David Letterman celebrated his longtime friend and frequent Late Show guest Warren Zevon with an impassioned induction speech at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday. Watch it below.
Having Letterman posthumously induct Zevon was an apt choice, as the pair’s connection goes back decades. Letterman first had Zevon on NBC’s Late Night With David Letterman during the show’s first season in 1982. The two became close, with the rocker making regular appearances, even as Letterman moved over to CBS for Late Show With David Letterman. Zevon would also sit as the show’s bandleader on multiple occasions when Paul Shaffer was absent. “Being right there in the studio was my own version of being 20 feet from stardom — it was delightful,” Letterman said during his induction speech about working with Zevon.
Letterman said he asked Zevon’s son, Jordan, if there was anything he wanted to make sure got mentioned during the ceremony. Jordan gave him three things: “‘I want you to mention that when Warren was a kid, he studied with Igor Stravinsky.’ I said, ‘Okay, Igor Stravinsky… by the way, when I was a kid, I had a paper route,’” joked Letterman.
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Jordan also wanted Letterman to mention Stumpy the Gangster and Bev the Mormon: “I said, ‘By the way, Jordan, those are my two favorite songs.’ He said, ‘Those were his parents, dumbass.’”
On a more serious note, Letterman praised Zevon for his poetry and his breadth of songwriting. “Ask any of Warren’s peers — Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, hell, ask Igor Stravinsky — Warren Zevon is in my Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Actually, his own wing.” He went on to break down Zevon’s music into three categories: Global and Personal Strife (“Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner,” “Excitable Boy,” “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead”), love songs (“Mutineer,” “Reconsider Me,” “Searching for a Heart”), and finally songs about werewolves. “This is about a werewolf in London,” Letter said of the song as the crowd howled. “I don’t know if this is a true story, but there you have it.”
It was in October 2002 when Zevon would make his well-documented final appearance on Late Show, shortly after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. It was during that episode when Letterman asked him the difference between making music before and after the diagnosis, and the singer replied that “you’re reminded to enjoy every sandwich and every minute playing with the guys, and being with the kids.” The line “enjoy every sandwich” went on to become one of Zevon’s most famous quotes, as well as the title to a 2004 tribute album. Letterman remarked during his speech how personally impactful that line has been to him for the past 22 years, as the moment was shown during the video package.
Letterman then shared the story about what happened after that appearance. He went back to Zevon’s dressing room, where the musician locked up his gray guitar in its case and handed it to Letterman. “Take care of this for me,” he said. “I started to sob uncontrollably,” recalled Letterman. “And I just hugged him and I said, ‘Warren, I just love your music.’” He then showed off that same guitar, picked it up, and said, “By God, tonight it’s going back to work.” He then handed it to The Killers’ Dave Keuning to use during their tribute performance.
Letterman continued to champion Zevon long after his death in 2003, including expressing his frustration when the artist was snubbed for the Rock Hall honors in 2023.
“Warren Zevon was on the ballot for the first time, and was not voted in,” he explained at the time. “I will say that I’m disappointed. I’m not angry, because I would’ve been surprised had it gone the other way. I think to be angry would’ve been 30 years ago, when he should’ve been inducted,” going on to add that, “Warren can do without the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame… He’s above and beyond the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.” Well, now he’s above, beyond, and in it.