Tom Waits on playing The Troubadour: “That was the big place to play. They'd put a big picture of you in the window. In those days, if you sold out at the Troubadour, that was it. People weren't playing sports facilities. At the Troubadour, they announce your name and picked you up with a spotlight at the cigarette machine, and they'd walk you to the stage with the light. It was the coolest. The owner, Doug Weston, would go out on-stage naked and recite The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. He'd have guys on acid who wanted to tell stories. It was like Ed Sullivan, without Ed. Anyone could get up. It was very thrilling, though, because you would find people who'd hitchhiked from Kansas to this spot for their 20 minutes.”
• 1973 - Tom Waits On Stage at The Troubadour. Photo by Kim Gottlieb.
• 1976 - Paul Body, Robert Marchese (in Waits' Cadillac) and Chuck E. Weiss in front of the Troubadour, courtesy of Robert Marchese, as printed in “Lowside Of The Road: A Life Of Tom Waits" by Barney Hoskyns.
• 1977 - Tom strangles Chuck outside the Troubadour while Paul Body watches. Source: "Another Fein Mess/ Other Fein Messes" by Art Fein. March, 2003.
• 2023 - The Troubadour celebrating the 50th anniversary of ‘Closing Time’ Read More
• 1973 - Tom Waits On Stage at The Troubadour. Photo by Kim Gottlieb.
• 1976 - Paul Body, Robert Marchese (in Waits' Cadillac) and Chuck E. Weiss in front of the Troubadour, courtesy of Robert Marchese, as printed in “Lowside Of The Road: A Life Of Tom Waits" by Barney Hoskyns.
• 1977 - Tom strangles Chuck outside the Troubadour while Paul Body watches. Source: "Another Fein Mess/ Other Fein Messes" by Art Fein. March, 2003.
• 2023 - The Troubadour celebrating the 50th anniversary of ‘Closing Time’ Read More
Today marks the 50th anniversary of Tom Waits' pivotal debut album, Closing Time. This 50th-anniversary limited edition release, available on Clear & Black 180g vinyl, features a double LP cut at 45rpm with half-speed mastering by Abbey Road Studios and is packaged in a Gatefold Jacket with lyrics. Available everywhere. Shop Now Read More
'Alice' & 'Blood Money' 20-year anniversary re-issues, each available in 5 different colors, pressed on 180g vinyl. Support your local indie record store.
Blood Money
Alice Read More
Blood Money
Alice Read More
Alice and Blood Money were released on the same day in spring 2002. Heard in succession they'll tell you all about Tom Waits' music: the melody, tenderness, heartbreak: the butchery, black humour, nightmares and primitive noise. All of human life is here. Full article by Sylvie Simmons in Mojo's October issue. Read More
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Grave Diggers
Tom Waits’ "Grave Diggers” is a collection of haunting tracks to get you in the Halloween spirit.
Listen Here Read More
Listen Here Read More
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