Warren Zevon Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer
Published September 12, 2002
"But then I knew it was bad when the doctor came in with the CAT scan in his hand, closed the door and gave me a glass of water and said, 'I need to tell you something.' "
When Zevon turned to a sober life, he made a public announcement that he did not want to die by drink, which he described as a coward's death. That was a time before the celebrity mea culpa was fashionable, but Zevon's proclamation then is similar to his new announcement, via press release on Thursday, about his health. Zevon explained during Wednesday's interview that he took that approach to define as much as possible the terms of his own life and death.
And what are the terms of the moment? Family and music, he says, as well as watching lots of Steve McQueen movies and shoveling down eggs and bacon. "That's what I eat. Every meal. It's fantastic."
Zevon was married twice but is now single. His adult children, Jordan and Ariel, are in Southern California now, and the singer said he hopes to pack his days with them and maybe even make it out for a fishing trip, one of his beloved pursuits. Next week, though, Zevon plans to be in the recording studio. Long known as a methodical, less-than-prolific artist, Zevon is now in a different gear.
"I've been working frantically," he said. "But you know, imminent doom lowers the bar a bit."
If the trips to the studio are too taxing, Zevon has at his disposal an elaborate nest of recording gear set up within feet of his bed. "That's thanks to Danny Goldberg," he said, a nod to the chief of Zevon's label, Artemis Records. "He is the absolute best."
Zevon declined to offer any hints about the new songs, but he said fans should not anticipate material of moist eyes or long, distant stares. "You needn't look for a great deal more of piety. I have a little mischief in mind." Imagine Celine Dion reacting this way.
UPDATE
Jim Henley has some fine words and an excellent roundup:
- A famous Zevon profile in a c. 1980 Rolling Stone issue led me to read the Lew Archer novels of Ross MacDonald. Lucky the young man at loose ends who stumbles upon these books, in so many of which a young man at loose ends tries to figure out how to live like a decent human being. MacDonald was my gateway to the wondrous world of the American mystery. Zevon also led me to the better sort of spy novel - I remember showing up for a concert at the Bayou in Georgetown with a copy of Ross Thomas' classic, Chinaman's Chance - hoping, of course, that Zevon would notice and make me his pal - didn't happen. Hey, the Bayou never started concerts on time! You had to entertain yourself before the show somehow. (At that one, a fan yelled out a request for "Carmelita," the Mexicali-flavored lament of a junkie novelist. Zevon's response: "I would rather stick things in my eye.")
- Warren Zevon Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer
- Published: September 12, 2002
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: News, Music: Rock
- Writer: Eric Olsen
- Eric Olsen's BC Writer page
- Eric Olsen's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
Clicked on the Nancy Nall link. No mention of Mr Zevon. Clicked on some of her archives. No mention of Mr Zevon.
Nancy passed the information on to me - she'll have something on WZ tonight.
Sorry, Paul. I'm not a blogger in the updated-all-day mold. Just one diary entry at the end of the day, which I'm working on, which will be Zevon-heavy tonight, I suspect.
Zevon collaborated a while back with Carl Hiaasen in the Floridian author's latest foray into the world of bizarre criminality --- BASKET CASE.
Zevon and Hiaasen penned a song together, Basket Case, an MP3 which is available at Hiaasen's web site..
Well I went to the doctor,
I said "I'm feeling kinda rough."
"Let me break it to you, son
Your shit's fucked up."
I said, "My shit's fucked up?
Well, I don't see how."
He said, The shit that used to work
Don't work now."
...As a man of a certain age, I've been relating strongly to these lyrics from Life'll Kill Ya in recent months. Very sorry to hear of Warren's prognosis.
"But then I knew it was bad when the doctor came in with the CAT scan in his hand, closed the door and gave me a glass of water and said, 'I need to tell you something.' "
WZ captures this event perfectly in his song My Shit's Fucked Up (on Life'll Kill Ya). Having been diagnosed with cancer as well at one point, this is an incredibly poignant song which many miss because of the profanity of it.
-pjc
Devastated to hear the news about the wolf man. Hope he and Jackson touch ground and put a few tunes down real soon.
Damn. It was listening to Warren Zevon that I realized what indeed a truly GREAT song was, and he greatly influences my songwriting to this day. He reminded me that 3 or 4 chords is all you need, as long as you have something worthwhile to say. I have been hoping that he would put out an album soon, and I hope that his remaining days are as fulfilling to him as they can be. Thanks, Mr. Zevon, for giving me some great stuff to hook onto.
Stevie Z
I had the whole crew at work singing the phrase
monkey wash donkey rinse for weeks. Thev're still trying to figure it out.My life's a better
place due to your slick absurdities.My buddy
turned me on to "Learning to Flinch " while I
was doing an anchor watch over the Andrea Doria
in '95 and I've been tuned in since. THANKS
Music has always held such an important place in my life. When all else fails, i listen to good music, and things somehow seem better.
Warren was "the guy" who wrote much of that good music, and helped me over some rough times in my life...
Wish there was someway i could return the favor...
Music has always held such an important place in my life. When all else fails, i listen to good music, and things somehow seem better.
Warren was "the guy" who wrote much of that good music, and helped me over some rough times in my life...
Wish there was someway i could return the favor...
Zevon is great to have around.
Did anyone see David Letterman on 10/30/02? Warren was the only guest, talked about his music, his cancer, and sang Mutineer, genius, and Roland the Headless Thompson gunner. He was ironic and sad and hilarious. Great show.
I discovered Warren Zevon around 1978, and he has since been my favorite artist (At 52, I'm still rockin'!). No... more than that, but there really aren't any proper words of appreciation.
I've been to every performance of his that I could manage, and was never disappointed. To say that I am a fan is... well, my black German Shepherd's name is "Zevon", and my KaZaA username is "exciteableboy". When I heard the news of his terminal illness it were as if one of my closest friends had just received the death sentence... devastating!
His dark humor and views on life somewhat parallel my own, which, perhaps is the connection I feel so acutely. But then, if he were to read this, I know that he might also twitch a lip in half a smile and think that MY shit was fucked up, and that I should get on with it and enjoy every bite of my sandwich before the Grim Reaper catches up with ME.
I will miss his presence dearly, and will mourn the absence of all the music that he would have given us. Yet, I will celebrate his life and all that he has been able to give us. Farewell to a friend. Know that your fans hold a genuine love for you.
Amen, Brother K.Schultz!
WZ will be sadly missed. So grateful to have discovered his music. Can't help but smile every time I hear a tune.
Thank you, WarrenZ.
having lost a loved one to mesothelioma a few years ago, music was a great solace, and i blasted Zevon all the time. his lyrics and music helped ease the pain and sorrow. how ironic to lose him now to the same insidious disease. his master of language and the human condition was the best. his appearance on Letterman was pure "class and courage".
would appreciate it so very much if someone has a tape of Warren's 10/30/02 appearance on the Letterman show (mine did not come out, and if I were as talented as WZ, I'd write a lyric about that). Thanks!
Warren is the best. Let's continue the work to get him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Also, I'd like to see a tribute album with some of his friends covering his songs -- albeit most will be unable match the virtuosity of the originals, it would be good to hear.
I have all of WZ's records/CDs. He gave me over 20 years of fantastic/great music. Thanks Warren.
Just FYI, mesothelioma, which I learned from Rolling Stone is the cancer Warren has, does not result from smoking, drinking or partying like a rock star. It is an environmental cancer generally caused by exposure to asbestos (although there are other theories, such as exposure to SV-40, a simian virus that showed up in early polio vaccines that US, UK and Canadian kids of Zevon's generation got). I had a family member die of this disease at age 46. It is a horrible cancer, which can be palliated but there's no cure. I only say this because the overall tone of media coverage is that Warren accepts that his lifestyle led to this outcome. If it did, it's because he worked somewhere and was exposed to asbestos, or some other environmental contaminant, and not because he stayed too long at the fair.
Just FYI, mesothelioma, which I learned from Rolling Stone is the cancer Warren has, does not result from smoking, drinking or partying like a rock star. It is an environmental cancer generally caused by exposure to asbestos (although there are other theories, such as exposure to SV-40, a simian virus that showed up in early polio vaccines that US, UK and Canadian kids of Zevon's generation got). I had a family member die of this disease at age 46. It is a horrible cancer, which can be palliated but there's no cure. I only say this because the overall tone of media coverage is that Warren accepts that his lifestyle led to this outcome. If it did, it's because he worked somewhere and was exposed to asbestos, or some other environmental contaminant, and not because he stayed too long at the fair.
Just FYI, mesothelioma, which I learned from Rolling Stone is the cancer Warren has, does not result from smoking, drinking or partying like a rock star. It is an environmental cancer generally caused by exposure to asbestos (although there are other theories, such as exposure to SV-40, a simian virus that showed up in early polio vaccines that US, UK and Canadian kids of Zevon's generation got). I had a family member die of this disease at age 46. It is a horrible cancer, which can be palliated but there's no cure. I only say this because the overall tone of media coverage is that Warren accepts that his lifestyle led to this outcome. If it did, it's because he worked somewhere and was exposed to asbestos, or some other environmental contaminant, and not because he stayed too long at the fair.
Just FYI, mesothelioma, which I learned from Rolling Stone is the cancer Warren has, does not result from smoking, drinking or partying like a rock star. It is an environmental cancer generally caused by exposure to asbestos (although there are other theories, such as exposure to SV-40, a simian virus that showed up in early polio vaccines that US, UK and Canadian kids of Zevon's generation got). I had a family member die of this disease at age 46. It is a horrible cancer, which can be palliated but there's no cure. I only say this because the overall tone of media coverage is that Warren accepts that his lifestyle led to this outcome. If it did, it's because he worked somewhere and was exposed to asbestos, or some other environmental contaminant, and not because he stayed too long at the fair.
To Warren...your songs have given me many years of pure enjoyment & delight. Your music and spirit will live on in my heart always. I wish you an eternity of peace, music and love...& I hope that you know how much you are respected. I saw you perform only once (live in Virginia Beach)and it was nothing less than remarkable. You will be missed in more ways than you will ever know. My heart aches for you & your family. You're the BEST...the world is a much cooler place because you've been in it. All my love to you & yours.
To Warren...your songs have given me many years of pure enjoyment & delight. Your music and spirit will live on in my heart always. I wish you an eternity of peace, music and love...& I hope that you know how much you are respected. I saw you perform only once (live in Virginia Beach)and it was nothing less than remarkable. You will be missed in more ways than you will ever know. My heart aches for you & your family. You're the BEST...the world is a much cooler place because you've been in it. All my love to you & yours.
To Warren...your songs have given me many years of pure enjoyment & delight. Your music and spirit will live on in my heart always. I wish you an eternity of peace, music and love...& I hope that you know how much you are respected. I saw you perform only once (live in Virginia Beach)and it was nothing less than remarkable. You will be missed in more ways than you will ever know. My heart aches for you & your family. You're the BEST...the world is a much cooler place because you've been in it. All my love to you & yours.
To Warren...your songs have given me many years of pure enjoyment & delight. Your music and spirit will live on in my heart always. I wish you an eternity of peace, music and love...& I hope that you know how much you are respected. I saw you perform only once (live in Virginia Beach)and it was nothing less than remarkable. You will be missed in more ways than you will ever know. My heart aches for you & your family. You're the BEST...the world is a much cooler place because you've been in it. All my love to you & yours.
To Warren...your songs have given me many years of pure enjoyment & delight. Your music and spirit will live on in my heart always. I wish you an eternity of peace, music and love...& I hope that you know how much you are respected. I saw you perform only once (live in Virginia Beach)and it was nothing less than remarkable. You will be missed in more ways than you will ever know. My heart aches for you & your family. You're the BEST...the world is a much cooler place because you've been in it. All my love to you & yours.
To Warren...your songs have given me many years of pure enjoyment & delight. Your music and spirit will live on in my heart always. I wish you an eternity of peace, music and love...& I hope that you know how much you are respected. I saw you perform only once (live in Virginia Beach)and it was nothing less than remarkable. You will be missed in more ways than you will ever know. My heart aches for you & your family. You're the BEST...the world is a much cooler place because you've been in it. All my love to you & yours.
To Warren...your songs have given me many years of pure enjoyment & delight. Your music and spirit will live on in my heart always. I wish you an eternity of peace, music and love...& I hope that you know how much you are respected. I saw you perform only once (live in Virginia Beach) and it was nothing less than remarkable. You will be missed in more ways than you will ever know. My heart aches for you & your family. You're the BEST...the world is a much cooler place because you've been in it. All my love to you & yours.
To Warren...your songs have given me many years of pure enjoyment & delight. Your music and spirit will live on in my heart always. I wish you an eternity of peace, music and love...& I hope that you know how much you are respected. I saw you perform only once (live in Virginia Beach) and it was nothing less than remarkable. You will be missed in more ways than you will ever know. My heart aches for you & your family. You're the BEST...the world is a much cooler place because you've been in it. All my love to you & yours.
Can anyone tell me if Warren is still alive? I was told that he is not but I don't know. Thank you
Greg
Indeed, Greg, and now a double-grandfather to boot.
Am very saddened to hear the news of Warren's illness. Have been a great fan since 1979, when a friend on HMAS Melbourne put me on to WZ when we were in Hawaii for the RIMPAC exercises. Had the pleasure of seeing him live in Sydney about 10 years ago, in a pub, and being right at the front brought it all home just how wonderful an artist he is. He even allowed me to take several photos as he finished for the night, and I also have a signed copy of 'Warren Zevon', plus a few of the picks he discarded. I love his music & lyrics, especially the soaring guitar work on classics like 'Play it all night long'.
I wish WZ all the best in the next few months, and hope that his quality of life remains as it is today. Having lost my mother to cancer only 6 weeks ago, I know how difficult a time it may be for him. All the best and thank you for bringing me, and countless others, many many hours of pleasure. You are rightly a legend.
I've always been a fan. Every year that Warren Z performed at "Sugarloaf", I'd intend to be there. Someting always came up...I'm so sorry I never made the time.
We watched the VH-1 special the other night...very touching. My husband has mesothelioma.
Very, very sad!
Thanks Peter and Monita - it's great to hear from fans. And the very best to your husband as well, Monita.
But he's not dead...and won't ever attain that hallowed status...he made the mistake of writing musical lyrics like no one else.Damn you,you magnificent bastard...I'm not the only one who will listen to you as long as I live. And trust me,I will continue to spread/share (pick your adjective) your music amongst all I know...music that bites and stings simultaneously.
Warren has the kind of "precious mettle" that shines brighter and longer than gold or platinum. He shows how love and humor casts out fear. This guy is immortal.
No Songs matter since i;ve been singing your lyrics in my head 24-7 for over a year now ....Your'e a class act, my friend, I'll see you on the other side..
I'm so glad I grew up in Warren's generation of some depth of lyric and true musicianship. Today's scene is a wasteland of disposable acts of supreme superficiality and narcissism. Thank you Warren for your many shades of philosophic musings, undercut by those bluesy rockin' licks. Get the message here folks: life is short, even if you live to 100. Life is precious even when it seems it isn't. And enjoy every sandwich.
Man, I just gotta give up this smokin' crap. But givin' up my tequila is entirely out of the question.
damn a great one is gone. loved his words and his sounds. at least we'll still be able to listen - and remember - peace to you wz. daveg
My dad died late this morning. I hope he runs into WZ on his new journey. Now *that* would be cool. The two of them had similar attitudes, similar senses of humor. They would get along like the proverbial peas in a pod.
i didn't discover your music till this year 2003 .....thanxs wz i'll catch up now.....you make me smile,,,,
pete
Hi Everyone,
Just thought you might like to know that DIG (The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's internet radio station) has put up the transcript of an interview Warren completed with one of our journos, as a mark of respect on his passing.
You can find the interview at:
http://www.abc.net.au/dig/stories/s944032.htm
Hope you can pass the info on to other fans.
Regards,
Allyson Moore
Marketing Manager
DIG Internet Radio
MUSIC WITH DEPTH
w: http://www.abc.net.au/dig
Thanks Allyson, will do
1978 concert at UCSB stadium, with several groups that included a nobody band called "WHAQUE", "ELVIN BISHOP" , and the "GRATEFUL DEAD ". Of course it was a concert headlining the "DEAD". And most everybody there was for that. Dumb group came on and got booed off the the stage. They maybe played three songs at best before they left. Then came "WARRON ZEVON". He stumbled on to the stage and sat down on his piano bench and started to play a song. Nobody really cared what it was the crowed didnt care. And he too got booed. Only this guy was'nt going to leave. And with his fifth of whiskey he proceeded to tell the crowd just what he thought of them. "...Ah, Fuck the grateful dead...you bunch of fucking sixties rejects..." And pounded out "werewolves..." in a very ugly way...then he too left the the stage.
Dude was very angry for a long time, hence the irony of handling disease and death so well.
This kind of act by an audience is bullshit. I went to see Primus open up for Rush back at the old Richfield Coliseum and all the mulleted redneck rush fans booed Primus, who I was there to see. I don't care who your favorite band is. If they are playing a big venue then they probably had the power to choose their own support acts. Booing them off the stage is an insult to the guys who picked em who are the ones you are probably there to see. Shut your face and try and expand your horizons morons. Sorry, I am still bitter.
I agree entirely - unless an act is aggressively obnoxious, show them some common courtesy and expand your horizons at the same time.
yea, i've never understood that either. gees, you pay all that money for a ticket, why not try to get the most out of it?
side note: i saw Primus open for Fishbone...there were some Primus-newbies sitting behing me who were disturbed at the crowd's "Primus Sucks!" outbursts...they kept saying to each other "why do the think Primus sucks...i think they're great".
i didn't have the heart to tell 'em the truth.
At least they cared.
Thank You Warren for the soundtrack of my life. Sadly missed and loved. Got to see you at sugarloaf usa Maine. Thanks for all that you have meant in my life.
On this subject of being booed on stage I remember a sacramento concert with Y&T, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Sammy Hagar. Everyone booed SRV also and he played an even longer set than usual and was great. I also saw Stu Hamm playing with Satriani and everyone was yelling "STUUUU" but it sounded like "BOOOOO" so go figure. Its a tough life being an artist. Once in Germany during Metallica's first tour the kids were spitting on them, so the tour manager stuck a hammer up his sleeve and went out into the audience and smacked the guys that were doing it in the head and took them out. Thats what its like on the road. Im sure Warren found the bad times just as invigorating as the good times. It made him know he was alive. I wish he still was.
K
Treat Cancer with Flavonoids:
www.treat-cancer.nl
Treat-Cancer.nl
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/569)
This is, indeed, terrible news. Warren Zevon is the Raymond Chandler of songwriting. That's about the highest compliment I can pay. I mean, who's gonna fill those shoes?