Festival Site

Talking Heads was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1975. The group consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist David Byrne, drummer Chris Frantz, bassist Tina Weymouth, and guitarist and keyboardist Jerry Harrison. Byrne, Frantz, and Weymouth met as freshmen at the Rhode Island School of Design, where Byrne and Frantz were part of a band called the Artistics. The trio moved to New York City in 1975, adopted the name Talking Heads, joined the local punk scene, and recruited Harrison. They signed with Sire Records in 1976 and released their debut album, Talking Heads: 77, in 1977. The band collaborated with British producer Brian Eno on the albums More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978), Fear of Music (1979), and Remain in Light (1980). These albums combined their art school influences with elements of funk and world music, drawing inspiration from artists such as Parliament-Funkadelic and Fela Kuti. Talking Heads are recognized as one of the most acclaimed groups of the 1980s and are credited with helping to pioneer the new wave genre through their innovative blending of punk, art rock, funk, and world music.