Tom Waits in 8-bit

The strangest Waits covers/adaptations I've ever heard: TOMW8S - the Donkey Kong Variations by Buddy Peace.

 

Paul Charles on Tom Waits

The Irish Times carried a nice piece on Asgard agent Paul Charles, last week. Charles represents Tom Waits in the UK, if I am correct.

 “Oh, he [Tom Waits]’s totally brilliant. He’s a great storyteller on and off the stage, which is why he’s such a great interviewee. I mean, where does fact and fiction start and finish? His imagination is amazing; he’s there in the story, making you cry one minute and laugh the next.”

Tom Waits A photo session with Mitchell Rose - Review

I got a hardcover copy of the new Tom Waits picture book A photo session with Mitchell Rose today and I must say I'm impressed. With only 17 pictures, it might seem expensive, but they are all great shots.

'I didn't know at the time that my first Rolling Stone Magazine assignment photographing Tom Waits would be one of the most memorable photo sessions of my career. Arriving at the Tropicana Hotel in West Hollywood in 1977 where Tom Waits lived in a little bungalow in the back...a very crowded and congested space. I didn't know much about Tom at the time but not before too long I knew that this was not going to be easy to pull off.'

Despite the tattoos, drinks, cigarettes and strippers, every single one of the pictures seems to capture some sort of innocence and spontaneity that is lacking in some shots in the Corbijn book, for example. A great collection and a nice addition to any fan's collection, if you ask me.

 

 


The press release:

Iconic Images: TOM WAITS - A PHOTO SESSION WITH MITCHELL ROSE
Now available in three formats exclusively at MitchellRosePhotos.com
Images of Waits shot at historic Tropicana Motor Hotel in West Hollywood CA

Never-before-seen images of seminal music artist, Tom Waits, has just been released by Hollywood-based photographer, Mitchell Rose. The book is available in three sizes, two collectible hardcover editions in 13" x 19" and 11" x 14" formats and a soft cover 8.5" x 11" book.

Rose quickly became one of a cadre of go-to photographers in the burgeoning days of West Coast rock. These images from Rose's first assignment for Rolling Stone Magazine in 1977, were shot in and around the historic Tropicana Motor Hotel in West Hollywood, CA.

Waits was a post-beat, pre-rock musical experimentalist and artist who never achieved mainstream success but became increasingly important in the development of many genres of music to come. He lived a hedonistic rock and roll lifestyle that he often referred to in his later work, garnering critical praise and becoming more influential as he developed. His diverse artistry found him working with artists as diverse as Bonnie Raitt and jazz-drummer Shelly Manne, working on film soundtracks, producing other artists and acting for Frances Ford Coppola and Terry Gilliam. The images in Rose's book capture the artist in one of his most formative periods.

A generation of rock music personalities called the Tropicana home. From Jim Morrison in the late '60s, and Waits and fellow Denverite Chuck E. Weiss in the '70s, many musicians and an ever-changing assortment of rock promoters, groupies and wannabes had lived, worked and hung out at the Tropicana, and at Duke's famed Coffee Shop next door.

Photographer Mitchell Rose began shooting in New York City, experimenting with the mechanics of the art and its various tools, cameras and film. He moved to Hollywood in the early '70s and opened his Sunset Blvd. studio in 1975. A classic entertainment chronicler, Rose has done it all, concentrating on live and reportorial photography in addition to his studio work. His subjects have included Paul Newman, Muhammad Ali, Waits and David Bowie for clients ranging from Disney Studios, and Rolling Stone Magazine to album covers for major record companies. He is currently building his second home in Loreto, B.C.S. with plans to publish the best of his Baja images in a series of books.

TOM WAITS - A PHOTO SESSION WITH MITCHELL ROSE is available exclusively at www.MitchellRosePhotos.com. The large coffee table edition is $350, the smaller $150, and the soft cover edition $50. Prices include tax and shipping to all U.S. destinations. Additional charges for international shipping and handling will accrue.

Waits sculpture reappears on eBay

A Tom Waits sculpture is up for sale on eBay.

This is a sculpture by Tom Waits. It is a red brick, cement and wooden feet. It is initialed on the back of sculpture TW.  It also comes with a copy of the letter from Tom that came with the gift.  This was back in October 1994. 

This looks like the same item that was put up for auction for $9.000 back in 2012, but I have no idea how genuine this is.

It does looks similar to the sculptures you can seen on the TomWaits.com Flickr account.

Anyway; $9.999,99 and it's yours.


UPDATE: The auction ended, but statue is back up on. Starting bid this time around: $8,000 ...

Folk Arts Rare Records closing

Lou Curtiss' fabled record store Folk Arts Rare Records - where Tom Waits played a couple of live shows in 1973 and 1974 - closes its doors tomorrow, The San Diego Union Tribune reports.

“‘There's no place better for your ears to eat than Lou and Ginny Curtiss' Folk Arts’, Waits said Friday, via email, from his Sonoma Valley home. ‘From the Civil War to Moderno, from Beale Street (in Memphis) to Palermo (Italy), Folk Arts is the cupola, the chimney, the porch and the screen door — the soup kitchen for the lonesome traveler. Lou is the (pioneering musicologist Alan) Lomax of my years. Long may he swagger, long may he rule. Farewell, and good luck, Lou.’”

(hat tip Jeremy)

Tom waits: A Photo Session With Mitchell Rose

The Mule announces the publication of Tom waits: A Photo Session With Mitchell Rose.

This new photobook provides a unique glimpse into the time Tom Waits spent as a permanent resident at the Tropicana Motel in West Hollywood in the late seventies.

 The book is available in both hardcover ($150) and softcover ($50) editions, as well as a larger coffee table edition with a protective sleeve ($350). Copies can be ordered at mitchellrosephotos.com

Waits signs with WME

According to Billboard, Tom Waits has signed with William Morris Endeavor.

For the first time in more than two decades, Tom Waits has signed with an agency. William Morris Endeavor now represents the legendary singer-songwriter, composer and actor in all areas. He is managed theatrically by The Schiff Company.

Not sure what (if anything) that has to do with the news Deadline.com earlier this year mentioned: that WME agent and Partner Adam Isaacs joined The Schiff Company.

Isaacs will be taking several clients with him to his new gig as a manager, including Keira Knightley, Tom Waits, Helena Bonham Carter and Dougray Scott. The talent will continue to be agented by WME.