I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon
When Warren Zevon died in 2003, he left behind a rich catalog of dark, witty rock 'n' roll classics, including "Lawyers, Guns and Money," "Excitable Boy," and the immortal "Werewolves of London." He also left behind a fanatical cult following and veritable rock opera of drugs, women, celebrity, genius, and epic bad behavior. As Warren once said, "I got to be Jim Morrison a lot longer than he did."\ Narrated by his former wife and longtime co-conspirator, Crystal Zevon, this intimate and...
Search in google:
When Warren Zevon died in 2003, he left behind both a fanatical cult following and a rich catalog of dark, witty rock-n-roll classics that includes "Lawyers, Guns, and Money," "Excitable Boy," and the immortal "Werewolves of London." He also left a trove of misadventures and anecdotes, a veritable rock opera of drugs, women, celebrity, high times, and hard ways. As Warren once said, "I got to be Jim Morrison a lot longer than he did." I'll Sleep When I'm Dead is an intimate and unusual oral history of one of our most original and distinctive rock-and-roll antiheroes. Narrated by his former wife and longtime co-conspirator, Crystal Zevon, the book draws on over eighty interviews with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Stephen King, Billy Bob Thornton, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, and countless others who came under his mischievous spell. The result is a raucous and moving tale of love and obsession, creative genius and epic bad behavior. Told in the words and images of the friends, lovers, and legends who knew him best, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead captures Warren Zevon in all his turbulent glory. The New York Times - Janet Maslin … [Ms. Zevon's] affection, candor and dogged pursuit of information make this book an unforgettable journey into the depths of Mr. Zevon s mad genius. There is much for Ms. Zevon to balk at, but she has the temerity for this tough job.
Foreword Carl Hiaasen xiMy Ride's Here 1Piano FighterWild Age 9Poor Poor Pitiful Me 19The French Inhaler 36Frank and Jesse James 54Werewolves of London 69Backs Turned Looking Down the Path 81When Johnny Strikes Up the Band 99Mohammed's Radio 117Lawyers, Guns and MoneyTenderness on the Block 129I'll Sleep When I'm Dead 144Empty-Handed Heart 158Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School 169Play It All Night Long 185Detox Mansion 201Bed of Coals 209Splendid Isolation 222Down in the Mall 233MutineerSearching for a Heart 251Fistful of Rain 263Mr. Bad Example 274Worrier King 288Monkey Wash, Donkey Rinse 300The Indifference of Heaven 310Mutineer 321For My Next Trick I'll Need a Volunteer 336Life'll Kill Ya 351Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song) 367Don't Let Us Get SickMy Shit's Fucked Up 381My Dirty Life and Times 391Ourselves to Know 397Don't Let Us Get Sick 414Keep Me in Your Heart for a While 425Who's Who 433Acknowledgments 449Credits and Permissions 453
\ From Barnes & Noble"But I'm bound for glory \ I'm on my way \ My ride's here..."\ \ The "ride" Zevon is referring to is driven by the Grim Reaper; and unfortunately for his many fans, that ride showed up way too early, driving off with the "excitable boy" when he was only 56. Luckily, before he passed, Zevon empowered his ex-wife, Crystal, to write his life story -- making her promise to focus on the good aspects as well as the bad. And man, was he bad! A vodka-quaffing, gun-toting substance abuser who beat his wife and rarely interacted with his children, Zevon was a bona fide poster boy for sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. Amazingly, he sobered up for most of the last 17 years of his life, reconciled with his children, and completed his masterpiece album, The Wind, before succumbing to lung cancer. Crafted as an oral biography narrated by the likes of Jackson Browne, Billy Bob Thornton, Zevon's children, and his past lovers, to name just a few, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead is a testament to one of America's greatest songwriters: a genius who straddled the fence between good and evil.\ \ \ \ \ Mitch Albom"Zevon...was a brilliant, funny, biting, tender storyteller...and [this] will keep him in your heart."\ \ \ Dave Barry"This is an extraordinary book — unflinchingly honest, scarily funny, relentlessly cynical and always immensely entertaining. Just like Warren Zevon."\ \ \ \ \ Bruce Springsteen"A moralist in cynic’s clothing, Zevon nails a part of the American character rarely captured in pop music."\ \ \ \ \ Gore Vidal"Warren Zevon...was one of the most interesting writers of the era, and certainly ahead of his time. "\ \ \ \ \ Jackson Browne"A harrowing ride through the backstreets of the L.A. music business with the King of Song Noir."\ \ \ \ \ Time Out Chicago"It’s a frank account of yet another great talent taken down by his own demons."\ \ \ \ \ Harp Magazine"… that’s what this book is about—humanizing this mythic character"\ \ \ \ \ Orlando Sentinel"Crystal Zevon succeeds in channeling Warren Zevon, giving us a complete, engrossing picture of a compelling artist."\ \ \ \ \ Philadelphia Inquirer"[It’s] a satisfyingly sordid read that’s full of bad behavior…"\ \ \ \ \ Rolling Stone"[A] new, riveting oral history... unflinching interviews with his friends, admirers and fellow hell-raisers."\ \ \ \ \ Fort Worth Star-Telegram"It’s a lurid, page-turning read, filled with big successes and deep lows."\ \ \ \ \ Seattle Times"...the book [is] a tender song in itself."\ \ \ \ \ Bangor Daily News"…packed full of... the cynical humor for which Warren Zevon was so famous."\ \ \ \ \ Booklist"This often searing, humorous, and brutally honest book captures him at his best and his worst."\ \ \ \ \ New York Times Book Review"…I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead definitely piles up enough horrendous behavior to back the title’s claim."\ \ \ \ \ Birmingham News"… a grisly but fascinating rock ‘n’ roll journal…"\ \ \ \ \ Philadelphia Daily News".. a fascinating collection of anecdotes... as assembled by his ex-wife, Crystal Zevon. "\ \ \ \ \ Entertainment Weekly"I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead turns out to be one of the most casually insightful rock bios ever." Grade: A-\ \ \ \ \ Los Angeles Magazine"Few books have captured so well the L.A. rock and roll scene in all its mindlessness and eloquence."\ \ \ \ \ New York Times"... an unforgettable journey into the depths of Mr. Zevon’s mad genius."\ \ \ \ \ Los Angeles Times" The book reveals a smartass satirist . . . as bankrupt as the characters he documented in his songs."\ \ \ \ \ Janet Maslin… [Ms. Zevon's] affection, candor and dogged pursuit of information make this book an unforgettable journey into the depths of Mr. Zevon’s mad genius. There is much for Ms. Zevon to balk at, but she has the temerity for this tough job.\ — The New York Times\ \ \ \ \ Publishers WeeklyFor those who know them, the brilliant, dark songs of Warren Zevon (1947-2003) inspire nothing short of adoration; for those who don't, this stunning biography of the irrepressible rock 'n' roll singer/songwriter should send them sprinting to the nearest record store. By taking an unexpurgated oral history approach to Warren's life, his former wife and lifelong friend, Crystal, has crafted a sharp, funny, jaw-dropping rock biography that's among the best of the subgenre. Provocative and unflinching, her account distills Warren's journal entries along with exhaustive interviews with 87 family members, business associates, band mates, fellow musicians and former lovers into a chronology that ranges from Warren's ancestry to his death, at age 56, from lung cancer. The impetus for the book was Warren himself-he implored Crystal to tell his story and to "promise you'll tell 'em the whole truth, even the awful, ugly parts." The awful, ugly parts turn up often: Warren's addictions (to alcohol, drugs and sex), personal demons (intense obsessive compulsion and commitment phobia) and paternal shortcomings (to him, kids were nuisances) all get plenty of play here. But so does Warren's music, for which peers like Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen and Paul Shaffer offer plenty of insight. This top-notch biography is a must-read for fans, and a highly rewarding read for anyone interested in a close look at the life of a modern rock icon. (May)\ Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information\ \ \ \ \ Library JournalWhen Warren Zevon died in 2003, the rock world lost one of its most raucous "excitable boys" and a brilliant singer/songwriter. Zevon's many memorable songs, ranging from "Werewolves of London" to "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," poke fun at the rock'n'roll lifestyle and offer raw, cynical commentary on late 20th-century society. Interweaving the remembrances of Zevon's many friends with entries from his own journals, Crystal, his widow, presents an intimate look at Zevon's wild life of drugs, women, and music. Among others, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen, Carl Hiaasen, Stephen King, and the Everly Brothers, with whom Zevon got his start, share reminiscences. A former girlfriend, Merle Ginsberg, captures Zevon best: "The happiest I ever saw Warren was when he was in the recording studio. He came alive and he was a different person." One day there might be a definitive biography that analyzes Zevon's music, but for now this quasi memoir brings him back to life in all his dazzling genius. All pop music collections need this book.\ —Henry L. Carrigan\ \ \
