My first big gig was an opening show for Frank Zappa, and I think that was difficult. Tom Waits bigdifficultfrank Change image and share on social
I'm one of those guys that is still a bit afraid of the telephone, its implications for conversation. I still wonder if the jukebox might be the death of live music. Tom Waits afraidbiteconversation Change image and share on social
Music has generally involved a lot of awkward contraptions, a certain amount of heavy lifting. Tom Waits amountawkwardcontraption Change image and share on social
The blues is like a planet. It's an enormous topic. You can't ignore the impact that it has had and continues to have on the whole musical culture. It's a tree that everyone is swinging from. Without it, I don't know where I would be. It's indelible and indispensable. Tom Waits bluecontinueculture share on social
You know when you throw a party, you think people will show up and no one will like each other. It's like that with music - parts of your musical psyche have never met other parts. You wonder if you should get them together. Tom Waits meetmusicmusical share on social
I bark my voice out through a closed throat, pretty much. It's more, perhaps, like a dog in some ways. It does have its limitations, but I'm learning different ways to keep it alive. Tom Waits alivebarkclose Change image and share on social
Songs really are like a form of time travel because they really have moved forward in a bubble. Everyone who's connected with it, the studio's gone, the musicians are gone, and the only thing that's left is this recording which was only about a three-minute period maybe 70 years ago. Tom Waits agobubbleconnect share on social
I didn't really want to be part of a clique or a niche. But I also was looking for my own voice, as a writer, y'know? And a world I could call my own. Tom Waits callcliqueniche Change image and share on social
For a songwriter, you don't really go to songwriting school; you learn by listening to tunes. And you try to understand them and take them apart and see what they're made of, and wonder if you can make one, too. Tom Waits learnlistenmake share on social
You know what I really love? The CD players in a car. How when you put the CD right up by the slot, it actually takes it out of your hand, like it's hungry. It pulls it in, and you feel like it wants more silver discs. Tom Waits cardiscfeel share on social
