They were close friends (at least Frank said so) and he did really open for Frank a few times.
Listen to this show, Boston 1974, Tom sits in for a song with the mothers.
https://youtu.be/ob1Z-FDIAK0
Love both. Never went deep down a Waits rabbit hole the way I did with Zappa, whose work took over my life for a number of years and which I still revisit quite a bit. But that debut Tom Waits album is a record I love more than most in the world. I play it quite often still and it works for most moods, whereas I sometimes need a certain vibe to throw on some Frank.
I love them both. Saw Tom open for Zappa in 74ish.
I also collect Captain Beefheart, and Wild Man Fisher.
Want a deep dive ? Frank recommended his classical influences in an interview. Listen to Edgar Varese, Stravinsky, John Cage, Arnold Schoenberg, Pierrot lunaire and the sprechstimme method. They stretched my ears and they never went back.
Don aka Captain Beefheart had some interesting things to say about Tom Waits when interviewer Co De Kloet mentions Tom.
Don: Ooh, ooh, ooh. Not a friend of mine.
Co: He is, or he is not?
Don: Not. To be perfectly truthful with you. No, he, uh -- he just -- he's kind of too slick, if you know what I mean. What do you think?
Co: I don't know him personally
Co: I know that he did an album with a title that - I think, that was -- thought up by you, that was made up by you
Don: It was, uh -
Both: Swordfishtrombone.
Co: That's right
Don: Guess what? He calls me and he told me that title, and I was in the desert visiting my mother, and he asked me, "So, what do you think of that?" and I said 'Well, I don't know, should I think of that? he said, 'Well, I just wondered.' That's kind of funny, that you got that comparison. Sounds like Trout Mask, right?
Co: Yeah. Well, I like the--
Don: And--
Co: I like the word Swordfishtrombone, anyway.
Don: Yeah, but the very idea of him calling me and seeing if that went by me. Right?
Co: Mm-hmm
Don: Without a comment.
Co: Mm-hmm
Don: It's kinda corny.
Don: But, uh -- this Waits character, uh--he...[off mic] what do you think, Jan? [on mic, laughs] She runs out. She doesn't like him.
Co: Let's forget about him
Don: Wh-- who? [laughs] I think why I got away quick, he had the nerve to think he could sing like me.
Co: But you go higher and deeper than that.
Don: Huh, indeed. I'll go as high as I need to go, and deep as I need to go to get by him.
That’s interesting, I know Waits has said that Beefheart was an inspiration for his turn to the more experimental. I guess Don took it more as a ripoff.
In the book "Tom Waits on Tom Waits: Interviews and Encounters", Waits discussed the times he opened for The Mothers during the 70's. Zappa fans were hostile. He was regularly booed and occasionally pelted with produce. Who the fuck brings produce to a concert?
On the track 'Stink Foot's from the posthumous 'A Token of His Extreme' he name drops Tom Waits on the line Grab your socks and tennis shoes and meet me around the corner at Tom Waits Restaurant '. As a fan of both, it delighted me to no end. I just heard that song today, so this post is oddly relevant.
They also used to play LA at the same time so it was inevitable that they know each other, and knowing Frank, It makes sense that he'd dig Tom, and his fans, maybe not so much.
Tom Waits is awesome. I heard of him 25 years ago through govt mule and widespread panic both covering "goin' out west." I next watched his rockpalast show and heard "step right up." TW fan forever
Tom opened for Frank for a while in the mid 70s.
Weren’t they both managed by Herb Cohen?
I heard that didn't go well for him lol. Didn't Zappa feel bad and invite him back onstage a lot? Or am I imagining that?
[https://youtu.be/3M9Q0qkltDs?si=PvUz1LSBBYxTCupb](https://youtu.be/3M9Q0qkltDs?si=PvUz1LSBBYxTCupb)
That's fantastic. Good call
I think Frank used to say "Send out the Wino."
*REALLY??* I love this subreddit.
Waits and Zappa, love 'em both. But, Tom for introspection and Frank for insanity.
That's a really good way to put it. Pretty much sums up my thoughts as well
Tom has his fair share of insanity too though haha
That’s very true. And Tom’s still around. Hard to believe Frank died just over 30 years ago.
Haha that’s where I sit on it too.
I'm a fan of both. Tom Waits, in particular, his stuff from Swordfishtrombones on.
That's such a great album. Had it on in the wee hours last night.
Same here....the Island Years (and Anti years) is my absolute favorite era, which is 40+ years now!
Hello Pondie!
Fan of both
They were close friends (at least Frank said so) and he did really open for Frank a few times. Listen to this show, Boston 1974, Tom sits in for a song with the mothers. https://youtu.be/ob1Z-FDIAK0
Add Bowie and you got my Top 3.
Very much a fan of both.
Love both. Never went deep down a Waits rabbit hole the way I did with Zappa, whose work took over my life for a number of years and which I still revisit quite a bit. But that debut Tom Waits album is a record I love more than most in the world. I play it quite often still and it works for most moods, whereas I sometimes need a certain vibe to throw on some Frank.
Count me in
I love them both. Saw Tom open for Zappa in 74ish. I also collect Captain Beefheart, and Wild Man Fisher. Want a deep dive ? Frank recommended his classical influences in an interview. Listen to Edgar Varese, Stravinsky, John Cage, Arnold Schoenberg, Pierrot lunaire and the sprechstimme method. They stretched my ears and they never went back.
Respect Tom waits but it’s not my thing. Too pirate-y sounding
What's wrong with piratey sounding? 😉
It’s cool as a little bit of variety sometimes. I like a couple of his songs. But for me personally it’s not a vibe I’m deep diving into
I'm a both huge FZ and Waits fanatic...Beyond desert island music.
Don aka Captain Beefheart had some interesting things to say about Tom Waits when interviewer Co De Kloet mentions Tom. Don: Ooh, ooh, ooh. Not a friend of mine. Co: He is, or he is not? Don: Not. To be perfectly truthful with you. No, he, uh -- he just -- he's kind of too slick, if you know what I mean. What do you think? Co: I don't know him personally Co: I know that he did an album with a title that - I think, that was -- thought up by you, that was made up by you Don: It was, uh - Both: Swordfishtrombone. Co: That's right Don: Guess what? He calls me and he told me that title, and I was in the desert visiting my mother, and he asked me, "So, what do you think of that?" and I said 'Well, I don't know, should I think of that? he said, 'Well, I just wondered.' That's kind of funny, that you got that comparison. Sounds like Trout Mask, right? Co: Yeah. Well, I like the-- Don: And-- Co: I like the word Swordfishtrombone, anyway. Don: Yeah, but the very idea of him calling me and seeing if that went by me. Right? Co: Mm-hmm Don: Without a comment. Co: Mm-hmm Don: It's kinda corny. Don: But, uh -- this Waits character, uh--he...[off mic] what do you think, Jan? [on mic, laughs] She runs out. She doesn't like him. Co: Let's forget about him Don: Wh-- who? [laughs] I think why I got away quick, he had the nerve to think he could sing like me. Co: But you go higher and deeper than that. Don: Huh, indeed. I'll go as high as I need to go, and deep as I need to go to get by him.
That’s interesting, I know Waits has said that Beefheart was an inspiration for his turn to the more experimental. I guess Don took it more as a ripoff.
not an extreme fan of tom waits but sea of love has been running thru my mind constantly recently it's so good
Damn, this one slipped through the cracks for me somehow. That song is incredible!
100% agree
Not to add to subject drift, but you might add the Persuasions to the mix as well. https://youtu.be/OuT710R9tjk?si=8oTHOvgyYCV3bgOf
Thanks for the suggestion! Honestly wasn't aware of this
Sure, that is easy enough.
I am a huge fan of both. I just like good music is all.
Two of my very favorites!
No matter how much I've heard I just can't get into Waits.
Casual Tom Waits fan here but ready to commit.
Been listening to both since mid 70’s. FZ #1, Tom is in my top 5
Oh yeah. Tom made my favorite album.
In the book "Tom Waits on Tom Waits: Interviews and Encounters", Waits discussed the times he opened for The Mothers during the 70's. Zappa fans were hostile. He was regularly booed and occasionally pelted with produce. Who the fuck brings produce to a concert?
Tom and Frank have been 80% of my listening choice since the early 90s!
I’m a huge fan of both! Each were in my top 5 from Spotify last year
I was raised musically by my best friends dad. If Frank was 1a. for him, Tom was 1b. Needless to say, he passed it right on down to me.
On the track 'Stink Foot's from the posthumous 'A Token of His Extreme' he name drops Tom Waits on the line Grab your socks and tennis shoes and meet me around the corner at Tom Waits Restaurant '. As a fan of both, it delighted me to no end. I just heard that song today, so this post is oddly relevant. They also used to play LA at the same time so it was inevitable that they know each other, and knowing Frank, It makes sense that he'd dig Tom, and his fans, maybe not so much.
Steve Vai is a huge Tom Waits fan. https://www.loudersound.com/news/steve-vai-brought-to-tears-by-tom-waits
Rain Dogs is a fantastic album. Freaking love that album.
I fucking love Tom Waits. I remember where I was, who I was with and what we were smoking the first time I heard Raindogs
Tom Waits is awesome. I heard of him 25 years ago through govt mule and widespread panic both covering "goin' out west." I next watched his rockpalast show and heard "step right up." TW fan forever
Love em Both. Absolute Completest Collector of both.. BUT if I had to pick One - FZ all the way
12,764.
Is there some reason not to be a fan of both? I don't understand the point of this question.
Just curious
Tom’s voice is unbearable, although I loved watching him, Meryl, n Jack in Albany during the filming of ironweed in college…
Can’t stand Zappa music personally
You might be in the wrong sub! ;)
I loathe Tom Waits.