Roland would be smiling, if he ever found his head
I would be remiss to observe that, among this year’s inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is Warren Zevon.
While not a household name, Zevon had a crazy life and, while hanging out with an Irish bar owner in Spain in 1973– one who had worked in the Congo as a mercenary in the 60s– teamed up to write possibly the best merc song ever penned.
Yup, Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner.
It became one of his most enduring songs, and he often performed it on Letterman, where he was a fixture. In fact, his 2002 Letterman appearance, which he closed with Roland, was his last public performance before he passed far too young of mesothelioma.
While the song has been covered dozens of times in the past 50 years, and tons of art abounds, Lorin Michki’s depiction, which hangs in my office, is perhaps the best.
Pour one out for Warren this weekend, my friends, and keep your DPM smock clean.
https://polldaddy.com/js/rating/rating.jsI saw the topic posted on Gunblogger and just had to come here, hoping against hope that you would have a video of the song. And wonderful surprise, here it is!
This has to be my favorite sort of rebellious song from my youth. Being born in 1960 I was so very fortunate to grow up with such music.
I was just telling my wife earlier that the reason that everyone says that the music of the 70’s was the best ever is that it WAS the best ever. I don’t listen to any of today’s music, which could be construed as what passes for country music today. Gone are the old country singers of old, like Willie, Waylon, Johnny, etc. The types who you knew had lied the life that they sang about.
I often think of music today and as a representative of it I can’t help but have Taylor Swift pop into my head. Nothing against her personally but she is in my opinion a no talent hack.
I feel the same way. Saw Willy in concert just two weeks ago!