Werewolves of London

The Zoo Crew is spinning the iconic "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon from his 1978 album Excitable Boy, and the Zoo Freaks are howling along! This track, Zevon’s only Top 40 hit, peaking at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100, was born from a spontaneous jam session sparked by a playful suggestion from Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers. In 1975, after watching the 1935 film Werewolf of London, Everly jokingly told Zevon to write a dance song with that title. Zevon, along with bandmates LeRoy Marinell and Waddy Wachtel, crafted the song in just 15 minutes at Marinell’s Venice Beach home, with Zevon’s wife Crystal transcribing the lyrics as they tossed around lines about a dapper werewolf craving chow mein. The song’s infectious riff, which Marinell had been tinkering with for years, became its backbone, and Wachtel nailed his guitar solo in a single take, though the studio recording required multiple band configurations to capture its raw, “stupid” edge, as Wachtel described. Featuring Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood on drums and John McVie on bass, the track’s quirky charm was initially doubted by Zevon, who preferred other songs for the album’s single, but its catchy “Ah-hoooo” chorus and vivid storytelling made it a fan favorite.

Another fun tidbit comes from its cultural impact. The song’s opening line, “I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand,” was voted by BBC Radio 2 listeners as the best in any song, capturing its absurd yet vivid imagery. Its influence extends to covers and samples, like Adam Sandler’s version for the 2004 tribute album Enjoy Every Sandwich: The Songs of Warren Zevon, and Kid Rock’s 2008 hit “All Summer Long,” which sampled it alongside Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.” Kid Rock’s sampling stirred mixed feelings among fans, with some on Reddit expressing frustration when mistaking it for Zevon’s original on the radio, though others noted Kid Rock credited Zevon and shared royalties with his family. The song also inspired a minor league baseball team in London, Ontario, named the Werewolves, with a mascot called Warren Z. Von. Zevon himself performed a memorable version in 1988 at a Pittsburgh show, tweaking a lyric to “I saw a werewolf on Mt. Washington,” delighting the crowd, as shared by a fan on X.

Warren Zevon’s journey to becoming the gonzo troubadour behind “Werewolves of London” began in Chicago, where he was born on January 24, 1947, to a Russian Jewish immigrant father and a Mormon mother of English descent. A trained classical pianist who briefly studied with a colleague of Igor Stravinsky, Zevon’s early musical path was eclectic. In the 1960s, he performed in a folk-rock duo, wrote songs for acts like The Turtles, and served as musical director for The Everly Brothers. His 1969 solo album Wanted Dead or Alive, released under the name Zevon, flopped, but he persisted, working as a session musician and jingle composer. His breakthrough came with the 1976 album Warren Zevon, produced by Jackson Browne, which caught the attention of peers like Linda Ronstadt, who covered his songs. The 1978 release of Excitable Boy, with its blend of dark humor and sharp storytelling, cemented his cult status, despite struggles with alcoholism and a reputation for being both charismatic and challenging, as detailed in his ex-wife Crystal’s 2007 biography, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.

Zevon’s legacy lives on through his official channels and fan communities. Visit his official website at warrenzevon.com for updates, including his 2025 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an “Early Influencer.” His Facebook page shares news and tributes, while the Instagram account posts archival photos and vinyl releases. On X, fans and the official account celebrate his wit and music. Fan-driven spaces include the Warren Zevon Fans group on Facebook, where enthusiasts discuss his discography and share memories. For more fan content, check out r/warrenzevon on Reddit, a hub for Zoo Freaks and beyond to dive into Zevon’s rich, irreverent catalog.