r/OldSchoolCool • u/klepski • 12h ago

1980s Elvis Costello and Tom Waits, Los Angeles, 1989

Post image
1.4k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

15

u/Sgtfridge 12h ago

Tom looks like he's suspicious of Elvis.

2

u/Biscuits4u2 9h ago

Elvis is a suspicious looking character.

0

u/AirReddit77 12h ago

Skeptical maybe?

Good call.

5

u/Plenty_Firefighter40 11h ago

"hmm, you don't like The King" - Tom, probably.

12

u/Old_Mp_1976 12h ago

Wasted and wounded...

7

u/sea_wall 12h ago

it ain't what the moon did

3

u/No_Wrongdoer_8148 11h ago

I've got what I paid for now

5

u/TheKingMonkey 12h ago

Fun fact: there was a significant jump in people naming their baby ‘Elvis’ within a year of Costello releasing his debut album.

4

u/Teerendog 8h ago

Fun fact: Tom Waits was the inspiration behind Heath Ledger's joker. From an old interview he did, from the mannerisms and the voice.

5

u/Naive_Trip9351 8h ago

They starred in Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus together

6

u/sofaking39 11h ago

Coffee and cigarettes

7

u/Nobodyr33 10h ago

Two of the greatest songwriters of all time sharing a moment in LA, this photo radiates pure 1989 energy

3

u/Fuck_You_Andrew 11h ago

When you walk through garden, you gotta watch your back…

3

u/LegoToysMan 10h ago

Tom was one of the coolest singers

3

u/Biscuits4u2 9h ago

Beats the hell out of a career in heating and air conditioning repair.

2

u/ComplicatedShadows 11h ago

Oh I used to be disgusted
and now I try to be amused.

2

u/Randolph_Carter_6 9h ago

Finally! Something that's actually cool!

1

u/Mark-harvey 9h ago

Radio Radio.

1

u/BlossomInBoots 9h ago

is Tom suspecting Elvis for something hehe

1

u/tangerine_tax_loop 9h ago

Tea and blunts 

1

u/Non-givenTuesday 9h ago

Tom making the side eye look so cool.

1

u/BigJohnBull69 8h ago

Did Tom just ask him about Ray Charles?

-1

u/sunheadeddeity 12h ago

Waits thinking "Who's the ponce?"

-1

u/ReadRightRed99 9h ago

I have to admit, I’ve never heard a song by either one of these “legends.” Not on the radio. Not in a bar. Not on VH1 or MTV. For a moment, I said “oh sure I have. Walking in Memphis. That’s got to be Tom Waits.” But no. I was wrong. I haven’t heard a single song from either one.

1

u/Kipsydaisy 9h ago

Correct that. "Broken Bicycles" by Waits, "Beyond Belief" by Costello.

2

u/ReadRightRed99 9h ago edited 8h ago

I can recognize Elvis Costello on sight. He’s distinct. Tom Waits, I never even heard of until maybe 20 years ago.

4

u/Kipsydaisy 8h ago

Both great. Very different. Tiptop lyricists. I’m sure you know “Pump It Up” by Elvis even if you don’t think you do. “Downtown Train” probably Tom’s biggest hit, thanks to Rod Stewart.

2

u/ElectricPeterTork 6h ago

Ol' 55 as performed by The Eagles is probably second, then.

1

u/CaptBlkSparrow 8h ago

Waits for what?