New movie role for Tom Waits

According to Deadline, Tom Waits is 'negotiating' to star in director David Lowery's upcoming movie The old man and the gun alongside Robert Redford, Sissy Spacek, Casey Affleck and Danny Glover. Birth.Movies.Death claims the film begins shooting next month in Cincinnati

From IMDB.com:

An elderly bank robber, who had managed to escape from prison over a dozen times in his life before moving to a retirement community, looks to spice things up with another heist.

Tom Waits in the NY Times

Tom Waits talks about 'artistic creation' and 'the creative impulse' in the New York Times.

‘I like the idea that there are things coming in through the window and through you and then down to the piano and out the window on the other side.’

Waits documentary on BBC4

The British channel BBC4 is airing a Tom Waits documentary on Sunday: Tales from a cracked jukebox.

I think this might be a new one, at least, I hadn't heard of it.

From the BBC site:

Using rare archive, audio recordings and interviews, this film is a bewitching after-hours trip through the surreal, moonlit world of Waits' music - a portrait of a pioneering musician and his unique, alternative American songbook.

You can watch it on BBC4 on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 9 pm or Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 1.25 am or online 'shortly after the broadcast' (geographical restrictions might apply).

According to Boards.ie the programme contains 'contributions from Terry Gilliam, Ian Rankin and Ute Lemper'.

IMDB.com lists Ralph Carney, Marianne Faithfull, Guy Garvey, Terry Gilliam, Ed Harcourt, Barney Hoskins, Bones Howe, Ute Lemper, Ian Rankin and Jim Sclavunos as 'the cast'.  The director is James Maycock.
 

Expanded Black and white night coming

Legacy Recordings and Roy's Boys LLC are releasing an expanded version of Black and white night, the Roy Orbison concert where Tom Waits was one of the backup musicians.

This release to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original album is scheduled for February 24 and will contain alternate versions of six songs (offered as a digital download with the cd) and the addition of another song to the dvd. That dvd is a re-edited version, using never-before seen footage.

Additionally included is a brand new 33-minute mini-documentary consisting of rehearsal footage and pre and post show interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and more (no explicit mention of Tom Waits) and a photo montage consisting of 20 still photos from the show and new photos of show memorabilia.

Grammy nominations for God don't never change

The album God don't never change: The songs of Blind Willie Johnson, which includes two contributions by Tom Waits (The soul of a man and John the revelator) has been nominated for a Grammy in the categorie 'Best roots gospel album'. 

The song Mother's children have a hard time by The Blind Boys of Alabama from the album was nominated in the category 'Best American roots performance'.

Waits short story to be published next year

Tom Waits is one of the musicians involved in creating Stories for Ways and Means: an illustrated book of short stories for adults, which will be published by record label Waxploitation somewhere next year. A promo clip on SFWAM.org seems to indicate Tom Waits might be collaborating with painter Joe Coleman for his contribution.

According to Creative Review, Jeff Antebi, who conceived the project, says Waxploitation is also developing a VR version of the book and turning some of the stories into longer animated films and plans to launch a gallery exhibition showcasing original artwork.

Proceeds from sales of the book will benefit Room to Read, Pencils of Promise, and 826 National among a number of non-profits working to build schools and educate children around the world.

From SFWAM.org:

Ten years ago the founder of Waxploitation, Jeff Antebi, had an idea to ask his favorite music artists and favorite contemporary painters to come together and collaborate on original children’s stories for a benefit project. 

Today, 29 of those pairings make up the 350 page book project called Stories for Ways & Means.  

The book includes stories from Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Frank Black, Justin Vernon, Laura Marling, Devendra Banhart, Alison Mosshart and Kathleen Hanna as well as painters/illustrators like Anthony Lister, Dan Baldwin, Swoon, Will Barras, James Jean, Ronzo, Kai & Sunny, and more. 

Guest narrators came along for fun as featured voices in short promo films: Danny Devito, Zach Galifianakis, Nick Offerman, Phil LaMarr, King Krule, and Lauren Lapkus. .

The regular (hardcover) edition is available for pre-order at $98. The exclusive signed edition (not by Tom Waits, as far as I can tell) will set you back $500 (shipping not included).

Happy birthday, Tom Waits

On December 7, 1949, Thomas Alan Waits was born to Jesse Frank Waits and Alma Johnson McMurray.