Personal friend-o-Warren Brian Linse reminds us that tonight is Warren Zevon night on David Letterman, in fact the show is devoted to him.
You can see a preview clip from the show here.
Highlight:
Dave - "Do you now know something I don't know?"
Warren - "I know how much you are supposed to enjoy every sandwich."
I will quote myself (not unusual) from last week:
- As thirty-year fans of Warren Zevon, we have been following sadly but proudly as he has risen to a personal level of nobility matching that of his exemplary song catalog since the announcement of his terminal cancer.
As Shakespeare noted, all's well that ends well, and Warren is going out in style with mordant humor intact and head held high after a decidedly up and down career as a person. Let's look forward to his appearance with David Letterman on October 30 as a time to celebrate and appreciate what Warren has given us over the years, and not a time to get weird and maudlin.
If you want to get a sense of Warren's perspective on things, check out the cover of his new Genius collection, which every sentient being should own by the way. For our several reports and discussions of Warren, see here, here, here, and here.
Article comments
1 - Rodney Welch
Hands down, one of the most poignant things I've ever seen on televsion. For Letterman and for all of us, it marks a farewell. On the plus side -- the deceptively plus side, of course -- Zevon looked and sounded fine. Another plus -- and this one you can take to the bank -- Warren leaves behind a legacy that most songwriters would kill for. Yes, he'll be leaving us too soon, but he's going out like a champ.
2 - Jim Hale
In the late '70's a roommate at my college had Warren's tape that included Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner. As this artist seemed to us then a very weird little guy. His tunes were those written by someone reading Soldier of Fortune while enjoying some Campbell's Chicken and Stars that his mother warmed up for him. But, my comrades in those days were all torn between becoming U.S. Marines, mercenaries, gynocologists, combat pilots or astronauts, depending on what day of the week it was, so our opinions were not especially weighted. I liked the Roland number very much and Lawyers, Guns, and Money. That last was sung to me a girl that sang for a seedy little band at a club in Iowa in 1979. Ah, memories. Warren showing up, literally walking the last mile, on Letterman's show on 10/30 was absolutely electric after all these years. I no longer think of him as I did then, but as a very gifted poet and musician who has no fear of leaving this small, black world. The only downer was his sharing the spotlight with that talented but annoying little jewish bandleader of Letterman's, whose name is not worthy of mention here.
Put in a good word for me with the Master, Warren, when you cross over. I put some faith in your influence on that side, too.
3 - Jake
Anybody got the Letterman performance encoded as a downloadable file?
4 - Dean
It's been a long time since the time I remember a death of a celebrity making me feel terribly bad - Warren was one of the few and the latest who recently passed away from cancer. His music recalls many great childhood memories - especially "Werewolves of London." There will never be another song like it. I'm very happy that Warren got to create one last album and to "die with his boots on." He's a true artist who got to say many things in a short amount of time.