Warren Zevon (1947–2003) was an American singer-songwriter born in Chicago, a sharply intelligent writer who blended wit, violence, and pathos like nobody else. Excitable Boy (1978) — home of Werewolves of London — is the classic entry, and The Wind (2003), recorded after his terminal diagnosis, is a devastating farewell. Dig into Warren Zevon vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Warren Zevon (1947-2003) was an American singer-songwriter born in Chicago, Illinois. A sharply intelligent and darkly comic writer, he developed a devoted cult following and the admiration of peers, even as mainstream success largely eluded him outside his signature hit. Diagnosed with terminal mesothelioma, he recorded a poignant final album, The Wind, completed shortly before his death in 2003, which won Grammy recognition.
Zevon worked in rock, folk rock, and singer-songwriter traditions, distinguished by literate, sardonic, and frequently macabre lyrics that blended wit, violence, and pathos. His songs ranged from hard-rocking and satirical to tender and reflective, marking him as one of the most distinctive songwriters of his era and a favorite among fellow artists.
Excitable Boy and Zevon's Asylum-era albums have been reissued, and original pressings are collected by fans of 1970s singer-songwriters. The Wind, his acclaimed farewell, is also of particular interest.
Listeners new to Warren Zevon often start with Excitable Boy (1978) or the self-titled album (1976). For related listening, see and .
