Roaring Like a Tiger: Tom Jones at 85 and Still Owning the Stage
Rock 'n' Roll Legend Tom Jones, aged 85, continues his fiercely combative spirit - "The Tiger" remains undeterred.
In the swinging '60s, Tom Jones skyrocketed to international fame with his incredibly powerful voice and undeniable sex appeal. Despite encountering setbacks, the Welsh working-class lad continues to evolve and amaze, now 85 and back on tour.
Before nabbing the title of "Sir," Tom Jones almost became a James Bond theme singer. During the recording of the iconic "Thunderball" in 1965, he pushed himself to the brink. "I damn near passed out," he recalled during a London interview, between gasps. At that time, he was performing live with an orchestra, and he'd forgotten to take a breath before the song's climactic finale.
"I had to fight tooth and nail," he reminisced later. "I hung on to the glass booth, eyes closed, held the note - and when I reopened them, I had to lean against the wall to keep from collapsing."
Tom Jones refused to go gentle into that good night. Sixty years later, he's still rocking the mic, leaving audiences in awe of his vocal strength. This summer, the British icon, who turns 85 this coming weekend, will perform several shows in Germany.
No Laurels Resting Here
"When I looked back at clips from the past - the times, the places, the trends, and the struggles - I realized how goddamn lucky I've been," Jones said recently in a BBC interview, swearing like a sailor but with endearing charm. Nearing the autumn of his career, the Welsh native enjoys widespread admiration from fans and critics alike.
Unlike many of his peers from the same era, Tom Jones refuses to rely on his past successes. He mixes old classics like "It's Not Unusual," "Delilah," and "What's New Pussycat" with a selection of other tunes.
His latest album, "Surrounded By Time," was released in 2021, featuring an alluring blend of art rock, folk, and electro-pop. It includes covers of well-known and lesser-known songs like Michel Legrand's "The Windmills of Your Mind" or Michael Kiwanuka's "I Won’t Lie," reimagined in a completely fresh sound. "I want to make the most of every minute I've got left," he said about the album at the time.
From Working-Class Son to Global Superstar
Tom Jones became a household name in the '60s as a mesmerizing vocalist and entertainer - and a sex symbol. His no-holds-barred performances featured tight trousers, an unbuttoned shirt, and abundant chest hair that earned him the moniker "The Tiger." Female fans often tossed their underwear onto the stage. Although this still happens at his shows today, it's usually in jest.
On television, he hosted his own show, "This is Tom Jones," singing with a diverse range of stars like Cher, Stevie Wonder, Janis Joplin, or Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, showing his talent across various genres. Tom Jones still shares clips from the show on his social media channels, receiving fond comments in response.
Whenever he speaks of struggles today, Tom Jones refers to the moments when it seemed his career was over, like in the early 1970s when several of his albums didn't sell, and his songs weren't played on the radio. He was labeled a has-been, which wore on the experienced performer.
The "Tiger" Evolves
At the end of the '80s, he made a professional comeback by reinventing himself musically. With the sound tinkerers of Art Of Noise, he re-recorded the song "Kiss" by Prince. The music video played on MTV, and suddenly "Tiger" Jones was hip again.
In 1994, he released the album "The Lead and How to Swing It" with influences from pop, rock, funk, and dance – and the hit single "If I Only Knew," which he still performs on his current tour.
In 1999, he covered a mix of well-known and lesser-known older songs on the duet album "Reload" with artists like Robbie Williams, the Stereophonics, and the Cardigans. "Mama Told Me Not To Come" and "Burning Down The House" became hits – just like "Sex Bomb," which the Hannover-based producer Mousse T. wrote for him and became a turning point in his career.
Another musical stroke of genius – and a kind of reinvention – was achieved by Jones with the album trilogy "Praise & Blame" (2010), "Spirit In The Room" (2012), and "Long Lost Suitcase" (2015), on which he interpreted old gospel, soul, and blues numbers. His version of John Lee Hooker's "Burning Hell" was a smash hit.
"Thunderball" Can Just Die Now
Sir Tom, who was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2006, has written about his extensive musical experiences in his entertaining autobiography "Over The Top And Back." And he passes them on to younger artists in the TV show "The Voice UK."
More on the topic Tom Jones has new hips The "Sex Bomb" has new hips Tom Jones, forever the "Tiger" Since 2012, he has been sitting in the jury of the show, with a brief interruption, and regularly surprises his co-stars and the audience with powerful singing performances. This has earned him many new and younger fans, as can be seen at his concerts.
By the way, Tom Jones hasn't sung the legendary James Bond title song "Thunderball" live for almost ten years. Perhaps the risk is too great that the "Tiger" might still go tumbling to the ground on his old age with that demanding last note. But one would still believe he could pull it off.
- Tom Jones, despite being a celebrity and having a successful career spanning decades, continues to evolve in his music, mixing classic songs with newer tunes and exploring genres such as art rock, folk, and electro-pop.
- The music industry is not the only place where Tom Jones has left his mark; he has also impacted entertainment by hosting his own television show, collaborating with various artists, and serving as a coach on the TV show "The Voice UK."
