Home / Arts and Entertainment / Letterman Honors Late Friend Warren Zevon with Heartfelt Rock Hall Tribute
Letterman Honors Late Friend Warren Zevon with Heartfelt Rock Hall Tribute
9 Nov
Summary
- David Letterman's emotional induction speech for Warren Zevon at Rock Hall
- Letterman recounts Zevon's final TV appearance and gifting his guitar
- The Killers and Waddy Wachtel perform Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns and Money"
On November 6th, 2025, former late-night host David Letterman took the stage at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony to deliver a heartfelt tribute to his friend, the legendary singer-songwriter Warren Zevon. Letterman, who had hosted Zevon's final television appearance in 2002, just before the rocker's death from lung cancer, shared a touching story of that last encounter.
Letterman recalled how Zevon had handed him the electric guitar he had used during his many appearances on Letterman's show, saying, "Take care of this for me." Overcome with emotion, Letterman said he "started to sob uncontrollably" at the time. For the past 22 years, Letterman had kept the guitar safe, and on this night, he returned it to the stage, passing it on to the Killers' lead guitarist, Dave Keuning, to use in their performance.
The Killers, joined by renowned guitarist Waddy Wachtel, who had played on many of Zevon's most famous recordings, then took the stage to perform one of the honoree's signature songs, "Lawyers, Guns and Money." Letterman's heartfelt tribute and the musical salute paid homage to the enduring legacy of Warren Zevon, a true poet of rock and roll.
