Whether you like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or you don't, pretty much everybody agrees Warren Zevon should be in it, right?

Please take a minute to help that happen, if you feel inclined.

http://www.warrenzevon.com/petition/petition.htm

Did it!

I can't believe that he's not already in!

done.
WZ was one hell of a songwriter, and a great singer too.

Done!

I'm in.

done!

Mutineer is playin in the CD-1 (and it's really picky lately!) in his honor.

Whether you like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or you don't, pretty much everybody agrees Warren Zevon should be in it, right?

I don't see it. Can you make your case? What has he offered to Rock n' Roll that is enduring?

I don't see it. Can you make your case? What has he offered to Rock n' Roll that is enduring?

This is copied from Wikopedia

"Excitable Boy"

Rolling Stone called the album one of the most significant releases of the 1970s and placed Zevon alongside Neil Young, Jackson Browne, and Bruce Springsteen as one of the four most important new artists to emerge in the decade. Years later, Bob Dylan would use a line from Zevon's lyrics for "Accidentally Like a Martyr" as the title of his album, Time Out of Mind.

The Wind was certified gold by the RIAA in December 2003 and Zevon received five posthumous Grammy nominations, including Song Of The Year for the ballad "Keep Me In Your Heart". The Wind won two Grammys, with the album itself receiving the award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, while "Disorder in the House", Zevon's duet with Bruce Springsteen, was awarded Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal. These posthumous awards were the first Grammys of Zevon's more than 30-year career.

I don't claim to be a music expert but I think he was more creative than some other artists already in the Hall.

Hell yeah!

Done.

Check out his final performances on Letterman (you tube) (http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=7hl9Tw2GzvA) - it'll make you cry.

Did it!

I can't believe that he's not already in!

I thought the same thing. Wow.

(edit) oh, and I signed.

Absolutley!!

I don't see it. Can you make your case? What has he offered to Rock n' Roll that is enduring?

While all of these performers were good,can you really say they were as consistent or as influential as Warren Zevon?
Dave Clark 5
Ventures
Ronettes
Blondie
Brenda Lee
Gene Pitney
Del Shannon
Shirelles
Bobby Darin

And they are all members of the R and R HOF.

Oh,and Im in,BTW.:thmbsp:

I don't see it. Can you make your case? What has he offered to Rock n' Roll that is enduring?

If you don't already understand what he did, you never will.

Done.

Signed.

What's really amazing to me is that some of his (in my opinion) best work, from the late 80's through The Wind, is seldom played anywhere. Truly a shame.

I think it was on Terri Gross's 'Fresh Air'. Once he got lung cancer, everyone started calling for interviews. Zevon would simply say 'you're too late' and hang up. 'They weren't interested in my before, why now?' he said.

I was about 11 when I heard the lyrics to 'Excitable boy'. Wow.

Send "Lawyers, Guns & Money!" or vote. I'm there.

Do you think that he'll need "Lawyers, Guns and Money"?

If you don't already understand what he did, you never will.
Done.

Why the attitude? And why consider me hopeless? I'm not too familiar with him (even though I'm the 'right age') and I'm asking with an honest curiosity.
I don't see how your post contributes to the discussion.

And thanks grillebilly and 2 duals for the perspective. :thmbsp:

Done - I signed the petition. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Why the attitude? And why consider me hopeless? I'm not too familiar with him (even though I'm the 'right age') and I'm asking with an honest curiosity.
I don't see how your post contributes to the discussion.

And thanks grillebilly and 2 duals for the perspective. :thmbsp:

I think it came off a bit odd to say "I don't get it" and "what did he offer that was enduring" in a thread that will obviously attract fans, then come back and say "I'm not too familiar with him".

done...

Why the attitude? And why consider me hopeless? I'm not too familiar with him (even though I'm the 'right age') and I'm asking with an honest curiosity.
I don't see how your post contributes to the discussion.

I didn't understand what you were saying in your post. You sounded dismissive of his life's work, not like you were unfamiliar with him. I did not intend to be rude. I thought it would be like someone trying to explain to me what made The Grateful Dead a great band. I never "got them" and while I respect the opinions of others about the Dead, I never will get them no matter how they are explained to me.

While all of these performers were good,can you really say they were as consistent or as influential as Warren Zevon?
Dave Clark 5
Ventures
Ronettes
Blondie
Brenda Lee
Gene Pitney
Del Shannon
Shirelles
Bobby Darin

And they are all members of the R and R HOF.

Oh,and Im in,BTW.:thmbsp:

I know this thread is not meant to discuss the merits of who is in the hall, (I am partly to blame for making the comment earlier) but these artists, with the exception of Blondie, came from the roots of rock and can all be considered influential. Just an opinion from a roots music lover.

I think it came off a bit odd to say "I don't get it" and "what did he offer that was enduring" in a thread that will obviously attract fans, then come back and say "I'm not too familiar with him".

Warren Zevon was always in the background and I really didn't get into him. But years later, I started listening and got hooked. ...such a witty, sarcastic lyricist. He's very under appreciated. In the critics defense, Warren Zevon is most famous for things like Werewolves of London. Not my favorite stuff by him. I like he's "saltier" stuff.

I voted :thmbsp:. Anyone that was a friend of Hunter S Thompson is a friend of mine and both of them belong in the Hall!

-Mike

PS. Jethro Tull was due 10 years ago what's up with that:thumbsdn:?

.
I didn't understand what you were saying in your post. You sounded dismissive of his life's work, not like you were unfamiliar with him...

I think it came off a bit odd to say "I don't get it" and "what did he offer that was enduring" in a thread that will obviously attract fans, then come back and say "I'm not too familiar with him".


Sorry for the misunderstanding. I guess the limits of this way of communicating sometimes necessitates extra effort to provide some idea of where one is coming from.

The OP asked "pretty much everybody agrees Warren Zevon should be in it, right?" Which I took as an invitation to say "well, maybe not, I'd like to hear more."

My post (#7) was a friendly challenge, an invitation to illuminate the dimness of my understanding (and maybe others). If we were sitting around a room together, I hope we'd feel comfortable challenging one another and we'd be having fun doing it.

Although I have not yet explored WZ's output, I've had the sense that he offered something unique. I don't know however exactly what that offering is, or what affect it has had on rock n' roll.

BTW, I'd still love to hear what WZ offers that moves you (really).
The only things I know from him are the tunes Werewolves, Roland the Thompson Gunner and Lawyers, Guns and Money.

The way I see it, we're all friends here.

Good idea. I'd like to see him in the songwriters hall of fame too...

I like: Things to do in Denver when your dead

DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...little old lady got mutilated late last night. Werewolves of London again.......

Dave

For an even better perspective on Zevon read I'll Sleep When I'm Dead by Crystal Zevon.

Once you read the book you'll get it.

The way I see it, we're all friends here.

Absolutely. All I can say is, he was a fine songwriter and if you are serious about checking him out start with his second album (self titled). It contains some great writing. "Hasten Down the Wind", "Poor Poor Pitiful Me", "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead". Jackson Browne, David Lindley, Lindsey Buckingham, Phil Everley, Glen Frey and Don Henley play on it. It's pretty incredible. That was just the beginning of a long and fine career. Not every LP he made was great but all contained at least a few great songs. He was a unique talent, but if you're unfamiliar with him beyond the hits from Excitable Boy you'll have to do some digging and listening. Let us know what you think.

start with his second album (self titled).
Jackson Browne, David Lindley, Lindsey Buckingham, Phil Everley, Glen Frey and Don Henley play on it. It's pretty incredible.
That's quite a list of players! I'm going music shopping tomorrow (I have a credit at the local used music store-always a good thing.) I'll definitely look for a copy.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I guess the limits of this way of communicating sometimes necessitates extra effort to provide some idea of where one is coming from.

The OP asked "pretty much everybody agrees Warren Zevon should be in it, right?" Which I took as an invitation to say "well, maybe not, I'd like to hear more."

My post (#7) was a friendly challenge, an invitation to illuminate the dimness of my understanding (and maybe others). If we were sitting around a room together, I hope we'd feel comfortable challenging one another and we'd be having fun doing it.

Although I have not yet explored WZ's output, I've had the sense that he offered something unique. I don't know however exactly what that offering is, or what affect it has had on rock n' roll.

BTW, I'd still love to hear what WZ offers that moves you (really).
The only things I know from him are the tunes Werewolves, Roland the Thompson Gunner and Lawyers, Guns and Money.

The way I see it, we're all friends here.

I'll be happy to give my input on Warren's impact, and gladly share why I think he deserves a slot in the HOF. This is of course only my opinion, so take it for what it's worth.

I've always thought of Warren as an almost invisible thread connecting Rock and Roll music between decades and genres. He rarely "fit" the mold that pop stations wanted their artists to wedge themselves into, and refused to change his own vision to meet the demands of others. Which is the heart of R&R rebellion right there. He was like Hunter S. Thompson with great piano chops.

He was a cohort and friend of the Everly brothers, and in fact Werewolves of London was fleshed out by Zevon based on an idea that Phil Everly had for a "dance tune" He hung out with former mercenaries that inspired him to write Roland; and had lived the sort of life that provided him with the material for a thousand songs.

Musicians have been doing everything from improvising on, to flat out stealing his licks and style for almost 40 years now; and I think it's likely that he would make most musician's list of top "100 most influential". He's just had an incredible amount of impact on music, and I feel he will continue to for many years to come.

One footnote to this: If all you've heard is what's been played on the radio, dig a little deeper. Zevon's truly great music, the stuff that really speaks, has never been regularly played over the airwaves. Truthfully, if you do decide to explore further, I envy you. I would love to just be discovering Zevon all over again.

Done, the man was a true creative genius and deserves a spot in the HOF.
"Send lawyers, guns and money...the shit has hit the fan" Indeed!

signed it. interesting "signature" app- I felt like a school kid struggling with cursive all over again.

There is a wonderful, amazing live radio set out on the internets somewhere of Warren and Jackson Browne playing their own tunes (and a couple of songs together IIRC) and chatting. It's from the later seventies I think.

I thought Sentimental Hygiene was enough to put him there; hell, I thought he was in there.

There is a wonderful, amazing live radio set out on the internets somewhere of Warren and Jackson Browne playing their own tunes (and a couple of songs together IIRC) and chatting. It's from the later seventies I think.


Live at VPRO studios, Hilversum, Holland 12-8-76 aka The Offender Meets The Pretender

It's an absolutely essential recording. VBR MP3s of the whole set are available free and legally at the Internet Archive:

http://www.archive.org/details/wz1976-12-08.sbeok.flac16

That's it!

thanks for the link, I dubbed it a while back and lost the files, and where to get it again.

Done, and it made me pull out The Wind. Time for a few sniffles.

I also second (third, fourth?) the comments for those not very familiar with his work to dig deeper than Werewolves of London. That song was my introduction to Warren, but when I bought his self-titled album, it knocked me out. I guess the best single word to describe his stuff (IMHO) is honest. He looks at all sorts of things in an unflinching, utterly honest manner, and not just the "nailing chicks" basis of rock and roll.

Warren Zevon's.....Stand In The Fire.....recorded at the Roxy in L.A......is one of rock-n'-rolls premier "live" albums IMO.

Steve

signed it, and yes the "signature" box made me feel like I had lost control of my hands.

This thread forced me to dig out the self-titles LP, turning on the platter now, WONDERFUL!!!!!

"The shit has hit the fan"

RIP, WZ

Warren strikes up the band

Roland's on his way to Biafra now.........

Done done and done. Personally, I think the HOF is largely a joke, but occasionally they get it right. Hopefully they will with Warren. He definitely deserves induction, and the number of legendary musicians who attest to his songwriting genius—Jackson Browne and Springsteen, among many—speaks volumes to me.

One footnote to this: If all you've heard is what's been played on the radio, dig a little deeper. Zevon's truly great music, the stuff that really speaks, has never been regularly played over the airwaves. Truthfully, if you do decide to explore further, I envy you. I would love to just be discovering Zevon all over again.

Thanks for your thoughts. I was not aware of the depth of his impact. I am definitely going to dig deeper.:thmbsp:

Done. I agree. If you don't get WZ, you won't get it.

Oh, and by the way, is "Mr. Bad Example" not a classic Zevon song or what!

Done. I agree. If you don't get WZ, you won't get it.
I don't 'get' this statement.
:confused:

I'm sorry. Perhaps Zevon is an aquired taste. I've been a fan for years.Same thing for Robert Earl Keene, and Kevin Welch, and Chris Knight, and Lucinda Williams, and John Hiatt. It's all about the songs. The "stories". It's a talent I don't have but a gift I certainly appreciate. That's all.

I'm sorry. Perhaps Zevon is an aquired taste. I've been a fan for years.Same thing for Robert Earl Keene, and Kevin Welch, and Chris Knight, and Lucinda Williams, and John Hiatt. It's all about the songs. The "stories". It's a talent I don't have but a gift I certainly appreciate. That's all.
Cool. More names to check out (Although I know John Hiatt and Lucinda already). Thanks.:thmbsp:

done, what about emerson lake and palmer, yes...i think those guys belong as well..they are in mine

Somehow I don't think Zevon would give a Rat's a$$ about the Hall of Shame, it is a joke. You could build a real one with the folks not in it.

{I'm sorry. Perhaps Zevon is an aquired taste. I've been a fan for years.Same thing for Robert Earl Keene, and Kevin Welch, and Chris Knight, and Lucinda Williams, and John Hiatt. It's all about the songs. The "stories". It's a talent I don't have but a gift I certainly appreciate. That's all}

I must admit that probably the only time that Warren Zevon & Robert Earl Keen have been in the same sentence!!!

Well, if they don't let him in, I'm gonna take little Suzie to the Junior Prom. And you know what happens after that........

Hahahaha........you're probably right!

Bump.