Never reluctant to reveal the vast range of influences who have informed his music and outlook across more than 40 years, Tom Waits still remains amongst the most unique musical artists around. And as many of Tom’s original contemporaries spend their twilight years releasing album after album of dull, predictable material, Waits does just the opposite and keeps all of us guessing as to just what he might do next. This film traces the musical and literary icons who Waits has cherished above all others and who have had the most profound influence on his life and music: stand up and take a bow Charles Bukowski, Harry Partch, Frank Sinatra, Captain Beefheart, Jack Kerouac, Hoagy Carmichael, Bob Dylan, Lord Buckley, Ken Nordine, Kurt Weill and Keith Richard – for these are the writers, composers and performers who have assisted most pertinently in unlocking the enormous talent and originality with which the person born Thomas Alan Waits on December 9th 1949 in Pamona, CA, was blessed. Featuring live and studio archive of both Waits himself and of those listed above, plus exclusive and archival interviews, rare footage, photographs and location shoots, contributions from close colleagues and Waits experts, and with Ken Nordine, members of Beefhearts’ Magic Band, David Dunn [Harry Partch’s key assistant in the early 1970s] , Barney Hoskins [Waits’ biographer] and a host of others.