Cyn

Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon's biography is being touted this month in Denver by his former wife, Crystal, who will be signing books at Denver's Tattered Cover bookstore, one of the largest independent bookstores in the United States.

I was introduced to Warren's music about ten years ago when I received the Rhino compilation of his greatest hits. Zevon was rather like Don Henley in that he collaborated with a number of big music stars in his day. Some of his titles were used as film titles including "Werewolves of London" and "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead", and "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead". A recording of "Werewolves of London" is here at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhSc8qVMjKM&mode=relat...=

In fact, several influential rock musicans came together to cover many Zevon songs in “Enjoy Every Sandwich”. Warren Zevon died of a rare lung cancer on September 7, 2003 and is probably most well known for his song “Werewolves of London”.

I have a particular fondness for “Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead” J And the music of “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner” has inspired several of my fight scenes. His song, “Lawyers, Guns and Money” has been recently covered, but perhaps the most popular in our household is “Gorilla, You’re a Desperado” a silly song about a gorilla taking the place of a man in LA.


Zevon had a natural talent for writing songs about contemporary events and significant cultural occurrences in American society. A song based on the travel of Philip Habib during the Carter years is called “The Envoy” and he wrote several historical songs including “Frank and Jesse James” and “Boom Boom Mancini”. I’ve included the CNN article on Zevon the day after he died. His biography has been written by Crystal Zevon, a former wife and includes interviews with several influential rock icons.

There are several YouTube videos about and with Warren including this interview with David Letterman.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFaDreSKLNI&NR=1

Singer Warren Zevon dead at 56Monday, September 8, 2003 Posted: 10:57 AM EDT (1457 GMT)

LOS ANGELES, California (AP)

-- Warren Zevon, who wrote and sang the rock hit "Werewolves of London" and was among the wittiest and most original of a broad circle of singer-songwriters to emerge from Los Angeles in the 1970s, died Sunday. He was 56. A lifelong smoker until quitting several years ago, Zevon announced in September 2002 that he had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and had only months to live. He spent much of that time visiting with his two grown children and working on a final album.

Zevon died in his sleep Sunday at his home, publicist Carise Yatter said.

He faced death with the same dark sense of humor found in much of his music, including songs like "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," "Life'll Kill Ya" and "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead."

Zevon said he "chose a certain path and lived like Jim Morrison and lived 30 more years. You make choices and you have to live with the consequences."

He released his first album, "Wanted -- Dead or Alive," to little notice in 1969, but gained attention in the '70s by writing a string of popular songs for Linda Ronstadt, including "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me," "Carmelita" and "Hasten Down the Wind."

His next two albums, 1976's "Warren Zevon" and 1978's "Excitable Boy," followed those songs with darkly humorous tales of prom-date rapists; headless, gun-toting soldiers of fortune; and werewolves who drank pina coladas at singles bars and were particular about their hair.

They cemented Zevon's reputation as one of rock music's most politically incorrect lyricists, giving him a lifelong cult following that included gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and "Late Show" host David Letterman, who provided backing vocals on "Hit Somebody," Zevon's 2001 elegy to a professional hockey goon who longs to be a goal-scoring hero.

"I always like to have violent lyrics and violent music," Zevon told The Associated Press in 1990. "The knowledge of death and fear of death informs my existence. It's a safe, kind of cheerful way of dealing with that issue."

Other admirers included Bob Dylan, whom Zevon cited as one of his principal songwriting influences and who performed on his 1987 album "Sentimental Hygiene." Still another was Bruce Springsteen, who co-wrote "Jeannie Needs a Shooter," Zevon's tale of a lover shot to death by a woman's jealous father.

Zevon was known for songs like "Werewolves of London." Not that all of his music was dark and violent. His oveure contained some straight-out comedy as well, including "Mr. Bad Example," "The Hula Hula Boys" and "Gorilla You're a Desperado." The latter told the tale of a Los Angeles Zoo ape who escapes by locking a yuppie in his place and going off to live in the man's apartment, only to end up depressed and divorced.   The YouTube video of Werewolves gives you a sense of his humor.

His compositional style reflected a number of genres, from hard-driving rock to folk, as well as classical, polka and other influences. In his final months, he summoned the energy to complete a last album, "The Wind," released in August. It includes the poignant "Keep Me in Your Heart," a cranky "Disorder in the House" and a remake of Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."

Zevon, born in Chicago to Russian immigrant parents, moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s, making a living writing jingles for television commercials. He also composed the song "She Quit Me Man" for the movie "Midnight Cowboy." He was just out of his teens when he went to work for the Everly Brothers, first as a pianist and later as their band leader.

In his last months, he told various interviewers he had no regrets, expressing particular gratitude that he had quit drinking in time to watch daughter Ariel and son Jordan grow up.

"I got to be the most [expletive deleted] rock star on the block, at least on my block," he once said. "And then I got to be a sober dad for 18 years. I've had two very full lives."

His family had noted that he lived far longer than was expected at the time of his diagnosis, long enough to enjoy twin grandsons born to Ariel.

****

When Warren found out he had terminal lung cancer in 2002 he was told he only had 3 months to live.

http://www.tatteredcover.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp?s=storeevents&eventId=353176

Coming Soon: Blind Devotion from www.AspenMountainPress.com

Rose Light is one of those stories that goes unexpected places.  The sexual content includes a foot fetish scene which was surpisingly erotic as I'd never read something like that before. The historic feel to the story was well researched and the author, a resident of Great Britain spent time in the location, studying the homes of the era.

In this excerpt, Rose has recently returned from her mother’s grave and has made dinner for her step-mother and step-sisters.

Take one wicked stepmother and two older, conniving sisters, and you may think you’ve heard this tale before. You haven’t -- not this way. Let Rose Light tell you her story.

~*~*~*~*~~*

The little ones sat in silence, their eyes shifting from one adult to another. Hatred and amusement as well as weariness lit their collective gaze. Charlotte and Regina were from Margaret’s first marriage. The others were her siblings, or so Margaret said. Rose supposed they meant her to disregard that they looked nothing like either her or her father. They were girls all: Elise, Jane, Emily and Georgina.

“Finish serving,” Margaret ordered.

Rose had only placed the main course on the table. She had not even taken her seat and already the great sow feasted. Rose brought the vegetables to the table and served the others. The only sound in the room was the great smacking of two rubbery lips as the pig masticated.

A sudden knock at the door froze them all. Surprised glances met each other and passed over. Rose would have wiped her hands on her apron and answered it, but to her amazement, Regina, possibly overcome by the sight of pork on her plate, did it for her. No doubt, Regina thought it was her benefactor. A wealthy man came to call on her and a promise of marriage hung in the air. Rose suspected he had already wed, but his gifts helped to keep the roof over their heads.

Much to Rose’s personal surprise, a young man she certainly recognized entered the house. Regina, no doubt taken aback, brought him into the kitchen with her. John Bennett removed his top hat and glanced around the occupants of the room. Rose hovered behind Charlotte who had risen, and so remained hidden.

“Forgive me,” he said. “I regret disturbing you. I am looking for a woman by the name of Rose Light.”

In shock, Charlotte looked over her shoulder directly at Rose and moved to the side, revealing her. At the same time, Regina turned her head and smirked at her. As was so often the case, her eyes looked lazy and evil. Rose stared at John Bennett as he inclined his head a little at the sight of her. Returning to her senses, Margaret must have realized that gravy and spittle adorned her chin. She mopped at her face with a napkin, and then stood.
“I’m sorry, sir,” she began.

John Bennett regarded her. “Sorry for what, madam?”

“For whatever it is that my ungrateful stepdaughter has done, sir.” She waved a hand in the air as though illustrating her explanation. The gesture seemed to encompass all things as though the hovel they lived in was Rose’s fault and no other.

John Bennett moved further into the room. He gripped his hat as though it were the only thing separating him from the inhabitants. Rose lifted an eyebrow at the way he nervously clung to it. Lifting her gaze to his face, a peculiar notion overcame her that he had seen her speculation. He turned to her stepmother. “I assure you, Madam Light, she has done nothing other than speaking unexpectedly and forcing me to face a truth I did not wish to hear. In that, she has done a stranger an act of kindness. I wished to see if there was some form of benevolence I could repay in like manner.”

His declaration seemed to stun everyone and they exchanged the same wandering glances of confusion before staring inanely at the table. Everyone, including John Bennett, shifted awkwardly – everyone except Rose.

Now available at:

Aspen Mountain Press

Life takes strange twists sometimes.  Sometimes, well actually a lot of the time, you can't choose where you live as a kid, what school you attend, who your neighbors are.  And sometimes, those lack of choices influence who you grow up to be.

That's what happens in Birdman by Jack Teeter.   The anti-hero and his family have problems with the neighbors.  Problems that extend throughout Dante Coalson's high school and college career.  Problems that leave Dante with an unsatisfied thirst for revenge, a revenge that lasts his entire life.

Birdman isn't for everyone (like young kids or people looking for a romance).  Dante is a dangerous man who lives a violent life in the world of drugs.  He inspires little sympathy past the opening scenes because Dante is the bad guy.  But how did he get that way?  Why can't he let go of the past?

Dante Coalson, in my humble opinion represents the dark side of all of us.   All of us who can't figure out why the system has let us down again.  Why the rich get richer, why the airlines can steal employee pensions, why those who commit insider trading get a slap on the wrist. All of us who can' t understand that the rain falls and the good and the wicked equally; who resent the neighbor who gets all the breaks when we get all the crap.  You know the ones who live the fairy tale life that we think is so ideal, that we think they took from us somehow.

That's what Birdman is about.  How all the repressed anger expresses itself in the revenge we wish we could carry out sometimes, but our humanity and morals refuse to allow.