Nothing's Bad Luck

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Nothing's Bad Luck Page 46

by C. M. Kushins


  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

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  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

 

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