Talking Heads IMAX and Interview

Brentwood, CA for me (the one in Norcal).

Hey Sig,

I don't suppose you were the 'Ed' from Danbury that got a question in were you?

The movie in IMAX and especially the sound was just fucking awesome! Some people were even dancing in the aisles.

I kept thinking the REAL question that everybody wanted both asked and answered was "Will you ever play together again?"

My gut tells me that in advance not to heed that question but who knows?!

Watch the Q&A here:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kGq6qIcSaZg&pp=ygUXdGFsa2luZyBoZWFkcyBpbnR...

I couldn't get through the first 30 seconds of Spike's blathering. That guy really needs a pie in the face.

>>>Go see Jerry Harrison with Adrian Belew if your within driving distance<<<

I'm seeing them at the Warfield on Dec. 30th with the great X opening. I haven't been blown away by the clips I've seen but I love the THeads and I love X so I'm looking forward to that.

Those two are also playing in Napa on NYE and a couple in SoCal before the Warfield show.

Tina was skittish and barely had anything to say. Spike relied way too heavily on a couple three cliched riffs. Harrison was coherent and on-point, as were Frantz and Byrne, but overall there didn't seem to be a real unifying factor at work here. It was disjointed and awkward, almost like everyone had dosed about 30-40 minutes before the thing started.

The Q&A left me wondering if Tina is still suffering after affects from the head on collision she and Chris survived a couple of years ago.  She seemed aloof and disengaged.  It also could be that she really doesn't like being around David Byrne.  She is on record as saying Byrne has a huge ego and the least amount of empathy of anyone she knows.  It didn't seem like an accident the two of them were seated at opposite ends of the panel.

Chris Frantz seemed the most genuinely effusive, as he expressed his joy in being together with his former bandmates.  He was doing a great job of playing the peacemaker.

Jerry Harrison seemed like the consummate professional that he is.  I can't wait to see his restored version of the movie.

David Byrne did a good job answering the questions and demonstrating his enthusiasm both for the restored movie and the event.

The biggest letdown for me was Spike Lee.  He seemed like a dilletante, which was surprising for someone with his résumé in film.

No one asked the questions I was most interested in:

1) Why did you stop playing live after such an artistically and financially successful tour?

2)  Why did you stop playing together at all after 1991?

3)  Beyond just the question of will the four of you ever collaborate again, would you specifically consider reconstituting the early line-up of just the four of you?

Steve Inskeep of NPR's Morning Edition recently sat down with the Talking Heads David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, and Tina Weymouth.  He got a much more in depth, thought provoking, and interesting interview than Spike Lee's hackneyed Q&A at the Toronto International Film Festival.

You can listen to it or read the transcript here:

https://www.npr.org/2023/09/22/1200623785/talking-heads-stop-making-sens...

Thanks, Dave. The audio omits a lot of the transcript, so I'd recommend listening and reading (but not at the same time; much too disjointed).

The band was on CBS Sunday Morning today. On both the NPR interview and this one, they're addressing the awkwardness and the animosity of their break-up in ways that make me think something more than just the film re-release could come out of this.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/talking-heads-on-the-return-of-stop-making...

Mike - I had that take before watching - why would they be going to all this effort and so much press just to rerelease a movie.   But after watching, it seemed really awkward and David didn't appear to be enthralled to be with them.  I left with the thought this thing is more dead than I had hoped.  

I don't know, Zang. Byrne seemed willing to own the shortcomings of his interpersonal skills in the past, but at the same time he didn't apologize for his behavior. In fact, he seemed to suggest that it was necessary for him to be the way he was for him to become the person he is today.

But as you note, they are making a fairly major effort by appearing together for three interviews (that I'm aware of) now. That does seem like an outsized effort for the re-release of a film.

And as for Byrne not seeming enthralled in the interviews, I think the only time I've ever seem him really get excited is when he's making music.

I just don't think that they are going to do it. They are touring and doing interviews because, I assume, they are getting a big paycheck to do so. If anything happens, it will be without David Byrne, with a different lead singer (like Queen does). And I don't think that's particularly likely either. The interviews have predictably raised speculation on that possibility, and maybe that's the point, in order to sell movie tickets. Glad they can sit in the same room together, and do the photo ops. It helps us all remember how great of a band they really were. But I'm not holding my breath...

I hear you, Jack, and I'm not holding my breath either. I'm just seeing steps being taken that could lead them to making music together again.

Bands are a complicated hot mess almost always.  Many other art forms allow artists to pursue their individual visions unimpeded and music can be that way too. But the individual musician can just not create the same kind of art that a band can.

I suppose a solo musician who wants a much larger sound than they could ever accomplish playing solo can focus on composing. and then just not be involved in the performance.  If the musician composes and is also part of the performance, such as many a big band leader, then you end up with the same issues that any band can have relating to performance issues.  It is complicated for sure. 

You don't often hear musicians talk about finding others to perform with and there not be ongoing issues over performances.  So I guess the question for many band members is whether the music being performed is worth them checking their egos somewhat. 

None of the above even touches on the interpersonal issues that come with being in a band. I suppose it might be possible for all band members to happy about the performed music, but just not like each other too much.  In that case it again comes down to deciding if the music being performed is worth checking ones ego somewhat. 

The Origin Story of “Stop Making Sense”

https://web.archive.org/web/20231005051944/https://www.newyorker.com/cul...

>>>None of the above even touches on the interpersonal issues that come with being in a band. 

I think traveling together is the hardest. In any group there is a person that is always on time and the person who has no concept of time. After a year of traveling together those people are likely going to want to kill each other. 

Talking heads are going to be on Colbert on Weds...

A performance of Life During Wartime would be timely.

I like your thoughts Dave

> A performance of Life During Wartime would be timely.

Unfortunately, it's always been timely in my lifetime. When hasn't there been a war going on somewhere?

Sad but too true, Mike.  With the strife in the Ukraine and Israel/Gaza it seems more intense than anything I can recall.  I was still too young and blissfully ignorant to fully grasp the horror of Vietnam at the time, and the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan wars, while terrible for all involved, never galvanized me as much as the current double whammy.  
 

If these extreme human catastrophes can't get the Talking Heads to reform, I'm not sure what will.  If the Rev. Howard Finster we're alive, he would share a vision about it with Chris, David, Jerry, and Tina.  
 

While we're at it, Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman reprising Turn Turn Turn, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, and Neil Young dusting off For What It's Worth, Billy, Bob, Mickey, and Phil reworking Throwing Stones, Aston Barrett and Bob Marley's children bringing War/No More Trouble, Arlo Guthrie reprising Alice's Restaurant, Richard & Linda Thompson reuniting for I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight, R.E.M. reforming to play The One I Love, Country Joe McDonald and Barry Melton collaborating on the I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag, Jorma and Jack performing Volunteers, Burning Spear on Man In The Hills, U2 playing In The Name Of Love, Paul and Ringo playing All You Need Is Love,  The Rolling Stones doing Gimme Shelter, and Sly Stone & Larry Graham revisiting I Want To Take You Higher, would make for a solid line-up for A Call For Peace concert.

As I said.  

I like your thoughts Dave

Absolutely great thoughts.  Thanks for that.

I didn't know they'd reworked Throwing Stones, when was that? 

https://www.war-memorial.net/wars_all.asp?sorted=yasc&q=3

I believe Dave's list is aspirational, Noodler.

I believe Dave's list is aspirational, Noodler.

Colbert appearance canceled for tonight. Will be rescheduled. Stephen has Covid 

Rescheduled Colbert is 10/25... didn't have to wait long

Colbert Show

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-2CfqA9P0Y

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LoOgSTWR7c

Thanks for posting those links, Mike.  Is there one for the rest of the interview?

 My one and only Talking Heads show was the one at UVA's University Hall arena in Charlottesville that Colbert references at the beginning of the interview.  He, regretfully, skipped it to finish a paper.  I was a first year student, but not as concerned about my studies.

The Talking Heads still seem to just be talking, but it seems to me that they are loosening up being around each other and enjoying themselves more.

Here's Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Dhz2aXFR8

Or, if you like, CBS has the whole show: https://www.cbs.com/shows/video/RCsITFPdEz83k7stx6Q1MS77DejSd6I7/

I think they are building up to something heretofore unmentioned. The Stop Making Sense premieres are over so this is clearly a new destination imho...we  just dont know what it is yet. They may not know either tbh. But no matter what it's cool as hell to see them together and seemingly doing it because they want to

That was the best interview of the band called Talking Heads I've seen on this media tour re: Stop Making Sense 40th anniversary.

Everyone seemed to be in great spirits. I sure hope something can come out of all this as well, ideally musically!

hope they play.

remain in the light tour is here right before xmas. will go if i can.

only saw byrne once w/ st. vincent on that tour and the show was killer.

A residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas would work well with their visual esthetic.

New interview with David Byrne on NPR:

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/01/1209679558/david-byrne-talking-heads-stop...

On Psycho Killer: "I thought I would try and write something that was maybe a cross between Alice Cooper and Randy Newman."

I never would've guessed that. Never.

Thanks for the Colbert interview vids, I appreciated those

is this the first time the four of them have been together publicly since the rrhof induction?