Warren Zevon

The Profile

Warren Zevon (1947–2003) was an American singer‑songwriter famed for darkly witty, literate rock songs and a fiercely committed live presence. Key works include the 1976 self‑titled album, Excitable Boy (1978), and his final set The Wind (2003).

Born January 24, 1947 in Chicago; died September 7, 2003 in Los Angeles of pleural mesothelioma. Known for “Werewolves of London,” “Lawyers, Guns and Money,” and collaborations with Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M., and Bob Dylan. The Wind won two Grammys in 2004.

DeBaser’s reviews sketch Warren Zevon as a sharp, darkly funny American songwriter with a punchy live presence and a tender late-career farewell. Excitable Boy, the 1976 self‑titled album, and The Wind lead the way, alongside praise for Sentimental Hygiene and the live Stand in the Fire. Collaborations with Springsteen, Dylan, R.E.M., and Jackson Browne recur. Overall sentiment: admiring and warm.