Zevonathon

Rolling Stone is easily the most bipolar magazine in circulation today. One issue puts the Jonas Brothers on the cover without irony, and next they do something brilliant, like the current "New Golden Age of Comedy" issue, featuring an extensive, very interesting interview with David Letterman.

One of the highlights of the interview concerns the 2003 show Dave did with Warren Zevon after Zevon had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and had just months to live:

"After the show, it was heartbreaking -- he was in his dressing room, and we were talking and this and that. Here's a guy who had months to live and we're making small talk. and as we're talking, he's taking his guitar strap and hooking it, wrapping it around, then he puts the guitar into the case and he flips the snaps on the case and says, 'Here, I want you to have this, take good care of it.' And I just started sobbing. He was giving me the guitar that he always used on the show. I felt like, 'I can't be in this movie, I didn't get my lines.' That was very tough."

During the show, Zevon calls Letterman "the best friend my music ever had." And the multitude of appearances Zevon made as guest and fill-in bandleader certainly bear this out.

Herewith, the entire Zevon farewell edition of Late Show with David Letterman. It's a landmark night of music-related television, as Zevon approaches his public farewell with the humor, humanity, perspective and insight that characterized his music for so many years.

Warren Zevon, Late Show with David Letterman final appearance, 2003, Part I


Part II featuring "Mutineer"


Part III featuring "Genius" and the guitar Warren gave Dave


Part IV, featuring Dave's request: "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner"


Zevonathon Bonus Clip:

"Boom Boom Mancini" Late Night with David Letterman, 1987, also w/the guitar Warren gave Dave