60th.

Tom Waits is 60 today. I have declared it a public holiday (applicable to whomever wishes to observe it).

I first heard him on, somewhat oddly, some sort of Jukebox jury type show singing this in 1985. A friend bought me the single, I bought the LP (pictured) and have continued to be amazed at staggering genius of the man ever since.

He toured last year. I was there. Between 8.30 and 11pm on the 27th of July 2008 was the greatest two and a half hours of my life. I have an MP3 bootleg of the show, it sill gives me goosebumps. I've yet to meet or hear of anyone who hasn't declared much the same as I just have. (My old blog review here.)

Many happy returns sir.