread about how cigarettes don’t kill people, but people kill people. Leave this one be. ---
**Author:** ![Fatwater\_Fewl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@Fatwater\_Fewl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fatwater_Fewl)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/63 "2003-09-09T14:25:29Z")
We’ll get through somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/64 "2003-09-09T14:58:05Z")
Now we’ll need another verse from Alan O’Day’s [“Rock and Roll Heaven.”](http://www.alanoday.com/alllyrics.html) Not so flip a comment as it may sound. Alan does (or used to) revise and/or add verses of this song when appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/65 "2003-09-09T23:54:00Z")
**lost4life** , in your post back on the first page, you said “why is this in the pit?” That wasn’t very tactful either–putting a criticism of thread placement in a mourning thread! But I’ll give you a pass given the circumstances. FWIW, I’ll tell you why I put it here. I opened the “new thread” window intending to write a rant about the untimely loss of my idol and hero. But I just couldn’t do it. I was too upset. So I did the best that I could under the circumstances. It wasn’t a long rant, but it was probably the most heartfelt rant I ever posted. And to those of you who are saying that the cigarettes probably didn’t kill him because mesothelioma is more commonly linked to asbestos inhalation: \*\*WHAT ARE YOU, STUPID??? \*\* ---
**Author:** ![AnnaLivia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@AnnaLivia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnnaLivia)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/66 "2003-09-10T00:31:07Z")
Being the weirdo that I am, I went out and howled at the moon. It’s always seemed appropriate. There was something about pure sound that just seemed right at the time. Also, being the Very Important Book and Music Seller that I am, I upsold at every opportunity today. AL, who gave her sandwich a funny look today. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/67 "2003-09-10T01:49:42Z")
DAMNIT. This. Just. Sucks. Though I wonder in secret how Carl Hiaasen will euologize him. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/68 "2003-09-10T02:04:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lost4life \* > \*\*Hey asshat, we’re all mourning here and you decide to break in and defend cigarettes? My friend has a few months to live because of smoking. True she made those decisions, but I’m not going to show up at her funeral and eulogize with “Now let’s not blame the cigarettes, the tobacco companies are the real victims here, what with the lost revenue and all…” It’s called tact, get some. \*\* Since this is The Pit, I’ll take the opportunity to offer you a sincere FUCK YOU. I miss good old Warren as much as you do (even if I don’t indulge in holier-than-though lip smacking); many of my fondest memories are of singing along to his songs with my mates. But I really despise how people can dream up inapproprate scapegoats, like laywers, guns, and cigarettes, when it is voluntary risky behavior that really causes the problems that plague us mortals. A tip of my ass-hat to your dying friend, but this ISN’T her funeral, or Warren’s either. So lighten up, Francis…Timmy ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/69 "2003-09-10T02:04:43Z")
**buttonjockey** : You just made me smile for the first time in 2 days. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/70 "2003-09-10T02:55:49Z")
🙂 No Problem, Bean. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/71 "2003-09-10T02:56:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\*And to those of you who are saying that the cigarettes probably didn’t kill him because mesothelioma is more commonly linked to asbestos inhalation: > > \*\*WHAT ARE YOU, STUPID??? \*\* \*\* If “stupid” is a synonym for “informed,” yes! ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/72 "2003-09-10T03:44:16Z")
[Letterman had quite a lot to say, evidently.](http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/6728719.htm) > [@](#): > > It was just thundering and exciting and rhythmic and complicated and unusual rock ‘n’ roll," he continued. "It was not the kind of rock ‘n’ roll you would hear much of. And then the lyrics, oh my God, the lyrics were so vivid. Just very evocative and each song that you listened to was like watching a motion picture. Letterman’s also got a few things on his [site](http://www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/) about Warren. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/73 "2003-09-10T13:13:42Z")
I will probably get into Warren Zevon now that I’ve seen the VH1 show about him. I never knew he did the Werewolves song. What I am pleased for with Warren is the fact he lived to see the birth of his twin grandsons. When, on the documentary, his daughter told him that one of the boys would have the middle name of Warren, the look on his face just made me bawl. RIP, Warren. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/74 "2003-09-10T13:41:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tim R. Mortiss \* > \*\*Since this is The Pit, I’ll take the opportunity to offer you a sincere FUCK YOU. I miss good old Warren as much as you do (even if I don’t indulge in holier-than-though lip smacking); many of my fondest memories are of singing along to his songs with my mates. But I really despise how people can dream up inapproprate scapegoats, like laywers, guns, and cigarettes, when it is voluntary risky behavior that really causes the problems that plague us mortals. A tip of my ass-hat to your dying friend, but this ISN’T her funeral, or Warren’s either. So lighten up, Francis…Timmy \*\* Sorry for the holier-than-though lipsmacking, but I must have misunderstood your grief, what with your post beginning with \*\*“Yeah, right. Blame the cigarettes.” \*\*I didn’t know you missed him that much. It was so touching when you followed that heartfelt statement with **"Even if it WAS a smoking related cancer, it’s not like they leap into your mouth and force their smoke in against your will. "** I feel your pain. I didn’t realize you were so affected by his passing. You have my sympathy. > [@](#): > > \*\* A tip of my ass-hat to your dying friend, but this ISN’T her funeral, or Warren’s either. \*\* Wow, you’re a class act all the way. Maybe you can do the eulogy! > [@](#): > > \*\* So lighten up, Francis…Timmy \*\* Oooh, you got me. A quote from Stripes. Thank you for not using the Caddyshack attack on me. ---
**Author:** ![DeepPurple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@DeepPurple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeepPurple)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/75 "2003-09-19T02:51:27Z")
just wanted to let anyone that cares know, Carl Hiaasen’s site has a letter Carl wrote about Warren.[Carl Hiaasen](http://www.carlhiaasen.com/zevon.html) ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/76 "2003-09-19T03:39:12Z")
_My Ride’s Here_ One of my all time favorites. May he rest in peace. Like most of us, I was introduced to Warren with _Werewolves of London_. Does anyone know why it wasn’t featured in the film _An American Werewolf In London_? I’ve always wondered why it wasn’t made the title tune. I am aware that the pop tunes on the soundtrack have the word _Moon_ in the title, but still… Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/77 "2003-09-19T05:17:37Z")
Anyone remember the “News Overnight” after-midnight network news with Linda Ellerbee ca. 1975? Didn’t Zevon write the theme, which visually featured a swirling video camera? I can’t remember how it went, but I loved that tune, and Ellerbee’s irreverent delivery, too. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/78 "2003-09-19T07:56:05Z")
Here’s some good news - “The Wind” opened at 16 on the Billboard chart and started to fade off to #40 last week, but since Warren died the album has gained a new life and has climbed to at least #12, and once site I read said that it was now at #7. If so, that would be the highest chart position he ever had. And “Genius: The Best of Warren Zevon” has now charted on the Billboard 200, for the first time. It’s nice that he’s finally getting some recognition. And a lot of the obits are finally acknowledging that Zevon was one of the best songwriters of the last 30 years, and his first two major albums were two of the best albums of the 1970’s. I used to tell people that and they’d go, “Warren who? That werewolves guy? You’re nuts.” But now they know better! ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/79 "2003-09-20T00:55:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Musicat \* > \*\*Now we’ll need another verse from Alan O’Day’s [“Rock and Roll Heaven.”](http://www.alanoday.com/alllyrics.html) > > Not so flip a comment as it may sound. Alan does (or used to) revise and/or add verses of this song when appropriate. \*\* Wow! I didn’t know that, **Musicat**! I really thought O’Day’s claim to fame was _Undercover Angel_! I’ll be going to the website ASAP, thanks! Q ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270/80 "2003-09-20T01:27:29Z")
I’ve known who he was–vaguely–for over 25 years. I was familiar with his hit singles. But I never bought any of his stuff. I heard the annoncement about his health and I saw his appearance on Letterman’s show last fall, and he really impressed me. But I quickly let him drop off my radar again. Then, the day after his death, I walked into the store and bought _Genius_ and I’ve been listening to it over and over. Damn, Joni Mitchell was right–you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. So long, Warren. Sorry I didn’t pay attention sooner. Give my love to Carmelita and Roland. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-zevon-dead-at-56/200270.md?page=5)