Tom Waits is set to appear on an episode of The Simpsons.

Yahoo reports Waits will playing himself as someone who helps introduce Homer to a community of survivalists, according to executive producer Al Jean.

“We did a lot of research into the ‘prepper’ phenomenon, where people are convinced that some horrible catastrophe – like an electromagnetic pulse – is going to occur, and that people will have to survive without the grid,” he says. “Homer becomes a prepper.”

Waits will appear – but won’t sing - in the episode entitled “Homer Goes to Prep School.” The episode will air sometime in December.

The Simpsons returns to Fox for its 24th season on September 30.

Waits recently released a video for 'Hell Broke Luce' from his 'Bad As Me' album. And the song entered our TOP 40 Mega Rock Chart  – vote here.