TOM WAITS ★ rare early interview

[mogwaifeartexas]

I think Tom was still finding his 'television persona'. It looks like he's cracking himself up a little. Since this interview, he's learned to keep a straight face while still being odd and off kilter, but it's all part of the show. He's still trying it out here. He's a genius. The host isn't getting it at all, that's making it awkward and uncomfortable. If you watch some David Letterman interviews with Tom Waits, the strangeness is still there, but he's working with a host who gets it.

[Twistednerver]

yeah i was gonna say is he high or just acting.

[OnkelKC]

heroin is a hell of a drug ^^

[matt37862]

interviewer seems nice enough, but he makes it more awkward

[shenora1116]

Two words, Tom Waits.... period. Nothing else need be said.

[ikthos77]

the interviewer is a db though....i want a cigarette

[ikthos77]

Waits is the man. They don't make 'em like that anymore. *sigh*

[MrCarl220]

Surprised they let him smoke! LOL!

[desirefirst]

@MrCarl220 you did read it said "early interview"?  he's been around for a while; we used to be able to smoke most anywhere - buses, bars, planes,...

[Limjucas8396]

@MrCarl220 how old are you?

[MrCarl220]

@Limjucas8396 Um, old enough to smoke, but I don't

[ogwini1234567890]

This interviewer is total shitebag

[slapsticknz]

Tom acts, the interviewer goes with it. Surely we know that Tom plays a part?

[vintageaudioworkshop]

Love some of the albums but the man is very pretentious like most artists

[happokylpy]

Hilarious.

[roman636]

Did anyone catch the antisemitic joke at 2:26? The audience definitely didn't. It's not very distasteful, kinda funny actually.

I like the worry about achievement question. Probably the best question, and response, in the interview. Its at the end.

Thanks for the cool interview, Uploader, And yes, he does sound like the Joker.

[StrawberryJungle]

I love Tom.

[youknowsheshalfcrazy]

@StrawberryJungle Don´t awake any false hopes to yourself, I loved him first!!! I love him more! ;)

[StrawberryJungle]

@youknowsheshalfcrazy Do you love him so much as to do a whole research project called "Why Tom Waits is a genius" as coursework for school? I did :D

[youknowsheshalfcrazy]

@StrawberryJungle Ok, you won... :(

[phoebexanne]

I am mad for TOM! But - this was...disconcerting and sad.

[KJB2010]

I just imagined in my head that Tom had dropped the cigarette on purpose (because he knew the guy would bend over to pick it up) and then smashed the guys face in on his knee. It looked pretty cool.

[Shadowjagman]

Tom Waits interviews are the best

[hobocakes]

...are there nightclubs in heaven? Guess we'll all find out eventually...

[EwolDJ]

The late Don Lane, at that time the most popular tonight show host in Australia, is totally lost here. You can see him seething. His questions and comments are inane. He was really a glorified sports commentator who sang and danced a bit. He actually admired Waits's talent but didn't understand his 'don't give a rats ass' stance as the audience did. On the other hand, smoking on camera is much more offensive now, but it was back then too, especially when it was deliberately done to offend.

[thisnameisnttaken]

Wow did Heath Ledger use Tom as inspiration for the Joker's character??? I'm really honestly asking this question right now because the voice, mannerisms, and gritty appearance look SPOT FUCKING ON....

[bennydreadful]

@thisnameisnttaken Ive always thought so too.

[oxleydude]

@thisnameisnttaken actually, that would make sense...i'm pretty sure that the two of them played in "fairy tale" movie together before the dark knight came. idk, anyways, great comparison good sir.

[napalmocean]

@thisnameisnttaken I wouldn't doubt it if Tom Waits was an inspiration for Heath Ledger. Heath was an amazing actor. Unfortunately, that's one answer he took to his grave. We'll never know.

[ak321thevenz]

@thisnameisnttaken I said the exact same thing when I first saw the movie!!!

[uffx3]

the interviewer is of the compulsive kind...

[EnlightenedEgoInc]

I love his walk up to the stage from the back, his steps almost in tune to the music, his swagger, a drag from his cigarette. Total boss.

[Thismeaningtoitall]

what a dick the itnerviewer is. but tom waits is the definition of badass

[mckinlayful]

Is it just me or is this what Heath Ledger channeled for the Joker in Batman Returns?

[LetsTakeArideOut]

@mckinlayful the dark knight

[oogaboogan]

the host needed to stop commenting on every little thing tom does and let him be himself

[chickiesgrettagirl]

so cool he is !!!

[benkenon]

Not heroin. He's on Whiskey.

[madhatter1161]

ahhhh heroin



[DurexDurpaneu2]

Love this man!

[Thebigk5]

Is it wrong that I find him incredibly sexy here and at this current time he is about 40 years older than me?

[gyroman42]

damit tom sit still

[eatmywhisperingeye]

Definitely on heroin (among others) in this interview, the hunching over, the smoking, the scratching his face. No doubt in my mind. They have good dope in the eastern hemisphere.

[muclesmarinara]

This guy could only come from America.

[LadyeXo]

@muclesmarinara It's because America is epic and beautiful; completely unafraid to be who we are.

[muclesmarinara]

@LadyeXo I agree. 

[ooocrowooo]

I would love to see Tom Waits and Steven King together in an interview, that would be be a woot lol.

[Mrnomrahnayr]

I. Love. Tom. Waits. ! And he does sound and act amazingly like Heath Ledger's Joker. Or Heath Ledger's Joker sounds amazingly like Tom! It makes me wonder if Heath wasn't a fan?

[mattvanselow]

Aces!



[Sebastianodelarada]

the real Joker !!!!

[MST3Killa]

This is great.....honestly it's probably the best interview i've ever seen

[markmarktarmann]

this interviewer is actually perfect for tom waits.and versatile..he can do straight man, letterman style wise guy, corny , facetiously warm apologetic.... i think waits senses that tho the host obviously knows jack shit about him or his music, he is wiiling and able to go with the flow and make it as funny and fun as possible

[S0lidState]

was he drunk during any of these interviews ?

[LadyeXo]

@S0lidState Fun fact about Mr. Waits: he's actually incredibly shy. Not saying he wasn't on something, but he used to have a serious issue with confidence around people. Look at some of his earlier movies, you can see it in his disposition.

[BluesYourAss]

@S0lidState The question is, was he not drunk during any interview?

[missopan]

Tom Waits is so cool he can make garden gnome huttle..

[DaBaltimoron]

Why. So. Hilarious?

[TheCaptainSparty]

Get outa my face Heath Ledger, you didn't come up with shit for the joker. That was all straight Tom Waits!

[StrOcc]

i don't think he's on anything right now!! he's just mischeivous! haha

[webdak]

"... I worry primarily, whether there are nightclubs in heaven!"  --- Tom Waits humor in his beginnings --- whoever has seen him live, knows, how hilariously funny his comments and stories are in between his songs during concerts....

[bassudesu]

i dated a guy who talked like this once. best. sex. ever.

[frostybob123]

@bassudesu no. one. gives. a. fuck.

[robski39]

4:14...I like that...."you starting to sweat, huh!" Was it a question or was he stating a fact?

[WKRPinCINN]

this is one of the best interviews ive ever seen. both of these guys are loving it, waits is drunk & happy and this brooklyn aussie interviewer is just amused to death.

[37Dionysos]

Call this, "When Worlds Collide"! Poor Tom stuck on the wrong planet

[practicalbeing]

I like how Tom and the host do seem to get along OK, alot of people couldn't have kept it together when confronted with tom waits. Tom looked like he was having fun!

[15in1]

He seems quite nervous.

[mrmindcontrol16]

he's da weirdest & coolest man dat eva lived!! i wanna be jus like him

[antoniozart]

my ribs hurt from laughing!

[jacobo2u]

i think he they should cast him for as the next Joker!

[Tedminat0r]

Hillarious XD

[Ferretgirrl]

Don Lane is hilarious - yes - the interviewer - who has more than a few interesting secrets of his own that leaked into Australian media... he was HUGE . I think he did ok - what else you gonna do LIVE when interviewing someone so completely shitfaced? I LOVE Tom by the way ;-)

[Krisengo]

I love that now so many people know who Tom Waits is and so few people know who the hell this host is.

[mzsatnin]

This interviewer is an ass!!!!

[dndmatt]

"You wouldn't get a booking there...arent all the greats up there now?" - He's one of the greats now, he'll definitely get a booking.

[CR4GETH]

This is hilarious. 

[fangsteen]

when i was alittle wee beastie my father

told me stories about tom and he made me

casettes that he had his favourite waits

songs ( I was not allowed to play his vinyl )

I was in love straight away.. still am a matter

of fact! thanks dad & mum for giving me

teaching me about all the right stuff and

always flooding the house with all the music

I needed to light my way. love you mum and

dad!!!

[stickman225]

wow the host is such a good sport haha

[erotramp]

Nice

[itstonyc]

What a wack job... freakin stange

[hvacbassist77]

im a hvac guy u got to be fuckin kiding me that comment about hvac made my day

[RafaelDivoz]

PLEASE , WHATS THE NAME OF THIS SHOW ???? PLEASE!

[onyachamp]

@RafaelDivoz the don lane show i think.

[chuckaddison1]

I'm sure Tom brings down the house in the following performance... no wonder Don's show got canceled. "Do you worry about achievement...."

Good call Don.  Good call.

[aliasanythingyouwant]

This is from the Don Lane Show, 1979.

But people, go and watch the performance that followed immediately after this, it's a gem, my all-time favorite Waits live performance. He plays "On the Nickel" - really moving - and ends it with weaving "Waltzing Matilda" (the classic, Australian tune) into the melody... And brings down the house completely.

It's around... Try watch?v=puunr0R7QrY.

[skcushcodrum]

@aliasanythingyouwant That one was removed, but you can find it here: watch?v=XcCMCVM-K_Y&feature=re­lated

[JerrysCorner]

"Ya wanna know how i got these scars?"

[walkablock]

@JerrysCorner yeah Heath definately was very Tom Waits as the joker

[eclipse561]

Early tom waits is hilarious, what is he on?

[tbrawner91]

@eclipse561

booze

[KingInk80]

@eclipse561 Whiskey. ;-)

[JaymzkgSerbia]

@eclipse561 alcohol... :D

[Mullahgrrl]

@eclipse561 TV

[1oceanus]

@eclipse561 whiskey

[parad0zenon]

@eclipse561 Everything

[ECHOES2131]

@eclipse561 On wisdom and Nicotine.

[M3talM4tt]

@eclipse561 heroin most likely.



[rdaigle2003]

This interviewer is like Regis of Australia, very annoying, says a few funny things though.

[AFtERBIRtH33]

actually he's pretty accomodating!

[kyral210]

The interviewer is a jerk