Warren Zevon, Raspberry Beret, David Letterman Show, 1990 HD

Warren Zevon from 1990, on Letterman, playing a Prince Song that was featured on his new album, entitled Hindu Love Gods (which was also the name of his new band, formed with REM minus Michael Stipe).

[@dalecooles]

Warren was my pal. We spoke on the phone and discussed Thomas McGuane novels backstage. I miss him as I would a brother.

[@markreay3421]

peace

[@noeloakes890]

it’s terrible when a real friend dies.

[@virginiaknighten4687]

Sorry about your loss. Sounds like y’all had a wonderful friendship.

[@brendastanford9545]

I adored him...

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

Thanks for the memories, Warren...🎶

[@illiamdeebe7579]

I love his delivery on this. It’s like an angry drunken Gordon Lightfoot.

[@zebop]

Spot on but really isn’t Gordon Lightfoot always angry and drunk 😉

[@dspf68]

lmao. only on the inside sadly

[@BonesEye42]

@@zebop more bitter than angry! Still great though!

[@martymiles39]

NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BUT SO ON POINT.

[@Scottlp2]

Omg lol.

[@mjbug1435]

The lyrics almost sound like something he would write.

[@bernlin2000]

If you weren't a Prince fan, you wouldn't be faulted for thinking this was one of Warren's

[@HuckleberryAlexander]

When Prince wrote this song, and when it was popular, no one fawned over the lyrics at that time. It was all about the sound of the song. Prince was a great lyricist. In addition to his profoundly unique and 100% musicianship.

[@RegisWilkins]

@@HuckleberryAlexander Not really. Warren brought a masculine and muscular rock and roll attitude to the song not some beta whining. This is a huge improvement over Prince's original. Better band too.

[@HuckleberryAlexander]

@RegisWilkins I don't disagree with that, which is why I posted the comment to begin with. Although I am much more of a fan of Warren's songwriting, the point was that Prince could write very good lyrics as well.

[@HuckleberryAlexander]

@RegisWilkins Take "Downtown Train," for another example. Tom Waits wrote it, and he recorded the best version of that song imo. But other artists (like Rod Stewart) also recorded it. Good tunes = good tunes. It boils down to any person's personal preferences by way of presentation, I suppose.

[@tropicaldoodad]

Greatness. This is how one iconic singer covers another iconic performer's song. You make it your own, without fucking it up.

[@theGefilteFist]

TV on the radio’s “mister grieves” isn’t quite this good, but it plays on the same rarefied field

[@michaeld.mahoney9106]

Outstanding cover. Warren you are really missed.

[@Billkwando]

A cover of a cover, if you consider that 3/4s of R.E.M. created the arrangement Zevon's band is copying, on *their* record, Hindu Love Gods.

[@jennapherhague5728]

@@BillkwandoTough to find Hindu Love Gods! If ya see it, grab it!

[@mikeclement6152]

Just discovered this. There's something about Zevon's voice that feels authentic, like he's telling a story througg song that he FEELS. He's always great.

[@christopherdavidson6717]

@SEZWAH you got it

[@michaelclement1529]

Ha imagine my surprise when I saw your name, I was like wait I didn’t write this, lol

[@brentgolder2155]

Eggxactly!

[@Frip36]

He forgot to turn his guitar on.

[@357clinger]

Played this literally every day for months accidentally ! Warren never fails to hit you in the heart 💜 ❤❤ But I can’t find this song anywhere ! Please if you know 🎉Actually met Warren in central Queensland in 1990 he was playing with The Little River Band and he was surprised I even knew who he was!!! Only one amongst a 1000 He was loving being incognito and all he wanted to know about was native Australian animals! Unfortunately he was dead centre of the coal mine industry And I’d I’ve spent the whole night with him had I known he wrote those beautiful songs Linda Ronstadt I loved The Shire got him to plant a tree in his honour! But that’s another story

[@WhiskeyPlease-xq3ru]

I didn’t know this existed and it’s fantastic.

[@GregSchroder]

I didn't know about this until ten minutes ago. Hat's off to Warren and the guys from REM. Many have tried to cover Prince and pretty much all have failed. But this? This absolutely ROCKS. R.I.P., Mr. Zevon. You are surely missed.

[@raindeerprojekt4119]

A bald poet did Just fine and a Seattle Screamer as well... but yeah Prince is a fine songwriter

[@bauerj3398]

R.E.M. is not on stage during this performance.

[@raindeerprojekt4119]

Sinead O'Connor covered Prince

[@azizmooshoolov2308]

@@raindeerprojekt4119 Chaka Khan, too

[@MarkPetersen-lm2il]

An amazing Prince cover that he didn't sing or write is Ambrosia Parsley

[@jimthompson973]

Nice rendition of a Prince classic. RIP to both Prince and Mr. Warren Zevon.

[@Scp716creativecommons]

Imagine the insanity, had they shared a stage. It really may have ended without them wearing much more😮

[@justinnoble6506]

Both legends

[@76mrvitamind]

I got a Lou reed feel when he started “telling the story” Zevon singing a prince cover is super hot.

[@michaelsaia7413]

Just heard this on Underground Garage. How I missed it all those years ago is beyond me. What a cover.

[@cory3518]

I think the only late night talk show that repeatedly had Warren on as a guest. Excitable Boy a masterpiece album still holds up today

[@jennapherhague5728]

Nuff said! Ain’t that pretty at all

[@theosprey7111]

“Raspberry Beret” is my favorite Prince tune and Warren’s cover just f’n rocks.

[@charliefarrell4888]

Ditto

[@jakobfinn4339]

a tip: you can watch series on flixzone. Been using them for watching loads of movies these days.

[@skyleraxl6704]

@Jakob Finn Yup, been using Flixzone} for since november myself =)

[@alexzandercolson9857]

@Jakob Finn yup, I've been watching on flixzone} for since november myself :)

[@johndunstan2415]

Great comment!

[@gregc1331]

Always enjoyed Letterman’s acceptance of a wide range of music.The Late Night band could play ANYTHING. Zevon was a writer who sounded like a writer trying to sing but he was legit; totally authentic and that equation produced legit rock.

[@brinsonharris9816]

Warren was one of Dave’s favorite guests. Dave always knew he was gonna knock it outta the park.

[@MrGordonGartrelle]

Will Lee's disrespectful bubble popping gets an F. That made up chorus riff gets an A.

[@gregc1331]

@@MrGordonGartrelle Ha, never noticed it. It is annoying.

[@Alan-71351]

Warren could sing his ass off!❤ HATE HE'S GONE. DAMM!

[@Alan-71351]

Warren could sing his ass off! HATE HE'S GONE! DAMNIT!-ERIC CARTMAN

[@JLKDOOM]

I have hindu love gods on cassette!!! As a huge zevon fan, I was stoked to find it in a local record store for 50 cents in 2020!!!

[@howardgarrett7865]

Also a huge Zevon fan Found a live album years ago in a delete bin called Stand in The Fire It is still one of my favorites

[@JLKDOOM]

@@howardgarrett7865 I own two copies of stand in the fire on vinyl, one is a radio promo copy :) I have almost everything on vinyl. Almost all of it I found at record stores and any time I find a zevon album I buy it, even if I own it already. If it's one that I know my bestfriend doesnt have I gift it to him

[@colinblazej2447]

I got the tape free as a prize for bringing a toy for kids to a Warren Zeavon holiday show in Northampton, MA. Saw him twice there. Always a great show.

[@JLKDOOM]

@@colinblazej2447 that's awesome! Wish I could've seen him perform

[@dictater2]

If Zevon is covering your song that is a huge compliment since it is almost always the other way around.

[@terrykemble-yi2nc]

I,LL stand corrected if need be, but I am pretty sure I was rocking along to this song long before I ever heard of Prince.

[@colinswartz6022]

Fun fact: The Hindu Love Gods album is Warren with REM (minus Michael Stipe) playing covers. I'd listen to that album (on cassette) over and over. You can tell they were all probably more than slightly inebriated, which I believe makes it even more fun to listen to. Tremendous sound.

[@RaoulDuke-bc1pm]

The cover of Muddy Waters' "Manish Boy" from that album should be in the Smithsonian

[@yasminx16]

HOLD ON - why haven’t I heard this before - absolutely brilliant!

[@AndySmithCoachingLeaders]

The version on the album is even better

[@davidhess7821]

I heard this song along time ago it's brilliant thanks for the video guys are great

[@Michael_Dominic]

Prince was VERY diligent about keeping his songs off of the internet, even when they were performed by other people.

[@abbyhelms8056]

Bro listen to the Prince version!

[@thatoneanimator2848]

ikr

[@brinsonharris9816]

I was in HS when Werewolves of London broke big and Warren Zevon got a lot of press. There was a critic in one of the rock music magazines (there used to be several, and it wasn’t Rolling Stone) described his sound as “if you got drunk and played the piano by shooting the keys with a 44 Magnum, you’d sound a little like Warren Zevon. Just a little.” If ever there was Pulitzer worthy writing, that was a great example. No Internet back then, you just had to hunt for media about the musician you were into. Werewolves was an instant classic and put Warren on the map forever. He wrote and performed music like Hunter S. Thompson wrote prose and lived. We miss you, gents. But we’ll always have what you created.

[@brandonbeard8638]

This dude was f@#cking awesome. Never even knew who he was until I heard my uncle listening to Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner.

[@Michael_Dominic]

surely, the "cool" uncle ;)

[@brandonbeard8638]

@@Michael_Dominic absolutely. He is definitely a music fanatic. He doesn't even hardly watch tv. Just listens to all kinds of music. I get to hear all kinds of little hidden jewels when I visit him and I am all the time asking, "Uncle Johnny who is this?" Lol.

[@rockturtleneck]

The other Hindu Love Gods were Buck, Mills and Berry from R.E.M. They recorded the album in a drunken jam session in the late 80s, probably as a rehearsal for their work on Zevon's great LP Sentimental Hygiene, but the HLG wasn't released until 1990. The whole album is a fun listen, lots of blues covers too. Too bad the full band couldn't do the show.

[@thesouthernerwithadhd2710]

Don't forget Bryan Cook.

[@PlateOshrimp499]

@@thesouthernerwithadhd2710 Time Toy was amazing. Warren was in town a lot over 86-87: I had 2 or 3 sightings of him easily during that time.

[@heber0101]

The REM guys were great. And I'm always a fan of Zevon. Nice to find this today by accident. But no more where this came from RIP Warren.

[@heber0101]

Update: from some of the other comments, NOT the REM guys. It was Paul Shaffer's band. Still came off well.

[@DC-ih8bv]

heber0101 yes Anton Fig on drums . He covered for Peter Criss on Kiss albums quite often also. Great drummer.

[@timothymclaughlin5253]

It’s got a real “garage band” feel to it. More of a rocker than a Prince’s “pop”original. Both great songs depending on your mood!

[@georgemartin5980]

I’m not familiar with the original, but I was thinking what a straight up honest rocker this is. Warren does the spoken word as a perfect counter to the rhythm of the instruments.

[@davidjackson6835]

good observation...especially as you are so correct!!!

[@brinsonharris9816]

@@georgemartin5980 Prince’s original is worth looking up. I heard the Hindu Love Gods cover (Warren backed by REM) on our local community radio station one day and could not turn my car stereo up loud enough.

[@iangreenhalgh9280]

I hate Prince but this version of this song is wonderful

[@moeshiner156]

Warren is not impressed with the whole "Music scene today bit" You are missed my friend.

[@marcsalzman8082]

He never WAS. He was real, & eclectic & the antithesis of pretension as far as I could tell ; I went to SO MANY DAMN SHOWS I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO I SAW HIM OPEN FOR &/OR SIT IN WITH

[@moeshiner156]

@@marcsalzman8082 Ok then.

[@edb4955]

It's like one great song writer recognizing another. Prince coulda covered Lawyers Guns and Money - wouldve been cool.

[@Sproogle777]

A brilliant cover by the brilliant Mr Zevon. He really does a great job of honouring Prince while making it unmistakably and recognisably his own.

[@2wayplebney]

Splendid. If you didn't know, you would think this was one of Warren's songs. I bet Prince was a fan.

[@michaelclay8544]

Why is he not in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This is outstanding

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

Because he did not write this song, it's a Prince cover.

[@scottsinner7530]

@@einundsiebenziger5488So your argument is that Zevon isn’t in the Hall because Prince wrote Raspberry Beret. Interesting.

[@cairochris2]

…dang. Speechless. I think it’s fair to say, one of the best covers I’ve ever heard.

[@ezekielbrockmann114]

True that!

[@thirdbase6870]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGXPZ3mLbJmji7s

[@RegisWilkins]

Prince was a musical genius. But Warren's version is better, ballsy delivery, rock'n band , everything Prince couldn't do.

[@kurtshafer677]

he knocked this one out of the park!

[@martymiles39]

After Warren passed they gave Dave the Mark Twain award and one of the highlights was Eddie Vedder doing one of his songs. Keep Me In Your Heart will always be a truly heroic song about how Warren felt about his family and how he faced his own mortality.

[@buddharocket]

Haven't seen this since it aired. Thank you

[@energyasylum997]

The lyrics to this song….. “I put her on the back of my bike and we went riding down to old man Johnson’s farm”. ……..Prince wrote that with a heavy influence of Joni Mitchell. The way she sung, spoke and paused in her songs. Rip Warren, Rest In Peace Prince

[@Hottiedonkey]

Shut up.

[@sayton2241]

Gotta love all three of them. I really like it when good artists take inspiration from one another or make covers. It's a show of appreciation in my mind. Warren Zevon singing Prince would not have been my first guess, but the man apparently had an ear for great songs!

[@howardgarrett7865]

What a treat catching this today Never saw it back in the day Always loved Zevon

[@funkycoldmaria8602]

I was born and raised in Athens. I bought this album the day it was released. It is still one of my most prized possessions...❤

[@integral]

Thirty years ago? Damn, seems like yesterday. Almost kinda sorta.

[@CODYj423]

One of the coolest covers I've heard and I'm am old f'r.

[@dspf68]

agreed, both on the cover and being old as dirt lmao!

[@donnadsh8479]

Lol

[@JontheWorldsBestMediator]

You are right, this is outstanding!!

[@GenkiSugiru]

My first time seeing Warren cover this Prince song. Wonderful version, and he makes it seem like it could have been written by him. Great combination of singer and song. One of the rare nuggets of gold one can occasionally stumble across on KZbin.

[@Jaxthewonderhusky]

It's amazing what you'll find down the KZbin music rabbit hole! Awesome!

[@jaburchfield7194]

I'd like to think they are jamming this together right now! Both were GENIUS!! Rock In Peace Boys!!

[@mbrew3244]

That thick Sadowsky/Will Lee tone...miss it.

[@romancandle416]

ON THE MUSIC SCENE TODAY.

[@alisamadoo134]

What Warren touched turned to gold. His talent is missed so much.

[@ivankuljis1780]

_Warren certainly knew this one thing in Life: How to Rock Out on a song!_

[@TRSmith-xb9dg]

Back in the day when you could just ignore the contributions to Rock by Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry

[@davidmaslow399]

Dont give em time!

[@Billkwando]

Apparently Zevon needed to use them to prop up his failing career. The album was never intended for release. I guess they felt bad for him. Love how the album is "called" Hindu Love Gods, rather than BY Hindu Love Gods, an entity that existed as Buck Berry Mills long before Zevon was ever a part of it. There's HLG single on YT from the early 80's...no Zevon.

[@RaoulDuke-bc1pm]

Many posting here seem surprised that Warren covered someone else's song. Others that he's done that shouldn't be missed are A Certain Girl Manish Boy Cadillac Ranch Back in the High Life Knockin' On Heaven's Door There's another that's gotta be out there somewhere though I only saw it once...Kung Fu Fightin'

[@tonylevet282]

It's not the title of an album. The Hindu Love Gods were an occasional band featuring Zevon plus REM members Bill Berry (drums), Peter Buck (guitar) and Mike Mills (bass). It's a great album.

[@levinton1]

Okay, first, how cheeky Warren Zevon was to sing a Prince song like this! Prince was beyond amazing and see his official video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/omjZg4arlNymhMU BUT BUT...Zevon is truly cool and brings out the song maybe better. He has a way of intonation that brings out the centerpiece of the song - and when it was warm she didn't wear much more. That great Prince line is front and center, not so much for the Prince version. And on top of this, how can you beat Sid MacGuiness as a lead guitarist. As he did for so many other Letterman performers, his solo work is simply perfect. Zevon with his black Les Paul is simply great as a performer and overall he communicates the song better than Prince. Yes....better than Prince!

[@RYDR6517]

Warren you are one cool son of a gun rest in peace buddy

[@bernlin2000]

I would have loved to hear this dude cover a lot of artists, its always so terrible to only discover a genius who was alive in your youth after they have passed on...what I wouldn't give to see Warren live 😪

[@othgmark1]

The best you can do now is find a copy of "Stand in the fire" his live album. Warren built his reputation with his manic live shows as a rocker. The way he could tell such a descriptive story is what made him a great songwriter. No one else like him.

[@steviegaga]

I loved this man’s music, his talent, and his grace in accepting the inevitable end we all face eventually. Thank you for posting! 🙏🏾☮️🎶

[@BrendanJimenez]

I love how close him and Letterman got, it still chokes me up watching Warren give Dave one of his guitars towards the end , knowing how much Dave would appreciate it, both guys, true class acts 😢

[@kentkearney6623]

LISTEN UP KIDS.......UNCLE DAVE HAS WARRENS BACK. SFO!

[@RobMacKendrick]

I would never have made this for a Warren song, but you hear the first measure and you think, "Of course." He was powerful like that. Anything could be his song. Patron saint of my college years.

[@MrGordonGartrelle]

Wow - what an incredible cover. Prince loved rock...I hope he enjoyed this fantastic interpretation.

[@douglasbonner6543]

I have the EP on vinyl and the full album on CD. Zevon is awesome.

[@fanman7410]

God Bless America for giving the rest of us Zevon...

[@davidbuswa9425]

Great cover by Warren Zevon. I wonder if Prince covered "Werewolves Of London"? "Ahooo.... Werewolves of London" LOL!

[@rodhancock4682]

.Then please send Lawyers, guns and money to rescue.

[@belconetto]

This sounds more original than the original

[@nobodyspecial5318]

I thought the band was called Hindu Love Gods

[@Jessica_Roth]

So beautiful. Where Prince went (IMO) over the top trying to be psychadelic (I get it; he wanted something new after "Purple Rain", but it didn't work for me), Warren just makes it seem so natural and so seamless. Brilliant work. RIP, Genius.

[@Jerry82772]

absolutely crushed this perf

[@morganzimmerglass9925]

I mean he forgot the last verse i think. Rain sound so cool when it hits the barn roof and the horses wonder who you are…

[@JK-bm4zx]

Best version of this song ever recorded.....I enjoy it better than Prince and I like Prince a lot

[@pauljojo6855]

Joe Walshs younger brother on bass

[@Emlizardo]

My favorite Prince song - thanks Warren!

[@GeeWillikersMan]

Paul's keyboards wreck it for me.

[@goittoog7563]

Zevon doing a cover that is priceless...love Prince and Zevon.

[@geekay1349]

is Will chewing gum?

[@federicoru8657]

Que buena bajista Martina Navratilova!!

[@TillyOrifice]

Warren Zevon covering Raspberry Beret. What a great combination!

[@JF-xq6fr]

Fuck, I miss when America was cool.

[@marshallr4797]

Calling Warren underrated is bonkers. Those that know, know. He’s way under appreciated in my estimate.

[@petestanton1945]

omg this kicks total ÷×+! I didn't know this was a good song, and I'm a Prince fan too.

[@elee2968]

Sadly I don’t know enough about WZ but this rocks. Gonna look for more

[@drmilktruck]

Nothing against Will, Sid and Anton, but I'd rather see Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry backing Warren.

[@MMecham532]

Man I miss that dude

[@edsonfcordeaca4958]

Fantastic song and the best cover existent from Price´s song... It´d be unpayable to see the 3 REM guys here together.Warren Zevon made this song a song of his own.

[@jandelbone7046]

Warren Zevon wrote this song, of course it's " a song of his own."

[@ClassicsRbetter]

Prince wrote this song. The Hindu Love Gods album is made up entirely of cover songs. Still, Warren and REM made it their own for sure, best version imo

[@GreenChilliD]

Fresh from the music scene today. 🙄

[@maticstudios]

Lol the fuck you on about?

[@ezescousin14213]

I like prince but warren sounds amazing covering it

[@davevrox3023]

My buddy Years Ago. Dude. You sing. He went out of his way. Out of his appreciation for Warren. I'm now obviously passing on the message. A 😎 dude. Taken away. Probably happy 😊

[@joeysanguine3596]

Impeccable rendition, he is superior to Prince

[@romulus_]

how drunk were you when you wrote this?

[@Kltpzyxm17]

"I'm insane, I'm fddked up, I have problems! But I don't get depressed, and I don't get bored" Pache en Requiescata Warren.

[@thomasbongi5729]

Requiescat in pace?

[@Michael_Dominic]

@@thomasbongi5729 different languages

[@RaoulDuke-bc1pm]

​@@thomasbongi5729Warren used that as a lyric on "Life'll Kill Ya"

[@andrewroberts7428]

love that fat, beefy bass tone

[@357clinger]

Does anyone know why Warren never sung the verse “ When the rain hits the barn roof the horses wonder who you are. And “ I wouldn’t change a stroke cause baby I’m the most “ Can only imagine because it just wasn’t his style ? And are the band really members of REM .? Can you please name them Cheers I Met Warren in Central Queensland not long after this in 1990 was easy as because nobody knew who he was as he was playing with LRB . All he wanted to do was see our native wildlife But I had to break it to him that he was dead centre of coal mining country and it was like Hiroshima He was disgusted even then about the irreversible damage that has destroyed it forever Like everything he did he was way ahead on Conservation too

[@electrojones]

He made this song sound like a Warren Zevon song. Prince had to have enjoyed this.

[@bigdon531]

I saw this when it aired. I was floored. I still am.

[@jamesrichard5290]

Man.. Letterman had such a great show.. I was only a kid then so the jokes didn't land but he always gave great musicians a place to showcase their talents. For that Dave goes down in history as one of mu favorite influencers of music. His new show on Netflix is fantastic, by the way, if you're into his style of interviewing.

[@buddharocket]

Me too. Loved Prince. Dont remember it being so good. I was 20 then just liked "old" legend doing a Prince song ha. Better then I remembered.

[@MMecham532]

Will Lee can really work the gum there! I miss Warren a lot 😔

[@davidmaslow399]

Ass kickin music!

[@robertking7269]

Dave was absolutely right about Zevon And proof that Prince was one of the greatest guitar players ever.

[@davidwilmothall]

Praise someone for their songwriting ability, then have the guest play a cover tune? Who on earth thinks they're a better musician than Prince? Zevon didn't even bring his own group to the gig. This is bar band level lame.

[@davidmaslow399]

Ass kicking Rock and Roll!

[@mrwonderfulhere2]

not sure about this. I like Warren...I think that I would have enjoyed hearing it in the middle of a live performance...not sure it would be a first pick for a talk show...oh well other people seemed to really like it

[@leeelnaugh1652]

Just good

[@steveo44]

Dangerous cover to do but this was great. Can see why Warren would cover it with the storytelling lyrics

[@The2ndFirst]

To Prince it's just a throw away. I feel like. It kinda sounds like a Warren Zevon song! lol.

[@Warrensdeciple]

Genius !

[@davidmaslow399]

Can't get enough of this!!!

[@Robbo57]

Genius