Warren Zevon

Warren Zevon was asked about meeting Bob Dylan. And he said, “well he invented my job…I applied for the job of folk singer, spokesman for my generation”. Warren didn’t exactly speak for my generation, and I doubt he spoke to many from my generation but his songs still talk to me. His songs still sit […]

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September 27, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Poem: Out Living / Us All

So many Warren Zevon songs are here in my heart, I’ve kept them there a while. Sha la-la, la la… The lines that drip with irony and cynicism still sting with so much heart. That was the hardest – and toughest – part in understanding his brand of madness. He knew, more than so many […]

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July 6, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Ten Songs Only Warren Zevon Could Have Written

Every now and then I hear a song by Warren Zevon and I think only Warren Zevon could have written that. Now, bear with me – because that statement seems obvious and therefore kinda silly. But there are some songwriters that wow you with their best work. And then their very best work is on […]

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March 25, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Poem: Heard Mentality

You’ve got to know what came before you, who was there first, who (maybe) did it best, the people that wrote the scriptures and pushed the stones up hills, that worked the line in the way you wished – and now you do, you give it a go – because of them. Warren Zevon being […]

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January 8, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

I (Still) Keep Forgetting He’s Gone: The Great, Great Songs By Warren Zevon

There’s a track on the last (to date) Dirty Three album called Sometimes I Forget You’ve Gone. It’s quickly became one of my favourite pieces of music ever – certainly my favourite by the Dirty Three. It’s got a bit of competition, obviously – but what a lovely thing it is. A showcase for Jim White and gorgeously evocative (to me […]

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April 6, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Five Songs For Friday: # 11 – Five Favourite Cover Versions

Many years back – a decade ago at least, I reckon, the editor of the then-Real Groove magazine asked me to compile a list of five favourite cover versions; he never ended up using it but wrote back to tell me he thought my list was weird but cool. I liked that. You hardly ever […]

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March 13, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Non-Redemption Songs: A Bob Each Way

This is a post about non-redemption songs. About songs that don’t seek salvation and don’t even want your buy-in for justification. This is about the brave writers who know how to flirt with a bit of evil; paint some character-sketches where the bad guy wins: gets the girl and the car, takes the money, maybe […]

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February 28, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Ghost Town: Sky Is Falling

Ghost Town Sky Is Falling Ghost/Southbound Ghost Town is a new band/collaboration between drummer Bryan Shaw, singer/pianist Mark Beesley and guitarist/singer/producer Jed Town. Town’s many monikers include the mighty Fetus Productions – but this pioneer of Kiwi-flavoured post-punk and electronica/noise/performance-art is here in a relaxed country/ish mode – his love of Beatles melodies to the […]

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August 4, 2015 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 842

Warren Zevon, A Quiet Normal Life: The Best of Warren Zevon (1986) A couple of years ago now I wrote about how I missed Warren Zevon – missed having him around. I never knew him. Obviously. Only knew his songs. But a Warren Zevon song is that kind of a song that no one else […]