Tom Waits releases first original music in 15 years with Massive Attack

Singer Tom Waits has released his first original music for 15 years in a collaboration with trip hop group Massive Attack.

The 76-year-old, who is known for his deep, gravelly voice, features on the song Boots On The Ground, which is his first original release since the 2011 album Bad As Me, and Massive Attack’s first new music since 2020.

Waits said: “One day many years ago, I accepted an invitation from Massive Attack to collaborate. Their long release delay never worried me.

“Today, as in all of mankind’s yesterdays, guarantees this type of song will never go out of style. Man’s folly of fiascos is a feast for the flies. Hence, the B-side of Massive Attack’s upcoming 12-inch The Fly features my appreciation for the winged nuisance.”

The song is available on streaming platforms and will be followed by a 12-inch single release, which will feature the collaboration on the A-side, and an exclusively Waits B-side titled The Fly.

The release comes after one of Massive Attack’s members, Robert Del Naja, also known as 3D, was arrested on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation after attending a mass protest against the ban on Palestine Action in central London last week.

A music video for the song features images of protest in America aimed at US president Donald Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) officers deployed on the streets of US cities, most notably in Minnesota, where about 2,000 federal agents had been deployed.

Officers have come in for strong criticism over their aggressive approach. Most recently, Ice agents fatally shot two people on the streets of Minneapolis: Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24.

Beginning his career in the late 1960s, Waits is best known for critically acclaimed albums such as The Heart Of Saturday Night (1974), Swordfishtrombones (1983) and Rain Dogs (1985), and songs including Ol’ 55, Downtown Train and Hold On.

One of a number of acts to have pioneered the trip hop genre, a psychedelic take on hip hop and electronica, Bristol-formed Massive Attack are known for albums such as Blue Lines (1991), Protection (1994) and Mezzanine (1998).

Their best-known songs include Safe From Harm, Unfinished Sympathy and Teardrop, featuring Cocteau Twins singer Elizabeth Fraser.