Talking Heads

Talking Heads, American vocal and instrumental ensemble, originally comprising David Byrne, lead vocalist, guitar and keyboard; Tina Weymouth, bass and synthesizer; Chris Frantz, drums; and Jerry Harrison, guitar and keyboard. Byrne and Frantz met while attending the Rhode Island School of Design, where in 1974 they formed the Artistics (also known as the Autistics) and then Talking Heads (1975), then a trio with Weymouth, also an RISD student. An integral group on the underground New York art-rock scene of 1975-76, they were signed by Sire Records (1977). Harrison, who had attended Harvard's Graduate School of Design and played with Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, joined them to record their first album, Talking Heads '77. Their second album, More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978), was followed by a gold record, Fear of Music (1979). Remain in Light (1980) added five musicians to the group and explored African polyrhythms, electronics, and new wave elements.

The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads was a 1982 live compilation, and Speaking in Tongues (1983) reached the top ten in album sales. Talking Heads collaborated with director Jonathan Demme on the film Stop Making Sense (1984) and released a soundtrack album, followed by Little Creatures (1985), another best-seller, and Naked (1988), their final album.

The Talking Heads' influence went beyond creating a synthesis of African American and non-Western music, traditional rock-and-roll styles, and fragmented, poetic, often humorous lyrics; individual members also undertook independent projects. Harrison recorded The Red and the Black (1981) and Casual Gods (1988). Frantz and Weymouth, who married, toured as the Tom Tom Club, recording a 1981 album by that name and Close to the Bone (1988). Byrne collaborated with Brian Eno, who had produced some of the Talking Heads' albums, on My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (1981); wrote dance music for Twyla Tharp's The Catherine Wheel (1981); and composed for the theater, television, and motion pictures. He directed and performed in the film True Stories (1986) and won an Academy Award for cowriting the score for Bernardo Bertolucci's movie The Last Emperor (1987).