Thursday, August 28, 2003
Warren Zevon's last stand
I have never too much of a fan of Warren Zevon, though "Werewolves of London" was staple fare on most classic rock stations and was a reasonably interesting song. Zevon had been diagnosed with a terminal illness (lung cancer) and given three months to live. What does he do? He puts out one last album. Marketing this album has however proved to be a bit of a headache for Artemis records.
"To promote this as the final work would have been in bad taste," says Artemis founder and longtime Zevon friend Danny Goldberg. So Artemis has kept things low-key with little advertising. Instead, the budget on the album was increased by an extra $75,000 for production.
I have to admit I love Zevon incredibly black sense of humour though. He requested Artemis that the first single to be released of the album be his cover version of Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door." Losing Zevon will be a tragedy, in this age of overly self-righteous musicians who take themselves too seriously.
"To promote this as the final work would have been in bad taste," says Artemis founder and longtime Zevon friend Danny Goldberg. So Artemis has kept things low-key with little advertising. Instead, the budget on the album was increased by an extra $75,000 for production.
I have to admit I love Zevon incredibly black sense of humour though. He requested Artemis that the first single to be released of the album be his cover version of Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door." Losing Zevon will be a tragedy, in this age of overly self-righteous musicians who take themselves too seriously.
