I can’t think of another artist who’s moved me as much, whose music accompanies more memories, good and bad, who’s made the despair that I’ve felt seem poetic, natural, even good. I can’t even imagine a time when I won’t be able to look forward to his next album.
And yet…
If anyone can do this with style, Mr. Zevon can.
I’ve got to go listen to Learning to Flinch now. And maybe, later, Life’ll Kill Ya.
Thank you for posting this, MrVisible. I have been a fan of the under-ratedTenacious Z for many, many years. I knew he wasn’t well, but did not know just how bad it was.
One of the best, and most literate, of all songwriters. And one helluva performer, too!
I’ve got a t-shirt with Warren’s “Ol’ Velvet Nose” logo on it (a skull with round glasses and a cigarette in its teeth. You can see a picture of the logo here)
I logged into Yahoo and saw that headline. My day went to hell in a bucket seeing those few words that told me an icon of my life is about to cross over.
Leave it to Warren, though, to actually make me laugh while I read the annoucement of his impending death.
I adore the man (I’ve talked with him after a few of his shows here in Phoenix), I treasure his music, and I’m going to feel a hole when he crosses over. He’s my favorite rock songwriter of all time, and a genuinely brilliant and human person.
“Life’ll kill ya
That’s what I said.
Life’ll kill ya,
and then you’ll be dead.”
Here’s hoping the new Bond flick makes it worth sticking around for him for a little longer, and here’s hoping his pain is as well managed as possible.
It seems that fate conspires to take great things while allowing mediocrity to live forever. He gave us a lot of really good music, and that this happens to him just tears me up.
He’s left a mark. Even if it’s just a few classic rock radio station listeners who heard his popular anthems about lawyers and beasts, plus a few devoted fans, that’s something. Godspeed, Warren Zevon, our thoughts are with you, and though we might selfishly wish you had gifted us with more (as we often wish of artists), know that our wishes only serve to your credit.
I’m very ashamed of myself that I didn’t find this out until twenty minutes ago when my mom sent me an e-mail. I called Mr. Rilch…
…my hands are shaking…
There, better.
…and he said he’d seen it in USA Today. He’d been preparing himself to break it to me gently.
In January of 1992, I saw Warren perform at a club in Cleveland. I hung around outside just to see him leave. I said to him, “Oh god Warren I love you so much.” He smiled and shook my hand and the world went black. Next thing I knew, I was running down the sidewalk, whooping and hollering.
He’s not just my favorite musician, he’s my personal idol. Abuse survivor and all that.
I just got his new album yesterday! Ordered online.
I had no fucking idea about this.
Funny thing is, I finally stopped drinking. Now I have an extra incentive to stay stopped, besides my personal reasons.
See you in the next life, Warren. And I won’t forget to wake you up for meals.
On my anthology disc set, “Desperados Under the Eaves” is followed by “Johnny Strikes Up the Band”. So we go from “Look away, look away down Gower Avenue” to “Dry your eyes my little friend; let me take you by the hand”.
