Singer Zevon dies of lung cancer

Warren Zevon, the US singer-songwriter who worked with REM, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, has died of lung cancer aged 56.

Zevon, who released his latest album The Wind only two weeks ago, died on Sunday afternoon in the United States.

Though he had no UK hits, Zevon was wellknown in the US with songs such as Werewolves of London and I'll Sleep When I'm Dead.

He fronted REM for several songs, under the band name Hindu Love Gods.

During a 30-year recording period he worked with artists such as Neil Young, Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmour and Bob Dylan. He was also the musical director for the famous vocal duo The Everly Brothers during the 1970s.

'Led two lives'

He was diagnosed with mesothelioma - a type of lung cancer usually associated with asbestos - last year.

Danny Goldberg, chief executive of Artemis Records in New York which released his latest records, said: "I was told by his son that he passed away yesterday... in his apartment in West Hollywood, peacefully in his bed."

In an interview with US music magazine Billboard last year, Zevon joked he wanted to stay alive long enough to see the James Bond film Die Another Day, which was released at the end of last year.

Zevon had a reputation as a wild rock star in his younger days, but had been sober since for 18 years and had quit smoking five years ago.

"I've already led two lives. I got to be a wild, crazy, Jim Morrison quasi-rock star and I got to be a sober dad for 18 years. I can't possibly complain," he said last year.

His new album features collaborations with Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Tom Petty and the movie actor Billy Bob Thornton.

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