The 2003 episode that David Letterman devoted entirely to a single guest, Warren Zevon, stands out as one of Dave's signature episodes and the frank and revealing conversation they had about Zevon's terminal lung cancer diagnosis is but one of many fascinating layers to that appearance that this episode of the podcast explores.

Issues of ambition, ego, addiction, self-medication and recovery were shared by both of these talented and tortured entertainers.  Zevon's life and career were shadowed by his alcoholism, his brief period of 12-Step sobriety, and the abstinence from alcohol and drugs he would give up upon receiving his terminal cancer diagnoses.  Letterman has spoken openly about his own father's alcoholism and sobriety in AA, and his own decision to stop drinking in 1984 and how his life and work has been altered by that decision. In their many meetings on Letterman's shows, these issues and many others would be crackling in the fore and background.

This episode was inspired by Crystal Zevon's incredible, heart-wrenching oral biography of her ex-husband Warren Zevon, a contemplation of Zevon's many appearances on the David Letterman shows over the years, and a lifelong fascination with reading between the lines of rock biographies.

Sources:

Zevon songs

'Werewolves Of London' Video

'Keep Me In Your Heart' Lyric Video

'Desperados Under The Eaves' Video

'Searching For A Heart' Video

Dr. Demento

'They're Coming to Take Me Away'

'Fish Heads'

'Dead Puppies'

Paul Nelson's 1981 Profile of Zevon

Zevon's Appearances on Letterman

Jesse Thorn's revealing 2020 podcast interview with David Letterman

Buy Crystal Zevon's excellent biography of Zevon on Amazon.

Watch Letterman's Netflix INTV series.