Who composed and performed the hit song, 'Werewolves of London'?

"Werewolves of London" is a song by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, written by Zevon, LeRoy Marinell and Waddy Wachtel, which became a Top 40 US hit, the only one of Zevon's career, reaching No. 21 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 in May, 1978.

The song began as a joke by Phil Everly, of the Everly Brothers, to Zevon in 1975. Everly had watched a television broadcast of the 1935 film 'Werewolf of London' and suggested to Zevon that he adapt the title for a song and dance craze. Zevon played with the idea with his band members LeRoy P. Marinell and Waddy Wachtel, who wrote the song together in about 15 minutes, all the were transcribed by Zevon's wife Crystal. However, none of them took the song seriously.

Soon after, Zevon's friend Jackson Brown, saw the song and thought "Werewolves of London" had potential and began performing it during his own live concerts. He also thought the song was about an upper-class English womanizer: "It's about a really well-dressed, ladies' man, a werewolf preying on little old ladies. In a way it's the Victorian nightmare, the gigolo thing."