Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” – The Story Behind The Song

Author Donielle Flynn

May 22nd, 2023 1:30 PM

Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” started out as a homework assignment from Phil Everly of the Everly brothers.  Warren and his good friend, Robert “Waddy” Wachtel were working together as part of the backing band for The Everly Brothers at the time.  On WarrenZevon.com, Warren tells of the song’s origins: “Phil Everly said, ‘I’m making another solo album. Why don’t you guys write a song for me – a dance song. Call it, ‘Werewolves Of London.'”

He was looking for the place called Lee Ho Fook’s
Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein

Lee Ho Fook was an actual Chinese restaurant located on Gerrard Street in London’s Chinatown.  The restaurant kept a photo of Warren Zevon in their restaurant up until their closing in 2008. Today, the restaurant is called Dumpling Legend. (Faroutmagazine.com)

The Fleetwood Mac Connections:

Warren shared an apartment with Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks in the early ’70s before they joined Fleetwood Mac (jambase.com). Buckingham and Nick both appear in the credits for Zevon’s first album (so do Don Henley and Glenn Frey).

Mick Fleetwood and John McVie played drums and bass on “Werewolves of London.” Waddy Wachtel was the guitarist and Zevon handled the piano.

The Jackson Browne Effect on Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London”

“Werewolves of London” was written well before Warren recorded it for his 1978 album, Excitable Boy.  Jackson Browne loved Warren’s music and started playing the song at his concerts around 1975, explaining to the crowds that the song was Warren Zevon’s.  Browne got his label, Asylum, to sign Warren Zevon. Jackson Browne became Warren’s producer.  Jackson didn’t put “Werewolves of London” on Warren’s first album so that Warren could enjoy more creative freedom than he thought Warren would have on his next album.  In the meantime, Jackson’s label pressured him to record the song himself.  Jackson refused, saying it was a quintessential Warren Zevon song.  Browne also produced Warren’s second album, Excitable Boy. (songfacts.com)

When Zevon played “Werewolves of London” in concert, he sometimes changed the line “I’d like to meet his tailor” to “And he’s looking for James Taylor!”

15 Debut Albums of the ‘70s Everyone Should Own

• Bad Company – ‘Bad Company’

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  Of course, this supergroup’s debut should be in your collection! Just the greatness of “Can’t Get Enough” makes this LP worthy of inclusion on this list. Oh, and this seems like an appropriate time to mention how Bad Company remains one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s biggest snubs.

• The Cars – ‘The Cars’

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  The late Ric Ocasek showed from the jump what a great songwriter he was. When you look at the tracklisting for ‘The Cars,’ it practically reads like a greatest hits album from “Good Times Roll” to “Just What I Needed” to “Moving in Stereo.”

• Foreigner – ‘Foreigner’

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  Out the gate, Foreigner just wasn’t messing around. With classics like “Feels Like the First Time” and “Cold as Ice,” it helped set the stage for a stellar four-album run that included 1978’s ‘Double Vision’,1979’s ‘Head Games’ and 1981’s ‘4.’ Frankly, the greatness of those albums and the hits they contained truly don’t get talked about enough.
• The Police – ‘Outlandos D’Amour’

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  When The Police arrived with their debut LP ‘Outlandos D’Amour,’ no one else sounded quite like them, and no one really has since. Their blend of New Wave, reggae and punk is truly one of kind, especially on standout tracks “Roxanne” and “Can’t Stand Losing You.”

• Sex Pistols – ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols’

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  Sure, ‘Never Mind the Bollocks…’ doubles as the debut and lone album from the Sex Pistols, but it remains one of the most influential albums of all time. It’s hard to imagine the musical landscape without this LP.

• Ramones – ‘Ramones’

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  The Ramones were basically if the Beach Boys grew up in New York’s Bowery neighborhood. They were fiercely punk, but they had some killer pop sensibilities running through them as evident in their self-titled debut, which features 14 tracks and clocks in just over 29 minutes.
• Meat Loaf – ‘Bat Out Of Hell’

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  The words “epic” and “grand” were created to help describe works like Meat Loaf’s ‘Bat Out Of Hell.’ It’s all the proof you need to realize how perfect a match rock and theater truly are. While both Meat Loaf and ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ composer Jim Steinman are no longer with us, their wonderful recorded partnership with live forever.

• Boston – ‘Boston’

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  If you somehow don’t own ‘Boston,’ how is that even possible? This monster debut is one of the biggest selling albums of all time moving 17 million copies in the United States alone. With a stacked tracklisting that includes “More Than A Feeling,” “Peace of Mind” and “Foreplay/Long Time,” it’s no wonder it’s such a massive hit.

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  Van Halen Debut Album 1978
• Black Sabbath – ‘Black Sabbath’

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  Without Black Sabbath and their self-titled debut album, who knows where heavy metal would be today. It’s frightening to even think of a world without Sabbath.

• Patti Smith – ‘Horses’

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  Equal parts punk and poetry, ‘Horses’ introduced the world to Patti Smith, an artist truly ahead of her time. From her iconic take on “Gloria” to beat-influenced, avant-garde tracks like “Birdland,” Smith was a one-in-a-generation voice and remains an American treasure.

• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – ‘Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’

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  Tom Petty is one of rock’s most unique songwriters with the ability to be both profound, yet often minimalist and accessible in his lyrics. That was on full display on the self-titled debut with The Heartbreakers. The only thing heartbreaking when looking back on this debut is the fact that Petty is no longer with us, taken away all too soon at the age of 66.
• The Clash – ‘The Clash’

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  The Clash was a completely different animal from the U.K.’s punk scene. Leaning into early rock and reggae influences, The Clash exhibited a rage and anger that was both righteous and justified considering the economic and political landscape of their native England at the time of the LP’s release. They would famously go on to call themselves “The Only Band That Matters,” and when looking at their output and what they stood for, you can’t really fault the band for feeling that way.

• Lynyrd Skynyrd – ‘Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd’

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  Lynyrd Skynyrd came out the gate with a debut LP featuring “Free Bird,” “Gimme Three Steps,” “Simple Man” and “Tuesday’s Gone.” If you really need any further explanation why ‘Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd’ made this list…like, seriously? Those four tracks are stone-cold classics! What more explanation do you *really* need?

• New York Dolls – ‘New York Dolls’

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  New York Dolls may not have made the millions that the countless bands they influenced made, but make no mistake the musical landscape – from punk to hair metal to glam – would look very different without this debut thanks to killer tracks like “Personality Crisis,” “Looking for a Kiss” and “Trash.”

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Author Donielle Flynn

Category:

• WCSX
• Music

Tags:

'70s,Jackson Browne,London,Warren Zevon