Expecting Rain

Today, Sept. 7, is the 7th anniversary of Warren Zevon's death at age 56 from mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.

Zevon's cancer was diagnosed in September, 2002. I'm going to tell the story as best as I can remember Zevon's own account of his experience with Dylan during the time he was so sick, but if someone can find a link to the interview in which Zevon told this himself, please post it. Sorry if I make any mistakes.

Dylan didn't know Zevon but heard about his cancer diagnosis. (Zevon was given only a few months to live). Zevon was working in an L.A. studio when someone announced Bob Dylan was there to see him. Freaking out, Zevon thought it was some kind of a joke. Why would Bob Dylan come to see him? Dylan talked with Zevon, expressed his sadness over hearing that Zevon was ill, and told Zevon he was going to be playing a very small club date and he'd like to give Zevon some guest passes to the gig, if Zevon would like to attend. Dylan added "I hope you'll like what you hear." (Zevon was thrilled). Shortly after, Zevon went to the gig and to his astonishment, Dylan played a set that included covers of 3 of Zevon's songs. With Zevon's permission, Dylan included the covers of Zevon's songs throughout his fall 2002 tour, sometimes playing several of the songs a night. I don't think Zevon told the interviewer why Dylan chose to do this. When you think about it, any possible reason Dylan had to play Zevon's songs on his tour would be an excellent reason.

This is worth posting about not only because it was a class thing to do in tribute to another musician, but because the covers of Zevon's songs were excellent, probably the best performances Dylan gave in 2002.

I could only find a link to one, Dylan playing "Mutineer," which is from a link on the general ER news digest board. Thanks very much to whoever posted it.

Here's the link to "Mutineer":

http://mog.com/deadmandeadman/blog/2304110

If anyone has any links to Dylan's covers of "Accidentally Like A Martyr" and "Lawyers, Guns and Money," I hope they'll also post them in this thread. They were some really fine work by Bob. Warren Zevon wrote some extraordinary songs and he is missed.

The fall 2002 setlist link from Olof Bjorner's files shows the number of times Dylan played the Zevon covers. My recollection is that Dylan played at least one of the Zevon songs every night, and often played two. He seemed to favor "Mutineer," which he contributed to the "Tribute to Warren Zevon" album that was released after Zevon's death.

I thought the Zevon songs were highlights of the 2002 shows, apart from Boom Boom Mancini which was never more than a heavy riffer anyway. Dylan really put effort into Mutineer and Accidentally Like A Martyr.

Around the same time of course as Dylan's tributes, Zevon was playing an all top poignant Bob classic on his last album

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKHFWpaTUmY

There is a boot around that is solely Bob's covers of WZ's songs. Sound quality isn't great. Was it noirdesir or someone who put it up about 18 months ago?

Great story, but Dylan (and young Jakob) actually first met Warren Zevon during the recording of Sentimental Hygiene and even played harmonica in one of the songs ("The Factory").

I heard some great versions of Lawyers Guns and Money as well. Can't remember where or when they were recorded, though....

Eyolf Ostrem of dylanchords fame suggested a few years ago that Dylan ought to start playing more and more covers of songs he really likes in order to freshen up his show. I would tend to agree. It's remarkable how much more careful Dylan is when singing other people's songs. Even years when his live performance is sketchy at best, he usually nails covers pretty well. I would love to see Dylan shift and start playing covers of songs he loves more and more in concert especially if he were to play them with the level of respect he has shown to them in the past

I would like that too. He often seems bored with songs he's been playing for over 40 years.

His covers of Zevon's songs are among my favorite performances, and I too wish that he would do more covers of songs he loves, in concert. It is quite true that he is more careful of other people's songs, and I do think it would freshen things up. Bob, you reading this?

club show? which club show?
the first time Bob play Warren Zevon songs was October 4th, 2002 at the Key Arena in Seattle - and that's definitely not a club

"Pedantic Pat.... and that is that!!!"

I love Bob's performance of Mutineer and often include it in my Bob playlists

Oh, slewan.

Find the interview where Zevon tells the story. I assume it was a private club date. If you ever visited Los Angeles, do you think you would ever have been able to get into the nightclub that Helena Kallioniotes ran for her friends Dylan, Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson and folks like that to come and hang out for the evening and not be bothered by the likes of you? Not to mention that people with the financial means can rent out nightclubs usually open to the public for private events accessible only to their invited guests. The music industry does it all the time. Sorry I'm not privy to when or how Dylan, or his agent, rented out a nightclub for Dylan to perform a private concert just for his guests, so Zevon could hear the material performed in a live setting with an audience before Dylan took it on tour. I'm positive that Zevon didn't hear Dylan perform his work at the Key Arena in Seattle. I have no clue where you live that you don't know that there are private nightclubs or that the very wealthy can rent nightclubs or museums or private islands for private parties. Someone I know rented a nightclub in Manhattan for his (private) 50th birthday party and hired Billy Joel as the entertainment for him and his guests. Dylan has been the hired entertainment at some very wealthy people's private parties; reportedly his fee for these performances is a million dollars.


There are more things in heaven and earth, slewan, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

No need to insult other people by suggesting that they are stupid! Go find that interview. Anyway I guess the ‘club show’ refers either to rehearsals or the shows at the Wiltern.

An interesting and I think accurate observation. Ever since he switched to the circus organ, cover songs have been more than extremely rare. I don't think he could do careful covers on the organ... the next thing you know, he would be hated for butchering the works of others. One can argue that with his music, like it or not, he can take more liberties as he created it and is aware of the nuances he wants to emphasize... but try that with someone else's work?

It better be damn good or he'd be crucified for it. (And who ever heard of Judas being crucified?)

i have to admit that I actually first heard of warren zevon through the covers that dylan played in 2002 (i especially loved Accidentally Like A Martyr), which then introduced me to his music.. he's been a favourite of mine ever since. i read his biography not to long ago and found it a very intriguing read.
i cannot believe it's been 7 years since he passed away. may he rest in peace.

That's a sad story but sort of heartwarming and speaks well of Bob. It's too bad about Warren Zevon. I first became aware of him when I heard Werewolves of London on the radio, which I enjoyed very much, I didn't know who sang it but eventually found out and got the album.

There was a documentary made by Vh1, released in 2004, about the last year of Zevon's life called "Keep Me In Your Heart." It focuses primarily on the making of his final album "The Wind," which had many guest artists, including Springsteen. But beyond that, it gives a bracing look at a dying man interacting with his beloved family and friends with great courage and dignity (and given it's Zevon, lots of humor) as he navigates the final months of his life and talks about his perspective on what he thinks his life's been about and what's worth doing while we're here. It may be for sale at amazon, I saw it on tv when it ran.
If you're a Zevon fan, it's worth seeing. Hey, even if you're just a fan of real good music, it's worth seeing. Zevon was a blast.

His hair was perfect.

I remember back on the DylanPool board around that time someone mentioned bumping into Zevon at one of the shows post diagnosis. I think it was the show where he played 'Yea, Heavy and a Bottle of Bread' at Warrens request... apparently.

BTW - i wish Bob had covered Carmelita - fantastic tune.

Bob obviously could have done a mean "Werewolves of London."

Actually when I first heard Werewolves of London I thought: Great singer, this guy sounds like a new kind of Bob Dylan.

Here are a couple more:

Accidentally Like a Martyr
http://www.mediafire.com/?sd1n2c6hma5nzqd

Lawyers Guns and Money
http://www.mediafire.com/?4aqypd6yosa8psi

Don't forget that on of Bob's live versions of 'Mutineer' and the Wallflowers covering ' Lawyers, Guns and Money' was released on CD!

http://www.amazon.com/Enjoy-Every-Sandwich-Songs-Warren/dp/B0002XED9E

Its actually an ok CD.....

That is a really great album. Probably the only tribute album worth a crap.

There are tons of Zevon songs I think Bob could do justice.

The Stephen Foster tribute album Beautiful Dreamer brings new life to very old songs, but I'll check this one out

I only really like the first side of Excitable. The first track of Wind reminds me of a cross between new Elton (download) and Uncle Muscles Hour (download), both of which I'd rather listen to. Singing in Spanish and Mike Campbell in the credits doesn't change the fact the song makes me wanna kill myself

I wonder if this was the only time they ever met. It's funny that they both were special guests of David Letterman, though not surprising. You don't see Paul McCartney getting that kind of treatment, hell he'll do any show.