In 1983 Swordfishtrombones spoken word interlude “Frank’s Wild Years” introduced the Waits character/alter ego Frank O’Brien. Waits would revisit and expand on the character over the next few years. First by playing Frank in the titular musical play written by Waits/Brennan which was premiered by Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1986 and then in 1987 by turning those songs, reimagined, into the album, Franks Wild Years. Listen to the album: tomwaits.ffm.to/frankswildyears #tomwaits, #fra