Tom Waits - 1986 Letterman Interview

[shenora1116]

Tom Waits is really god just coming to hang out with the towns folk. Long live the greatest artist of all time!!!

[MrRufusthethief]

He comes across so cool here does our Tom.

[Deathofanenemy]

that guy is one tough guy....bad ass

[apemant]

For a brief time, I think everyone's lived in a car.

[missopan]

Tom waits daughter most be one neat lady..

[youknowsheshalfcrazy]

Anybody else here in love with that guy? Or obsessed with, to be true?

[thomas72403]

great!!!!!!!!!!!!

[francisanosissi1]

lettterman takes care of middle america and himself.

[handymandan100]

World's best musical comedian. I lol'd alot at this.  Tom kills me! In a way I very much like ;^D

[TurkeyJones91]

he's pretty hilarious.

[artfan101]

Down by Law is probably my favorite movie of all time.

[finn1920]

I have always hated letterman.... this takes the cake! There is no word bad enough to call letterman. o.k. CUNT is a good one. Tom Waits is so bloody creative... Once again there is no words. Tom we love you.

[TheDaleDenton]

@finn1920 I liked though, when Letterman stood up for Norm MacDonald when he got fired for no real reason from SNL

[TheDogsandGoats]

@finn1920 ...I agree, finn. He is a whiney, self serving jackass.

[samehamsandwhich]

one look at waits and you just know he's a bad ass motherfucker.

[vanessamcqueen11]

Hahaha! Classic part of the Hetfield character suite, I'll pay that characterisation. I've also seen some 1970s stills where he is semi-Brad Pitt, around the time of Blue Valentine. He mentioned Rumble Fish, well, after all he is also slightly Motorcylcle Boy-ish Mickey Rourke-ish. There’s an earlier Letterman interview from the 1970s where he is even funnier than he is in this interview. So very, very cool indeed.

[37Dionysos]

"My Dad was an exhaust manifold..."

[loknloll]

he looks so much like James Hetfield it's not funny...

[rrtodd95]

@loknloll I think James Hetfield actually is a fellow member of the Sons of Lee Marvin.

[mobalishus]

@loknloll No no no no. Let's get this straight. James Hetfield looks like Tom Waits.

[leemadd92]

1986 Letterman Interview - God

[EstherSeesStars]

Back when They interviewed people of importance and musicians with talent. I love Tom Waits His voice is like Sex in Hell

[seamonkey000001]

Its hard not to love Tom...

[bensdadfrank]

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy..............Tom Waits

[flabarple]

I like it that Dave has always been an obvious, big supporter of Waits.

[ProtagorasEmber]

I guess Dave was always a douche

[xxwantedxx]

fucking bad ass dude!

[betonmolenislol]

666 likes. o dear.

[travisevanable]

this guy refuses to answer a question!!! he is hilarious

[Britofigueroa]

This is a klever man...!!!

[jbharuch]

Tom Knows How

[jbharuch]

Tom Waited

[moxeeboy78]

this man is operating on a different level than most humans.

[RubyBladeAwesome]

@moxeeboy78 Waits is something more than human. Like some kind of spiritually advanced alien that decided to come to Earth and just do whatever...and he's having a great time of it.

We, in turn, are greatly enjoying his presence.

[sanelately]

Seriously, that was random.

Don't even mention Zach Effron.

[lostpianist]

One of the first absurdists, more god than man.

[dcfrezz]

this guys burned out!

[monochrome35]

my boys older than me

[gr8tbigtreehugger]

too funny.

[Kloie12345YARR]

Tom waits is a gorgeous man :P with an insane amount of talent and intelligence. Great combination ;D

[deatheater459]

OOOOOOOOOOOo tom waits is fucking SEXY

[poeticjournalism]

@deatheater459 girrrrrrrrl you done read my mind (I don't know if you're a girrrrrrrl but it just felt right)

[welshdevondragon]

He has the audience (and letterman) in the palm of his hand and the best part is he isn't even trying!

[Joee1257]

15 people are killers, thieves, and lawyers

[MarcBrewer]

@Joee1257 RE: "Thieves AND Lawyers"??!! -- isn't that redundant ?

[vibrateascending]

as he pulls out his brass knuckles at 2:40.......... tee hee

[tcphll]

Tom is on a higher plane then the rest of us. The man is brilliant.

[garywhite67]

cool funny love tom

[krammit69]

My father was an exhaust manifold and my mother was a priest. OMG I'm crying he's sooooo original and funny. Nobody like Tom

[LikeABawse]

@krammit69 tree, not priest, but he is the man

[krammit69]

@LikeABawse I just listened again with my headphones on damn laptop speakers. Thanks for the correction. Still laughing

[pretorious700]

David letterman is a literal minded douchewad

[klobator]

he is brilliant

[RussellHokes57]

Tom's gotta be the funniest guy in the world.

[Misishaxi]

Next up for Tom Waits - stand-up comedy.

[tripjet999]

Voice trashed out by his smoking. Sad.

[MegaSammich]

@tripjet999

you are by far the stupidest man alive

[kdavisinca]

@MegaSammich it's "most stupid" moron. Who's the dumb-ass now?

[MegaSammich]

@kdavisinca

go listen to rihanna

[JesterNlove]

Notice he didn't say "i HAD to where a hairnet." he said "i GOT to where a hair net" silent..'yay'.

[southernnutter]

Indeed, a brilliant performer. The great entertainer.

[fleurdilys]

'my son is older than me' Love waits.

[08odreamtimeo80]

letterman aint got nothin on tom. too cool for dave's world.

[OHollowTimes]

@08odreamtimeo80 'dave's world' hahahahaha falling out of my stink hole

[crouchend524]

"My father is an exhaust manifold and my mother is a tree."

[DrunkenPiano]

his voice doesn't match his appearance?! I couldn't imagine him sounding any other way.

[RyanXHavok]

He's got an amazing comical side to him, I love how his voice doesnt match his appearance what so ever in his younger years, long live the great TOM WAITS!

[Flipper79able]

He should have been a comedian. Brilliant.

[klobator]

he's magical!:D

[33Barker]

I love Tom Waits, he is AWESOME!!!

[insertsloganhere]

Best Letterman interview of all time

[LandoftheShanks]

and I agree New York is TOO claustrophobic and the people are PUSHY. My in-laws are all from Jersey, husband was born in NY. East Coast is actually very lovely, but NY - nooooooo.

[MoffeAnimal]

cheers man!!

[kevhead66]

"my boy's older than ME" lol

[thrillhouseuncut]

fuckin audience are dumb as shit

[ggggggggwar]

@thrillhouseuncut How do you figure?

[Diggity6470]

its not the booze....tom waits is a legend

[JimdellaCanapa]

He is one of my favourite american ARTISTS but unfortunately I've discoverd that not many americans know him. I'm italian and I work in the educational travels bussines so I'm always in contact with college staff, students etc etc. often we talk about music durind our tours but few people know about him, how is that possible?

[onyachamp]

wittiest muso evaaaarrr  should've been a comedian

[professionallynasty]

Down By Law....good movie man...

[livywooz]

This is the pinnacle of hotness.

[michiko38]

God I love this guy

[andymouse123]

tom ain't smoking you can tell he just stoped cos he keeps going for his pocket

[leonjeremy]

Actually Tom had quit drinking and smoking BEFORE this interview...

[RubHerSoul1]

"i have kids now-they're heavily insured."  LOLOLOLOL! Love it. I hope he tours in my area. I gotta see him!

[229095]

"My father was, uh, an exhaust manifold and my mother was a tree." !!!!!!

[JustinHSabaj]

what a crazy dude.

[sustainedXnoise]

Genius. I love this man.

[davidturner312]

"it's like a big ship...and the water's on fire" brilliant.

[taxmonkey123]

They outta make that the official motto of NYC.

[thomashjorthaab]

@davidturner312 Either you drown or you burn...

[markmarktarmann]

@davidturner312 and notice the nervous reaction from the NY crowd."uh what s he saying about us? we re rats on a burning ship?" perfect.

[wonderingy4once]

Waits owns everyone....  and they don't even know it. Legend!

[chauntzu]

I agree 100%...Genius-Legend!!!

Yet so many just don't get him...even many of my fellow musicians...

[squingy]

Does anyone know where I can see the 'musical play' based on Frank's Wild Years? Did they film it?

[AuntyNibbs]

I don't think they released it as a film, sorry.

[sustainedXnoise]

meow . Tom Waits is a GENIUS!

[Johnnyderelict]

Letterman sounds like Kermit the Frog.

[TheShadowNebula]

this static is ungodly

[mikesendker]

It's called the eighties.

[lakeland2]

Letterman is such a tit

[S2Cents]

Oh he's supposed to be. That's late night TV baby. America loves tits.

[andymouse123]

hahahaha cool :)

[JuanDeSoCal]

TITS!

[WKaliberr]

Tom Waits for no one

[vfw87]

Is Tom Waits taking the mick out of Letterman here? He's like a charicature of himself.

[opengbrum]

tom waits is top dog cool cartoon jazz american

[HabanaBoyJDog]

i want that damn hat

[magictoad23]

i must say, the man looks cool in this clip!

[shadowofmorgoth]

fuck zach effron. this is what a MAN looks like.

[bettudont]

weird comment, but ok

[LandoftheShanks]

@shadowofmorgoth HELL YEAH! YOU SAID IT!

[Sonoftoenails93]

@shadowofmorgoth why would you even bring up zach effron?

[SirDaniel89]

@shadowofmorgoth Zach Effron... really? Only after you've seen Tom Waits you discovered nancy boy Effron isn't what a true man should look like? Shame on you!!!

[MirLjudima]

@shadowofmorgoth who is zach effrone?

[shadowofmorgoth]

dashing young man, wasn't he?

[mazy54]

yes, he was. ;)

[MissInnsmouth]

very very very very dashing!

[andymouse123]

cool ain't he?

[CircleofShit]

Tom Waits is a legend..but I fucking hate Letterman

[LagoonsidePictures]

Letterman's great, music fans especially should recognize that. Sure he has a lot of the same dumb acts as the other shows but there is a reason so many unique musical greats are regulars on his show, Waits, Steve Earle, Warren Zevon, etc. It's because Letterman appreciates and wants them on, and it seems the respect is mutual.

[pjack13]

how many times has he been on letterman?

[xDCJx]

ive counted like 3 so far

[hellofloyd]

"I'll play ya outta town" lol

[geofree1984]

part 1?

[HigherPlanes]

Tom Waits is a freaking lyrical genius. Amazing man.

[yelsew6565]

tom is the best

[TQ120]

Tom, you're funny !

on an other interview clip ( with some called Fernwood ?) they have deactivated the replies, guess because you're funnier than the guys who interview you.

[monster900900]

must admit, i hated rain dogs on first hearing it, my first intro to t waits,, but it didnt take long,,, just could not stop playing it, brillant album, unique talent.

[hectorleon87]

TIMLESS STYLE

[jkdeadite]

It's like a big ship, and the water's on fire.

[welshdevondragon]

Did he come up with that on the spot?? If he did he's - words fail

[Orypeci]

Damn Tom Waits is hot. Rain Dogs on my list of favorite albums of all time.

[DoctorRevoltMedia]

"My father was an exhaust manifold and my mother was a tree." I'm going to go listen to Rain Dogs again as soon as possible.

[soccerlu08]

lol yeah this guy is great, Heart Attack and the Vine is good too, also his early years

[Arnellys16]

... he look's hott young lol. love his music, this was cool!

[bababacardi]

reminds me of buckowsky

[squidmilker]

yeah, he's the musical equivalent, for sure.

[sfentem]

i think letterman has a crush on tom.

who doesn't.

[amplified2loudness]

"effing" legend dudes!!

[dickaldordavid]

He looks sober?? hahaha ;)

Man thats a legend folks! I looove that man

[kidmongo1]

Bourbon Tom

[caro1275]

I want to meet the children of this man.

[BaileysMariner]

Go to one of his concerts, they play bass and drums in his band!

[fosterch]

Only this man can help me through heartbreak and through joy and conquest. Dunno why, but he's the only thing that works.

[xBillyTheKidx]

good lord, this was awesome.

[tkmccampbell]

i want to meet him one day

[Codex0nz]

who wouldn't, absolute legend <3

[tkmccampbell]

if that is the product of heroin get me a dealer lol

[itslikeframingapear]

his wit is sharper than a tranny's razor

[itslikeframingapear]

great interview, love Tom Waits hes cool as fuck

[moderndaymugging]

holy shit letterman has been on that long???

[panda606]

pr tom he hasnt got the bullshit patter for these shows..

[borimirtheboring]

Tom Waits is so strange that if he didn't exist you'd have to invent him. He rules.

[tylerdurden4495]

Dave's reaction to the ship with water on fire is great.

[thewatcher1012]

TOm Waits is entertaining whatever he does. Down By Law Is a great movie. "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream"

[ZackPomerleau]

what is that from.

[thewatcher1012]

It's from the Jim Jarmusch classic "Down By Law", starring Tom Waits, of course. It was a scene in the prison where they all chant "I sceam, you scream, we all scream for ice cream", I guess out of boredom of being in a prison. It's a great scene. Watch the movie if you've never seen it.

[ZackPomerleau]

Thanks will check itout.

[thewatcher1012]

You're very welcome, good sir. Wish I could just hand you my copy.

[ZackPomerleau]

It is okay! I will be looking for it!

[ohcalcutta81]

Hahaha, awesome. Tom Waits is god. XD

[LittleRedMenace]

Waits now lives in a tiny town out in Northern California about 15 miles away from where I grew up. I once saw him and his Eraserheaded son at a video store back in the late 90s. :)

[birddogbrewery]

He lives on the corner of Bedlam and Squalor...

[brunobliss]

my father was an exaust manifold and my mother was a tree XD hahahahaha TOM WAITS FTW

[urringo]

Tom Waits for no one

[thegayge]

"Ben Hur"

[guywalker29]

I saw the play in Chicago and it was very good.

[Halo3sniper41306]

Tom Waits lookin CLean !!!

[cocochanelleke]

Very clean indeed,

despite the image he cultivates in his voice,

but lol how he talks to Letterman! Yayayah!

Coco,

greetings from Holland

[znieszka]

he is so great!

[indhold]

hahaha! Can´t stop laughin´ This is definitely Tom Waits at the top. Saved my day !!!!

The master - nobody like him!