TALKING HEADS - TALKING HEADS: 77

Talking Heads were an American post-punk band formed in New York City in 1975. The group consisted of vocalist and guitarist David Byrne, drummer Chris Frantz, bassist Tina Weymouth, and guitarist and keyboardist Jerry Harrison. The band is often associated with the development of new wave music, combining elements of punk rock, art rock, funk, and world music with a distinctive visual and artistic style. David Byrne, Chris Frantz, and Tina Weymouth met while studying at the Rhode Island School of Design, where Byrne and Frantz previously performed together in a band called the Artistics. In 1975 the trio moved to New York City, formed Talking Heads, and became involved in the city’s emerging punk and new wave scene. Jerry Harrison later joined the group, completing the lineup. The band signed with Sire Records in 1976 and released their debut album "Talking Heads: 77" in 1977, which received positive critical reception. Talking Heads collaborated with producer Brian Eno on several albums, including "More Songs About Buildings and Food" (1978), "Fear of Music" (1979), and "Remain in Light" (1980). These recordings expanded the band’s musical approach and incorporated influences from funk and African music, drawing inspiration from artists such as Parliament-Funkadelic and Fela Kuti. During the early 1980s the band also began working with additional musicians in the studio and on stage, including guitarist Adrian Belew, keyboardist Bernie Worrell, singer Nona Hendryx, and bassist Busta Jones. The band achieved their greatest commercial success in 1983 with the single "Burning Down the House" from the album "Speaking in Tongues", which reached the top ten in the United States. In 1984 they released the concert film "Stop Making Sense", directed by Jonathan Demme. The performances in the film featured an expanded touring lineup including Bernie Worrell, guitarist Alex Weir, percussionist Steve Scales, and backing singers Lynn Mabry and Ednah Holt. In 1985 Talking Heads released "Little Creatures", which became their best-selling album. The band later recorded the soundtrack album "True Stories" for David Byrne’s 1986 film of the same name. Their final studio album, "Naked", was released in 1988 and incorporated worldbeat influences. Talking Heads disbanded in 1991. After the breakup, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, and Jerry Harrison briefly performed together under the name Shrunken Heads. In 1996 they released the album "No Talking, Just Head" under the name the Heads, featuring a variety of guest vocalists. Several Talking Heads recordings have received critical recognition. Four of the band’s albums were included on Rolling Stone’s 2003 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", and the songs "Psycho Killer", "Life During Wartime", and "Once in a Lifetime" were listed among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". The band has also appeared in rankings of influential artists compiled by publications and broadcasters, including VH1 and Rolling Stone. Studio albums Talking Heads: 77 (1977) More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978) Fear of Music (1979) Remain in Light (1980) Speaking in Tongues (1983) Little Creatures (1985) True Stories (1986) Naked (1988) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.