Posted on April 28, 2025

This year, the world finally gives Warren Zevon the recognition he long deserved — induction into the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame under the “Musical Influence” category.

It is a well deserved honor, but Warren wasn’t just a musician. He was an artist’s artist — a master storyteller whose wit, fearlessness, and sharp observations made him one of the most important singer-songwriters of the 1970s and beyond. His songs — like Lawyers, Guns and Money, Carmelita, and Keep Me In Your Heart — cut straight to the soul, blending biting humor with haunting beauty in a way only Warren could.

Trained as a classical pianist and shaped by a lifetime of raw experiences, Warren’s career spanned decades and earned him deep respect from music legends, including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, and Jackson Browne. His breakout albums, including Excitable Boy (featuring the iconic Werewolves of London), captured a devoted audience — one that remains fiercely loyal today. His final album, The Wind, released just two weeks before his death, earned two Grammy Awards and stands as a testament to his unbreakable spirit.

But behind Warren’s brilliance was a tragedy that should never have happened.

In 2002, Warren was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma — a preventable, deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Though we have known for decades that asbestos is a toxin that causes cancer, it is still found in our homes, schools, and workplaces. He was only 56 years old when he passed. Like too many families, Warren’s loved ones, including his son Jordan Zevon, never learned exactly when or where he was exposed. What is certain is that asbestos — still not fully banned in the United States — was the culprit. And it cost the world one of its most fearless voices far too soon.

Warren didn’t go quietly. Even in his final months, he poured every ounce of his soul into his music, recording The Wind surrounded by friends and fellow legends like Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, Tom Petty, Don Henley, and Bruce Springsteen. His powerful farewell song, Keep Me In Your Heart, reminds us of his enduring message: live fully, love deeply, and never take a single day for granted.

For nearly 20 years, Warren’s son, Jordan, has served as the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization’s (ADAO) National Spokesperson. His tireless advocacy — born from love, grief, and a deep desire for change — has helped move mountains in the fight to prevent asbestos exposure and protect public health. Through Jordan’s voice and leadership, Warren’s legacy now stretches far beyond music, inspiring efforts to ban asbestos and save lives.

Warren Zevon’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is more than overdue — it’s a powerful reminder of what he gave the world, and what asbestos took away.

Today, we honor his artistry, his humanity, and his fight.
Tomorrow, we keep fighting — until the world listens.
Until prevention, not mourning, becomes the norm.

Thank you, Warren Zevon.
Thank you, Jordan.
We will keep you in our hearts — forever.

Linda Reinstein