I can't believe that I am in my late 40s yet have only just heard of this guy. How could that be allowed to happen? Warren Zevon should be taught in schools.
Warren is "Cloaked" from existence until one transcends musically, mentally, spiritually, physically....I'm 56, it took 55 years for me! He has so so so so so many good songs
Totally agree ... I knew "Werewolves of London" and I knew it was by Warren Zevon (always remembered that cool name) ... I'm 66 and only just found out, thanks to RU-vid' - not only was it NOT a one-hit wonder but I've never seen or heard a such a huge catalogue of wonderful wonderful songs (they are poetry). I've just received Crystal Zevon's Book from America (I'm in Australia) and I am devouring it. Do yourself a favour and buy it. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon". 🎹
This guy had such wide range - at different times whimsical, humorous, tragic, bitingly satirical, romantic.... Great tunes, great lyrics. What a sorely missed talent!
I've been listening to Warren Zevon since I was a kid thanks to an excellent local radio station in San Francisco. They only played vinyl and reel to reel, so the music always sounded amazing. I never missed it when Zevon performed on Letterman, I always taped those episodes when I was a kid. RIP to Warren. and to KFOG radio. and vhs tapes, reel to reel, and vinyl haha.
Although i am far more a fan of metal. I can recognise musical genious, and this man was one of the true great song writers of all time. R.I.P Warren Zevon.
oh, i know. i was raised listening to him and my parents love him and his music, especially splendid isolation (everytime play it in the car they turn it up), and i was so so so sad the day he died, and ever since, because it was a true loss.
This is such a great song to listen to after having had a busy day. It captures what you feel when you're tired of being around all those ignorant fools who have been pestering you with their petty-bourgeois problems all day and when you simply need to be alone for a bit. Isolation is a good thing when you live in such a flawed and boringly mechanical world as we do. Warren really is one of the few artists who has managed to describe this longing for the freedom of solitude in just a few lines.
Few people could take the emptiness of isolation and turn it into a most enjoyable rousin' rocker. Zevon could. He did. I shall miss him. Many of us will miss him.
I saw him at the Academy of Music in NYC in the late 70's. He had David Linly and Waddy Waddell in the show band along with the drummer from Billy Joel. What a show, I had first row seat, towards the end of the row, but it was amazing! If they don't put him into the Hall of Fame, then they're igorant!!
I'll never get tired of watching this video - I must have seen it a hundred times. The performance is, of course, sublime, and that's the main reason I keep coming back to it, but I also love to see the interview at the end - it's great to witness how clear it is that Warren and Dave got on as well as they did. Maybe I'm just sentimental... it always puts a smile on my face anyway.
David Lettrerman's favorite fill-in bandleader doing one of his coolest tunes (and lord knows, there's plenty to pick from). One of the great writers in rock. Miss ya, Warren!
Identical chord progression (Em-C-G-D) during verse as Jackson Browne's The Barricades of Heaven. Although that's a really common combination, they both make great songs out of them.
The great WZ ...... though not always Mr. Niceguy, but forgiveable for the music if you don't have to deal with his troubles - I guess it comes with the territory. Really talented songwriter, so strong and passionate .... always good clever tunes. I used to wear John Lennon glasses - they're Warren Zevon ones now! Song is me too mizSonni ......
i love jeckson browne too. i like the first and the second acoustics live, beautiful way to play the piano and the guitar, and the voice is very beautiful. so long, warren. we will never forget you. THE WIND, i listen to this album almost everyday, "el amor de mi vida"
Wow. Excellent Warren performance of a perfecto song. The interview is priceless too. Thanks to miffomojen for posting!!!! You are owed a massive debt by Warren fans and future fans.
Excellent live version of this fantastic song. I don`t know the original one, but look and hear at 2.05, how the solo guitar player wants to start the solo, before Warren starts to sing the bridge. See how Warren looks at him and shakes his head because of the mistake - funny! Then he interrupts the guitar solo with his harmonica solo - look at the face of the guitar player - funny again! At the end he only shreds his solo, because he`s offended! Warren shows who`s the boss on stage, right?
@2112murphy yep , I saw the last warren /letterman shows when they aired,dave was chocked up. warren, what a class act. most underrated songwriter EVER!
the band in this clip is the Late Night house band. Will Lee on bass, Sid McGuiness on gtr, Anton Fig on drums and Paul Schaefer on keys. They are all still in the house band on Letterman.
One of those great Zevon songs that, in a better world, should have been a big fat hit. Mr. Bad Example is sorely missed....particularly in a world that seems bent on creating stars out of Ke$ha and Ashley Simpson., and foisting a host of American Idol stiffs on an unsuspecting populace.
Strong version of a favorite Warren song ... great to see the original Letterman band: Paul, Sid, Will, Anton ... better than the overblown orchestra Dave now has ... thanks for posting.
story of my life don't want to wake up with no one beside me don't want TO TAKE UP WITH ANYONE NEW don't want nobody comin by with out calll in first don't want nothin to do with you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul Shaefer (sp?) on keyboards Sid McGinnis (sp?) on yellow guitar Will Lee on bass Anton Fig on drums I think that all of them are still playing in Letterman's studio band.
Great video! "Splendid Isolation" is such a terrific song, and the interview afterwards is hilarious. I miss Warren and I miss Late Nite, too. Letterman was so much funnier back then and I love the old, sparse set for the band. None of that fancy schmancy Broadway Theater crap they have these days. :p
