Talking Heads - Did You Know?

September 13, 2018

Music facts, music trivia, interesting stories and much more. Introducing the "Did You Know" page about American rock band, Talking Heads.

Enjoy!

 

 

Talking Heads were an American rock band that was formed in New York City in 1975. They disbanded in 1991. Talking Heads consisted of David Byrne (vocals, guitar), Jerry Harrison (keyboards, guitar), Tina Weymouth (bass) and Chris Frantz (drums).

Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the band as one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the '80s. They helped to pioneer new wave music with integration of punk, funk, art rock and world music with avant-garde sensibilities and an anxious, clean-cut image.

David Byrne, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth all met at the Rhode Island School of Design where they attended. When they graduated in 1974, they decided to move to New York, where thye formed the band.

They weren't actually planning to start a new band, but were encouraged to do so by their accountant, who told them that they were low on cash. As for the name of the band, "Talking Head" is a term for a person, usually a newscaster speaking on camera. A friend suggested this name after seeing it in an issue of TV Guide Magazine.

In 2002, Talking Heads were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Four of the band's albums are listed on the list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine, and three of the band's songs -  "Psycho Killer", "Once in a Lifetime" and "Life During Wartime" are part of the list of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

They are listed on the No.64 spot on the list of  the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" by VH1 and also on the 100th spot on the list of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" by Rolling Stone magazine.

 

 

The song "Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads was the result of David Byrne, lead singer of the band, to try and write an Alice Cooper song, only it came out much more introspective.

The song "Psycho Killer" ended up being about the thoughts of a murderer. The lyrics of the song were inspired by the character Norman Bates in the movie Psycho.

 

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