Nothing's Bad Luck
Page 46
Outside of my relatives, the list of friends who both humored and inspired my project’s progress is composed of names that may as well be siblings (and are my own bandmates): Albert, Allen, Ben, Dan, Danie, Derek, James, John, Ricky, Rob, Russ, little Sloane (who better be hard at work using my old typewriter), Terry—and both Phil and Sal, the publishers who gave me my first byline at fifteen years old.
Although my sources section lists the names of Warren’s friends and family who had unending patience for my questions and appeals for help and guidance, I must take this opportunity to bring their names front and center here, as well. My absolute gratitude to Mitch Albom, Duncan Aldrich, Kevin Avery, Dave Barry, Niko Bolas, Julie Bowen, the late Kim Fowley, Anita Gevinson, Merle Ginsberg, Danny Goldberg, the incredible George Gruel (who answered many phone calls and emails for added assistance in re-creating some of Warren’s most excitable years), Billy Hinsche, Barney Hoskyns (whose interviews were not only incredible, but, as the founder of Rock’s Back Pages, provided some of the greatest and rarest of Warren’s early interviews and press write-ups), Bones Howe, Howard Kaylan, Laura Kenyon, Paul Q. Kolderie, Gary Mallaber, David Marks, Julia Mueller McNeal, Craig Northey, Annette Aguilar-Ramos, Ryan Rayston (the “guardian angel living next door,” who took more calls than anyone else in guiding my representation of Warren’s wiser, more spiritual, and better self), Sean Slade, Noah Scot Snyder, Waddy Wachtel, Crystal Zevon, Lawrence Zevon, and Sandford Zevon.
And finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the two people whom Warren truly valued the most in all the world: his children, Ariel and Jordan, both of whom gave their blessing and kindest of words at the start of my project nearly a decade ago. My greatest hope is that you both approve of my representation of your father—the artist and the man.
As for my own advocates and greatest champions: a very special thanks to the three personal heroes who made this book actually happen—my agent, William Clark, whose infinite patience is only matched by his diligence and understanding; my amazing editor (and dare I say friend) Ben Schafer at Da Capo, who still doesn’t believe that I consider him a greater rock star than the ones he often edits; and finally, my first hero in life and career, Elmore “Dutch” Leonard, who made me want to be a writer, and to take the work seriously. In writing this book, I was fully aware of every lesson he taught me about good writing through his letters when I was a teenager… Dutch, I only hope that my writing doesn’t sound too much like writing—and that you’d forgive my necessity for both a prologue and the usage of the phrase “all hell broke loose.” It was, after all, the name of Warren’s 1980 tour and, therefore, I hope appropriately justified. However, I adhered to your other eight rules with conscious deliberation.
And to the beginning of everything…
My timeless muse and audience of one—who intentionally made me a better writer, unintentionally made me a better man, and accidentally made them one and the same; my gift from God, my dreamer, my fire—my Nina:
Your every word spoken
and every glance like a crescendo
all its own.
If there is such a thing as an ecstasy
that builds like kindling—
you hold the warmth of a glow
and the dance of a flame.
—CMK
Discover Your Next Great Read
Get sneak peeks, book recommendations, and news about your favorite authors.
Tap here to learn more.
INDEX
Abdul, Paula, 237
“Accidentally Like a Martyr” (Zevon), 91–92, 189, 335
ADAT machine, 314, 324
addiction, Warren’s discussion of own, 255, 362
adolescence, 11–26
alcohol use during, 15–16
living with father, 16–17
as musical prodigy, 12–14
Santangelo and, 17–26
Adult Contemporary genre, Warren assigned to radio as, 301–302
Aguilar-Ramos, Annette, 259–263, 272, 274–275, 276, 277, 293–294, 337
song for, 342, 347
“Ain’t That Pretty at All” (Zevon), 172, 276
Akron Beacon Journal, 240
“Alabama” (Young), 135–136
Albom, Mitch, 319, 320–321, 326
Alcoholics Anonymous, 55, 220, 248, 250, 256, 262, 272, 273, 275, 277, 345
alcoholism, Warren on, 238
alcohol use, Warren’s, 27, 58, 63, 83, 85, 107, 344, 345
as adolescent, 15–16
arguing with Crystal over, 52, 54–55
correlation with Warren’s obsessive-compulsive disorder, 248, 250
as creative stimulant, 50
on tours, 47, 74, 76, 102–104
violent episodes and, 76
Aldrich, Duncan “Dr. Babyhead,” 244, 286, 322, 337
Learning to Flinch and, 286–288
Millennium Paranoia Tour and, 265
Mutineer and, 296–297
new recording technologies and, 225–226, 285–286
as road manager, 218–219
on Sentimental Hygiene sessions, 228
Transverse City and, 252–253, 254–256, 257, 262–263
on Warren’s complaints of loneliness, 296
on Warren’s dissatisfaction with career and end of relationship, 307
on Warren’s interest in literature, 293
Allan, Marc D., 301, 311
All Hell Is Breaking Loose Jungle Tour, 152, 163, 176
“All I Have to Do Is Dream” (Bryant), 43
The Allnighter (Frey), 196
all-star cameos on Warren’s albums, 57, 64, 142–143, 226, 253. See also individual artists
Alternative Chorus Songwriters’ Showcase, Warren at, 56–57
Amis, Martin, 293
“Anatomy of a Headache” (Zevon), 293
Andersen, Eric, 84
Anderson, Ken, 312–313
“Angel Dressed in Black” (Zevon), 259
Apatow, Judd, 310, 356
Apple, Fiona, 358
Arista, 58
Arngrim, Stefan, 220, 272, 274–275
Arnold, Eddy, 269
arrests for drunk driving, 55, 58–59
Artemis Records, 306, 312–313, 317, 334, 335, 354
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, 354
Asher, Peter, 166, 271–272, 297, 327
The Association, 34, 41, 49
Asylum Records, 41–42. See also Elektra/Asylum
The Asylum Years (Waits), 221
Atkins, Chet, 43
Atlantic Records, 42, 306
Audio Technology (magazine), 259
Auman, Lisl, 322–323
Austin, Michael, 212
Austin City Limits Studios, interview with Warren, 355
Australian tours, 264, 290
autobiographical nature of Warren’s music, 65, 70, 236, 251, 347, 359
Avery, Ken, 74
Ayeroff, Jeff, 222, 225, 236, 238
Azoff, Irving, 196–197, 198, 209, 269–270, 271–272, 275, 299, 327
“Backs Turned Looking Down the Path” (Zevon), 65–66, 216–217
“Bad Karma” (Zevon), 220, 227, 235
bad luck, Warren’s fear of, 220, 350
“Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School” (Zevon), 128–129
Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School (Zevon), 116
Billboard ranking, 156
Calderón and, 118
critics on, 146–149
design and marketing of, 144–145
European leg of tour, 159, 163–164
recording sessions, 122–123, 126–144
singles from, 145–146
tour for, 150–154, 155, 156–157
writing songs for, 120, 121, 122
Baez, Joan, 52
baglama, 235
Baker, Chet, 263
“The Ballad of Bill Lee.” See “Bill Lee” (Zevon)
Baron, Diana, 349
Barr, Brigette, 327, 332–333, 334, 335,
338, 339, 348
Barry, Dave, 319–320, 321–322, 344, 361
Barry, Michelle, 322
Battin, Skip, 36
Beacon Theater, 240, 247, 264, 265
Beastie Boys, 271
The Beatles, 26
Beck, Greg, 240
Beckett, Samuel, 134
“Bed of Coals” (Zevon and Burnett), 143
Behind the Music (VH1), 338, 339
“Bell-Bottom Blues” (Clapton), 129
Belushi, John, 73, 170, 362
Belzer, Richard, 101
Benben, Brian, 308
benefactor, Warren’s need for, 17
Bennett, Tony, 263
Berry, Bill, 213, 227, 228, 231, 236, 269, 270
Berry, Chuck, 152
Big Gorilla Books, 355
Billboard charts
Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School on, 156
Color of Money soundtrack and compilation album on, 221
The Envoy on, 174
Excitable Boy on, 98, 106
“Follow Me” on, 25
hindu love gods on, 270
Learning to Flinch on, 291
Life’ll Kill Ya on, 317
performance of singles from Sentimental Hygiene on, 245
Sentimental Hygiene on, 245
Stand in the Fire on, 158
The Wind on, 349
Billboard (trade magazine), 99, 196, 222, 293, 298–299, 338
“Bill Lee” (Zevon), 135, 139–141, 145, 146
birth of Warren, 7
Black Angus (Thornburg), 136
Blade Runner (film), 254
bleeding tracks, on Transverse City, 254–255
The Blue Mask (Reed), 174
blues, Warren’s knowledge of, 46
“Bo Diddley” (Diddley), 158
Boehm, Mike, 282, 285
Boettcher, Curt, 49
Bolas, Niko, 225–227, 228, 237, 273
Bond, James, Warren’s fascination with, 2, 163, 168, 171, 335
Bonoff, Karla, 92, 122, 265
The Book of Tao, 307
“Boom Boom Mancini” (Zevon), 213, 215, 228, 229–232, 239, 245
Bork, Robert H., 240
Born to Run (Springsteen), 72
Bortnick, Bob, 294
Boston Globe, 290–291
Bottom Line (club), 73, 102, 192, 217
Botts, Mike, 173
Boucher, Geoff, 343
Boulder (band), 152–154, 156–157, 282
Bourguignon, Serge, 21
Bowman, David, 361
“The Boxer” (Simon), 138
boxing theme, “Boom Boom Mancini,” 229–232
Boyce, Gloria, 286
“Boys of Summer” video, 229
Braheny, John, 56
Brando, Marlon, 161
Braudis, Bob, 323
Brautigan, Richard, 162
Brelsford, Barbara, 49, 54, 112
Brelsford, Clifford, 49, 54, 112, 155–156
Brelsford, Crystal Ann, 44
addressing own addiction, 272–273
Ariel’s relationship with father and, 156, 202–203, 204
birth of Ariel, 74
birth of Ariel’s twins and, 349
confirming Warren’s admiration for Dylan, 233
disintegration and end of marriage to Warren, 123–124, 126, 150
domestic abuse from Warren, 50–51, 63, 76, 84–85
domestic solace with Warren, 106–107
early relationship with Warren, 47–48, 49–50
“Empty-Handed Heart” and, 148
Excitable Boy tour and, 102
foster children, 50, 55, 56
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (memoir), 355
Las Vegas wedding, 56
as most dominant muse of Warren’s career, 347
move back to L.A., 217
new life abroad, 182
pregnancy, 63, 71
rescuing Warren in Casablanca, 76, 77
seeking help for Warren, 108–109
separations from and reconciliations with Warren, 53, 54, 55, 83, 86, 189
song for, 131, 145, 148
suggested threesome with Warren and Gevinson and, 190
trip to Ireland, 116–117, 120–121, 122
trip to Spain with Warren, 60–62
vacations in Hawaii with Warren, 116
Waddy Wachtel and, 44, 48–49
Warren after Life at Least Tour and, 197–198
Warren’s alcohol use and, 52, 54–55
Warren’s confession of his infidelities, 188
Warren’s rehab at Pinecrest Rehabilitation Center and, 4, 110–113
“Werewolves of London” and, 88
Bridges, Jeff, 162
Brodeur, Scott, 265
Brown, Randy, 177
Browne, Jackson
Ariel opening for, 356
Ariel’s fourth birthday party and, 155
Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School and, 131, 148
Crystal’s plea for help and, 94–95
death of wife, 72, 73
at demo sessions, 57
early relationship with Warren, 51–52
Elektra/Asylum and, 197
Enjoy Every Sandwich and, 354
Excitable Boy and, 86–96, 189
“Excitable Boy” and, 91
folk-rock and, 279
follow-up to Warren Zevon and, 78
Geffen and, 41
Goldberg and, 312
“Gorilla, You’re a Desperado” and, 142
Grammy Awards’ tribute and, 353
on Lankford, 172
Main Point and, 187
at memorial service, 351
message about recording contract to Warren in Spain, 61, 62
Nelson and, 74, 104
“Play It All Night Long” and, 136–137
recommending acupuncture treatment for Warren, 180
response to Warren’s diagnosis, 336, 337
reunion with Warren at benefit for Yvonne Calderón, 305–306
romanticism of, 141
Running on Empty tour, 129
setting Warren up in L.A. after rehab at St. Mary’s, 214
skipping Excitable Boy tour, 101
Warren and benefit shows with, 83–84
Warren as opening act for Pretender tour, 75–76
as Warren’s emergency contact, 212
Warren’s intervention therapy and, 4, 112
on Warren’s karate-on-speed period, 157
on Warren’s music, 357
Warren Zevon and, 62–72, 78–80
“Werewolves of London” and, 88
Browning, Boo, 146–147, 158
Brubaker (film), 342
brucellosis, 135, 136
Buck, Peter, 209, 210, 212–213, 227, 228, 236, 269, 300
Buckingham, Lindsey, 57, 64, 66, 68, 81
Buckley, Jeff, 300
Buckley, William F., Jr., 177
Building the Perfect Beast (Henley), 196, 209
Bukowski, Charles, 59, 67
“A Bullet for Ramona” (Zevon), 36
Burke, Howard, 73, 97, 125
Burnett, T Bone, 57, 137, 143, 343
Burns, Michael, 20
Butler, Rosemary, 70
The Byrds, 236
Calderón, Jorge, 59, 118, 256
Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School and, 131, 132
collaborations with Warren, 81–83, 92, 118, 141–142, 278–279, 315–316
contract with Inside Recordings, 357
The Envoy and, 172
Excitable Boy and, 87, 88–89
Grammy Awards’ tribute and, 353
“Mr. Bad Example” and, 278–279
Mutineer and, 297
My Ride’s Here and, 327
nagging Warren to see doctor, 333
“Porcelain Monkey” and, 141–142, 315–316
Sentimental Hygiene and, 226, 228, 235
video for “Werewolves of London” and, 129
visits to Warren’s
home studio, 313
Warren’s intervention therapy and, 112
on Warren’s physical and mental condition during illness, 346
Warren Zevon and, 64, 68, 69
The Wind and, 336–337, 341–348
Calderón, Yvonne, 305, 333
“California Dreamin’”, 22
Californication (television series), using Warren’s music on, 356
Campbell, Mike, 234, 262, 343
cancer diagnosis, Warren’s response to, 333–335
“Can I Get to Know You Better” (Turtles), 29
Cantin, Paul, 316
Capitol Records, 358
Capone, Al, 8–9
Cardosa, David, 16
Carefree Theatre, 286
“Carmelita” (Zevon), 47, 64, 69, 215
Carroll, Jim, 300
Carter, Elliott, 242
Casablanca, Warren in, 76
Casady, Jack, 258
Cash, Johnny, 216, 234–235
Cates, John, 16
Catlin, Roger, 281
CBS Orchestra, 310, 321, 325
CD single, 222–223
“A Certain Girl” (Toussaint), 130
“A Certain Girl” (Zevon), 131, 145, 146, 156, 157–158, 225, 265
Chacon, Bobby “The Schoolboy,” 230
Chandler, Len, 56
Chandler, Raymond, 40, 100, 105, 144, 149
charitable shows, Warren and, 83–84
“Charlie’s Medicine” (Zevon), 169–170
Charone, Barbara, 98
Chateau Marmont, 105–106, 117, 118–119, 126, 170
Chicago Tribune (newspaper), 215, 217, 219, 252, 253, 267, 268, 270–271, 281
Childs, Karen, 240
Chopra, Deepak, 335
Christgau, Robert, 72, 147, 158, 175, 221–222, 235, 263–264, 267, 326
Clapton, Eric, 129, 130, 221
classical music, Warren and, 13–14, 15, 133–135, 238–239, 255–256, 311–312
Clinton, George, 237
cocaine, Warren’s use of, 150
Cochran, Eddie, 216
Cocks, Jay, 108, 147–149, 160
Cody, Phil, 307
Cohen, Jerry, 103
Cohen, Leonard, 104, 130, 187
Cohen, Mickey, 9
Cohen, Steve, 323
collaborations, songwriting
with Browne, 94–95
with Burnett, 143
with Calderón, 81–83, 92, 118, 278–279, 315–316
with Henley, 216
with Hiaasen, 300
with McGuane, 161–163, 168
with Muldoon, 323–324, 326, 337–338
with Rock Bottom Remainders, 319–322
with Souther, 215, 310
with Springsteen, 137–138
with Thompson, 323, 326
Warren and, 79