From Billbooard magazine:
Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon died Sunday (Sept. 7) in Los Angeles. He was 56. Zevon was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer in August of last year.
One of the earliest singles I ever owned was Zevon’s “Werewolves of London,” which had as a B-side, “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner,” a song based loosely (I think) on the The Song of Roland. As I prep for continuing the medieval portion of my British literature survey class this morning, I’ll be thinking of Zevon.
Yep, it is indeed based on the Song of Roland. I’d know! :) Zevon’s song, as well as Shel Silverstein’s “Roland the Roadie and Gertrude the Groupie” (sung by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Band), will be part of my dissertation.