Tom Waits interview by Don Lane, Australia 1979 with Paradise Alley clip!

[@AlliBrock]

how do you not hear Heath's joker in this, not able to keep eye contact, the low rumble, the uneasy rocking back and forth, looking down and fidgeting.. the way he gets closer to the mic.

[@hans-erikeriksson8654]

"Most people don't care if you're telling them the truth or if you're telling them a lie, as long as they're entertained by it. You find that out really fast" - Tom Waits

[@fiorellafenati5395]

genius! that's right, tell lies or truth just have the right face😆😆😆😆

[@Windom138]

Heath Ledger's inspiration for The Joker's character.

[@Windom138]

It's true.

[@JaredWingate]

It's true though.

[@basilmanson5282]

I enjoy uhh.. Dynamite and.. Gunpowder... AnD GASOLINE!!!

[@westleyjacklone3944]

And he look like Heath Ledger too

There’s no proof that he actually used this guy for inspiration. That’s all speculation.

[@renbabe21st]

My all-time favorite interview. I haven't seen in decades but I remembered practically all of it Word for Word.

[@hankhill3126]

His walk in entrance was the Best, looked kind of like the heath ledger - Joker- walk from the hospital.

[@themurrayslive9276]

He was heaths inspiration for joker. Hank Hill

[@notgunnasay2968]

I've heard of Tom before but this is the first time I'd seen him. Interesting man with a unique sense of humor.

[@basilmanson5282]

Mann this guy is so awesome!!!

[@Mikebible67]

Done Lane, the master & Waits wicked sense of humour. Brilliantly choreographed skit.

[@Malouco]

This is absolutely the best. He is my hero.

[@jenestin4]

It’s funny because Tom Waits and Heath Ledger both starred together in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Heath’s last film).

[@15esstee]

Omg, heath did so good on basing the joker on tom waits, its amazing, he sounds just like him in the movie

[@MrEffusus]

This interview feels like a rehearsed comedy routine, its amazing

[@tmnl8037]

Not rehearsed. All live and never rehearsed on Australian television long, long ago.

[@Hatingmeisconforming]

I like how they play mama cass' "sing your own kind of music" we Tom enters.

[@abhishekdani2053]

This interview is a gem

[@LisaODavis]

Tom is the most creative and talented man alive today. Now that he is more accepted and older, I like seeing his confidence compared to these days. Why is there an American talk show host in Australia?

[@jeanettestein4056]

Tom Lane had an interesting career. Look him up on Wiki if you like. He was a New Yorker who found his way to Australia in the 60's. He became something of an icon on Aussie TV, especially after the appearance of a Canadian sceptic James Randi on Don's TV show.

[@danberger3593]

Tom Waits is The Man!

[@kdubya90]

*Takes notes, gains perspective* Tommy The fucking Cat. Thank you Primus for leading me to this guy.

[@GLRG5789]

“Why so serious? Let’s put a smile on that face!”

[@DrsJacksonn]

The Joker would be scared of this guy.

[@chadporter305]

Don Lane gave credit where credit was due to Tom , in a very humble manor at that!! RIP DON LANE

[@LucidDream]

I mean, kinda. He did acknowledge who Tom was pretty well. But my problem with Don is that he went on most of the time just kinda mocking Tom and trying to be funny. And putting Tom's quirks under a microscope so people could laugh about it. Like asking him what he was looking at and Tom had to tell him to move on with the show. Just obviously making him feel awkward about himself. A lot of hosts kinda did this to Tom, I've seen all of the interviews I could find on him. But Don's was one of the worst, but not THE worst. There was another one...can't remember it now or where it is on here and they just made Tom feel so awkward and the host was being a right dick. Edit: Oh, I remember now. The video doesn't appear to be up anymore. But one of Tom on the show 'Loose Talk'. Was just pathetic how they all treated Tom, even the crowd yelling out stupid shit. tomwaitslibrary.info/interviews/83-oct18-loosetalk.html He was completely surrounded by half-wits. Don isn't much better...just a guy who doesn't "get it".

[@mottahead6464]

This interview was aired on ...... Australian television. Heath Ledger was originally from ...... Australia. Well, that adds to....... yes, Ledger most probably watched this interview and based his Joker character on it (which was a great artistic choice, by the way).

[@maxmilnes7617]

He was born the year this was aired. I very much doubt he will have seen it at the time at less than a year old... Good try though

[@mottahead6464]

Max Milnes Ok, maybe he watched a rerun of this interview or on some lost VHS tape, whatever. Yet, thanks for the information, Mad Max.

[@LukeTieppo1694]

+Mottahead I do believe he would have likely seen this at some point. Outside of the Joker, Heath did act quite a bit like Tom at times. Some of the mannerisms and quirky kind of posture he had. Even a passing facial resemblance. It is worth noting that Tom did the Trauberts Blues of Waltzing Matilda and Heath of course named his daughter Matilda but it is a common Australian folk song, however I did read some years back that Heath loved and was fascinated by Waits' rendition of it. So with all of this in mind, I think Heath may very well have been influenced by Tom Waits, even beyond the Joker. As for Joker, remember Heath said when he got the role that, "Within five seconds I knew exactly how I was going to do it." I bet he had known how he would do the Joker for many years before he got the role. Imaginarium had Tom Waits in it also. So they worked together. Add all of this up. This is not all coincidence. I do believe Heath was influenced by Tom Waits on quite a large scale in many aspects of his life and his craft.

[@samooskhka]

How the fuck do you know what he watched and what he thought?

[@angelomitchell9221]

Mottahead

[@JoeLewis14]

4:05 "I'm so high." "Right, let's... let's move ahead." "Okay." Golden.

[@MartyViolio]

Tom waits actually says let's move ahead, and Don was just repeating what Tom was saying.

[@swagmund_freud6669]

I've never heard someone describe a 22 hour flight as fascinating.

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

You can’t be different in this world without someone making fun of you

[@acidmusicbr]

Great Tom!

[@hiteshgujarathi4636]

No wonder heath ledger took inspiration from this guy. You can see so many resemblance of such character in heaths jocker. This man was just unbelievable.

[@adalbertotrindade7287]

tom waits is a inspiration of the joker by heath ledger

[@v.mvarga4979]

He's wasted and wounded here but it ain't what the moon did

[@sdrewe99]

He sounds like Heath Ledger's Joker.

[@SLAMMINnJAMMIN247]

Even if this inspired Heath Ledger for his portrayal of the Joker, he was a genius to connect those dots. Or maybe he was just "ahead of the curve".

[@zer08914]

04:06 "IM SO HIGH!!!" ahahahahah i love him

[@christianityisunstoppable4155]

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen “, “ why so serioussSah

[@ryanglaros9120]

A career in air conditioning and refrigeration. 🤣 Just the way he said it was great!

[@chloebeckett9274]

Tommmm

[@verybadwaitress]

Love this interview. Unsure which man is funnier

[@Orf]

8:19 joker noise

[@paddyplaysguitar]

"its simple...we kill the batman"

[@sandyposs2693]

ROFL, poor poor Don Lane, just having to do the best he can with Tom Waits!

[@deathproofpony]

You wanna know how I got these scars?

[@williamloveday3728]

You can tell by the mannerisms between the two they were joking with each other for most of the interview. I don’t think there was any bad blood between the two, like when Tom calls him out for reading of the page, and Don asking Tom what he wants to answer, that’s comedy. Especially talking about the music they enjoy.

[@row907]

Holy Cow Batman, Its the joker.

[@xenomorphbiologist-xx1214]

“If you’re good at music, never do it for free”

[@joelworld2063]

The men who inspired the joker of Nolan's batman movie

[@ComicBookSyndicate]

2:28 Heath Ledger as THE JOKER.

[@mikeecko]

I believe whatever doesn't kill you ....., Simply makes you , Stranger . aha

[@zero1188]

reminds me of joker from dark knight

[@callumAS]

I can't help but wonder what's in those cigarettes.

[@Anela0709]

"and I thought my jokes were bad"

[@spaldron]

Ah-ha, now we know!

[@shadowprince101]

07:58 " i enjoy, uuuh " .... i was kinda expecting him to say " dynamite, and gunpowderrrr.... aaaand GASOLIIIIINEE ! "

[@aaronm1483]

Sounds like the cat from Primus's Tommy the cat music video.

[@alexbalik2221]

heath ledger studied his voice btw this is the original voice

[@N0va]

WHO THE HELL HAS THE SOURCE WHERE LEDGER SAYS HE USED THIS AS AN INSPIRATION?!?!?! No one, no where...

[@Custnam]

Wow. Thats him alright.

[@Redfoot555]

wheres the second interview

[@yungluke09]

"You wanna know how i got this HAT?" ;)

[@ladiesboy69]

this is quality television! forget mtv and fox, somebody make tv interesting again!

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

Tom Waits family should sue the hell out of WB and DC for their cut of the profits!

[@JensdePens]

I have not heard heath or tom say that heath got his inspiration from tom for the joker. I dont think anyone can provide a quote about this.

[@hiteshgujarathi4636]

Yes he did. He had his dairy when he locked up himself to prepare for the role and he had written about this interview. This was an inspiration for heath ledger to play jocker because there is so much resemblance in both of this character and the way they talk.

[@neilprocter]

Could have sworn it was this interview where Tom was asked, "Why do you drink so much?" He replied, "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy."

[@MisterBones2910]

neilprocter /watch?v=0GjyGdDrXXs Around 4:00.

[@neilprocter]

***** Ah, thank you.

[@JensdePens]

@fdecoy123 lol, never noticed that :-)

[@LucidDream]

Can tell Don was quite an amateur at this. Why would you ever mock your guest? As a host, part of your job is to make the person being interviewed seem interesting. (Even though Tom is already interesting on his own.) Or even as someone who is interviewing someone else and not necessarily a tv host. Your supposed to show those that may not know what they are about, what they are about and show their strengths.

[@mjm4222]

He should of asked him "Where is Harvey Dent?

[@ryanglaros9120]

He smoked 3 cigarettes in 11 min!

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

Lol my bad.

[@Orf]

9:48 "meh. Ahh"

[@EileenD519]

My guy is lit!! 😂😂😂

[@tavogerard9691]

Ahahah this host was a savage

[@sveitagothabilly]

I want to be him.

[@Wildanimal144]

KNIVES DONT FORGET THE KNIVES

[@patricknipsports]

you know how i got these scars?

[@kingharlan8164]

pencil trick on Don Lane

[@Rosesyoutube]

HIs delivery is like the Rabbi in Seinfeld that hits on Elaine

[@stimpytab]

The bartender moves fast!!!!

[@JamesFrancis]

Tom Waits isn't dead.

[@contact1araya]

its funny how Heith LEger's joker videos come up when looking for tom waits.......boy did heith stole his act!!

[@GPow69]

Not far from the truth actually.. This man is where Heath Ledger got his inspiration for the Joker

[@cherylandrew]

Apparently everything was funny in the 1970s.

[@ismailyaman3779]

01:30 - 02:09 - 02:26

[@simen-pedrokaroliussen9163]

I feel the reason why tom is acting like this is not because of drugs. This is what i think. i think tom was exhausted and had ben drinking some alcohol and thats the reason why he appearse high and strung out.

[@alvaro0105]

Why so Serious??

[@philgee72]

yet again the embarrassment Don Lane is completely confused and out of his depth.

[@GuruOfGreatness]

High as f...

[@guivasconcelos21]

Rapaduracast!

[@ryanglaros9120]

The leprechaun comment was really horrible. I may have walked off the show if he told me that. 🤦‍♂️

[@quizmaster85]

DL: You can ask for anything you want in this show, and we'll have someone go out and get it for you. TW: Christ! DL: We tried to get him, but there wasn't enough money. Classic!

[@rudibasabasi]

just close your eyes. and you got Joker on a talk show

[@spudbeau]

I used to watch Don Lane cos he had great guests. Trouble was he couldn't just interview them, he had to try and upstage them and be more entertaining; always failed!

[@lastrada52]

Don Lane is not even aware that Waits sets him up with his answers. Waits isn't drunk or on drugs -- that's the typical hipster persona Tom has used often. If he were stoned he wouldn't answer so sharply and humorously. The only thing Lane can do to save face is to be condescending. But it makes him look stupid. Unlike WABC-TV's show in New York with Stanley Siegal at the same time (a show I worked on so I'm familiar with this style of interview). Siegal was never condescending but he was an entertaining host. He and his show made the newspapers almost every other day.

[@isabelarielginasiano7715]

Is that an american presenting a show in australia? Looks like someone from Jersey

[@rsvjr619]

It's called drugs folks. Relax.

[@derekjwalls]

"do I worry about achievement"? "I worry about a lot of things... but I don't worry about achievement".. Heath ledger all

[@alexthehellspawn]

05:00 or gambol here wont be able to get a nickel for his grandma.

[@FDThom]

rapaduracast+

[@kurtsjogren7329]

Sure smoked n yoked n toked..

[@ageshero]

Is he drunk?

[@hankhill3126]

Jean-Luc Thomas I would have thought something like heroin but looking it up he was an alcoholic. Is that his usual body language? Must admit I kind of like it

[@johndoherty431]

+Hank Hill i would have said heroin too looking at his interviews from recent years he's a lot less junked out

[@raucousreg9064]

+Jean-Luc Thomas Can't help thinking you missed the question about his acting career - I suspect he is very much "in character" in a lot of interviews

[@Nomadmandolin]

+Jean-Luc Thomas He's in character....

[@TheOriginalDogLP]

Why the fuck they should?

[@sarupk]

joke/

[@TheFlizash]

Is he just drunk?

[@pea6]

I don't even see what point you are making. Seek help.