If you didn't catch last night's commercial-free presentation on VH-1 chronicling Warren Zevon's last days -- which, as of this writing, he's still living, much to the amazement of his physicians -- check for a rebroadcast. The man who wrote "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" doesn't invoke those sentiments in this documentary. It's an elegant appreciation of life on one's own terms, an affirmation of love in its highest forms -- not maudlin, just matter-of-fact. We see his last recording foray, titled "The Wind", for which he's lovingly joined by legendary fellow artists Ry Cooder, Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Tim Schmidt and The Boss Himself (after Springsteen executes a positively smokin' solo on "Disorder in the House", a morphine-wasted Warren beams up at Bruce and says, "You ARE him!").
It's perfectly in character for the sardonic Zevon to cover "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" on his final CD -- obvious acknowledgement of his condition, but also a tip of his cap to a man who copiously covered him on his 2002 tour, with versions I wish I'd heard of "Accidentally Like A Martyr", "Lawyers, Guns and Money", and "Mutineer."
At one point, he's laying down a vocal on "Disorder" and his time's off, owing to the effects of morphine -- his producer, Jorge Calderon, joins him in the studio to cue him. Later, during playback of the ragged vocals, Calderon suggests they come back the next day, refreshed. Zevon: "Jorge, I'm dying -- I have no 'fresh.'" But there isn't one smidgen of self-pity in his tone. It's just what it is.
"Never thought I'd have to pay so dearly for what was already mine..." This CD is going to be a hard listen; but I can't wait.
"It's a sin not to want to live." Okay, Warren. Then we'll hang on. And, when we catch up with you, we'll let you know how it turned out.
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