Warren Zevon Dies After Fight With Cancer
Singer Resumed Smoking After Cancer Diagnosis
POSTED: 7:41 a.m. EDT September 8, 2003
LOS ANGELES -- Singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, best known for the rock classic "Werewolves of London," has died after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 56.
Zevon's manager told the Los Angeles Times that the singer-songwriter died Sunday at his Los Angeles-area home.
A lifelong smoker until quitting several years ago, Zevon announced in September 2002 that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and had been given only three months to live.
Zevon spent much of his time since then visiting with his two grown children and working on a final album. "The Wind" was released to
critical acclaim just last month.
The performer put his morbid sense of humor to work for the album by covering Bob Dylan's hit "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."
Several rock luminaries will appear on the album, including Bruce Springsteen, The Eagles' Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmidt, Tom Petty, Styx's Tommy Shaw and frequent Zevon collaborator Jackson Browne.
Zevon also faced his illness with a sense of humor. He said, "really, the thing I want is to last through the winter so I don't
miss the new James Bond movie."
He also resumed smoking.
In addition to "Werewolves of London," Zevon was known for his songs "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," "Poor Poor Pitiful Me," and "Life'll Kill Ya." Originally appearing on his poorly received 1976 solo album "Warren Zevon," "Poor Poor Pitiful Me," later became a hit for Linda Ronstadt.
Zevon was also known for being one of Paul Schaffer's back-up conductors of David Letterman's "Late Night" orchestra.
"Warren Zevon," 1976
"Excitable Boy," 1978
"Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School," 1980
"Stand in the Fire," 1980
"The Envoy," 1982
"Sentimental Hygiene," 1987
"A Quiet Normal Life: The Best of Warren Zevon," 1987
"Transverse City," 1989
"Hindu Love Gods," 1990
"Mr. Bad Example," 1991
"Learning to Flinch," 1993
"Mutineer," 1995
"I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," 1996
"Life'll Kill Ya," 2000
"My Ride's Here," 2001
"Genius: The Best of Warren Zevon," 2002
"The Wind," 2003
Zevon's manager told the Los Angeles Times that the singer-songwriter died Sunday at his Los Angeles-area home.
A lifelong smoker until quitting several years ago, Zevon announced in September 2002 that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and had been given only three months to live.
Zevon spent much of his time since then visiting with his two grown children and working on a final album. "The Wind" was released to
critical acclaim just last month.
The performer put his morbid sense of humor to work for the album by covering Bob Dylan's hit "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."
Several rock luminaries will appear on the album, including Bruce Springsteen, The Eagles' Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmidt, Tom Petty, Styx's Tommy Shaw and frequent Zevon collaborator Jackson Browne.
Zevon also faced his illness with a sense of humor. He said, "really, the thing I want is to last through the winter so I don't
miss the new James Bond movie."
He also resumed smoking.
In addition to "Werewolves of London," Zevon was known for his songs "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," "Poor Poor Pitiful Me," and "Life'll Kill Ya." Originally appearing on his poorly received 1976 solo album "Warren Zevon," "Poor Poor Pitiful Me," later became a hit for Linda Ronstadt.
Zevon was also known for being one of Paul Schaffer's back-up conductors of David Letterman's "Late Night" orchestra.
Albums Released By Zevon
"Wanted - Dead or Alive," 1969"Warren Zevon," 1976
"Excitable Boy," 1978
"Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School," 1980
"Stand in the Fire," 1980
"The Envoy," 1982
"Sentimental Hygiene," 1987
"A Quiet Normal Life: The Best of Warren Zevon," 1987
"Transverse City," 1989
"Hindu Love Gods," 1990
"Mr. Bad Example," 1991
"Learning to Flinch," 1993
"Mutineer," 1995
"I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," 1996
"Life'll Kill Ya," 2000
"My Ride's Here," 2001
"Genius: The Best of Warren Zevon," 2002
"The Wind," 2003
Copyright 2003 by Lifewhile.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
