Zevon was famous for his darker sense of humor, heard in songs like "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner" and "Excitable Boy." He was good friends with many famous musicians who enjoyed his company, including Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Billy Bob Thornton, Don Henley, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Neil Young, REM, and the Everly Brothers.
After being diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer in 2002, Warren Zevon appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman in an episode where he was the only guest. This was the last time he performed publicly, ending with "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner." Letterman was a huge Zevon fan and often had him on the show. Zevon even filled in from time to time for the show's bandleader, Paul Shaffer.
Zevon got a big-time boost from two members of the music scene in Los Angeles, where he was based. Jackson Browne got him a record deal and produced his self-titled 1976 album. Three songs from that album were then covered by Linda Ronstadt: "Hasten Down The Wind" later in 1976 and "Carmelita" and "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" in 1977. Zevon landed his hit "Werewolves Of London" the following year.
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