David Byrne On The Evolution & Breakup Of Talking Heads | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

(Recording date: 5/11/23) David Byrne talks about the evolution of Talking Heads, shares the inspiration behind his iconic “Big Suit,” and reflects on the band’s 1991 breakup.


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Team Coco

[bg]

A few years ago, I had a friend who was dying of cancer. He was a huge Talking Heads fan. His son was in NYC and just happened to bump into David Byrne. He told him about his dad, and David called him in the hospital. How cool is that?

[charlesritter]

Watching a sensitive-intelligent Conan interview a well-adjusted David Byrne is a tonic.

[privatepenguin]

Great to see David open up like this. Some interviews he really seems to close off. In this interview, he seems really comfortable with Conan...great to see him open up.

[SalamanderDrawing]

it's really interesting how the evolution of the "Stop Making Sense" film is kind of like the evolution of Talking Heads starting off with the bare minimum and as each song goes on, it gets more complex, so it kind of represents the band itself getting more complex visually as each show or tour goes on

[meligoth]

In a sea of podcasts where it seems like everyone has to be a complete sociopath to get attention, Conan brings back some sanity with interview gems.

[musicspider]

They were so talented. You will not find another band that sounds like them. Damn near every song is a hit.

[briank]

I was lucky enough to see that tour. David Byrne expended more energy on stage than any other performer I had ever seen. The show was excellent and amazing.

[De_liebste_un_beste_Mensch]

No one was more ahead of their times than Talking Heads. Insane creativity and musicianship. I didn't grew up with them but exploring their stuff is a relief. Stop Making Sense is for the ages and I can't believe it turns 40 this year. Watch it once in a lifetime (badum-tss)! Just do it! It's lifechanging.

[wyskass]

I had a NY firefighter friend, who once responded to an alarm at the apartment of David Byrne. It was only after they finished with the call, that he frustratingly realized he missed the opportunity to ask, "David Byrne, are you burning down the house?" Has been kicking himself ever since in retelling this story.

[BAGAKOOS]

If the talking heads were to get back together and announce a tour, it would easily be one of the biggest tours even today. Their music is timeless. I recently saw Jerry Harrison and Andrew Belew play with another band and it was amazing. They opened up for Les Claypool. Probably the closest thing I’ll get to seeing the real thing 😢

[jonathanlocke]

Saw him on the "American Utopia" tour. He did "Once in a Lifetime". If you'll remember, in the "Stop Making Sense" performance, there's an instrumental break where he just sort of vibrates across the stage, a move that, like many in that show, must have been physically demanding. When it got to that part in the "Utopia" performance, he just slowly dropped down on his knees, like he was exhausted, and two of his backing vocalists rushed to his side and slowly helped him regain his feet...I thought it was a hilarious comment on aging and live performance...

[zaz]

I don't think Conan can in any way make people uncomfortable or else it triggers himself, he'll get them to the edge but always keep them in his sphere of influence. It's an amazing skill and he doesn't even know it.

[markb]

Fascinating. I could listen to these two talk to each other for hours about music, comedy and life.
It's not just one interview, it's two, with each asking the other questions. Two for the price of one. So interesting and enjoyable.

[Radio-Loud]

Conan, this is great! More musician interviews please! 😁

[lsaideOK]

Psycho Killer and Watching the Detectives broke my stereo mold and changed my life when they were released in 1977. Back in the day when there were radio stations, I listened to them on WMMR in Philadelphia driving to high school. You know Byrne was a control freak and hard to deal with when Chris and Tina formed TomTom Club, and made such delightful, easy and fun music.

[Agropio]

7:20 This is such a sweet moment that really shows why this interview works so well. Just that display that Byrne is interested in Conan's history, the interviewee asking the interviewer a question. These guys get each other.

[mathompson]

If anything deserves to get promoted it is the coming 40th year anniversary of 'Stop Making Sense'. I'm not even a particularly big Talking Heads fan, but that is a GREAT concert film.

[EdwinHeida]

Conan is by far the best interviewer. I believe there is a sincerity in the obvious skill that he also has, and mastered over the years. Interviewing David alone, face to face, was probably the best idea too. He seems really at ease here. Wonderful conversation.

[Brian]

There's a point Conan is touching on about loving old typewriters. It's much the same reason I love a big drum set and suspension bridges and big muscle road bikes. When the intricacy and complexity of the form is also the mechanism of the fuction, their is a transcendant beauty there. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot woodwind instruments.

[mrbeans]

Fear of Music was the FIRST Cassette Tape EVER owned as a kid. I listened to it NON STOP ON REPEAT! Them and Weird Al! That was my childhood! LOVE you David! I agree 100% with Conan, they had their time and they absolutely killed it, No reason to keep reforming a band with different members, It just NEVER has the same feel. You lose the essence of the original Group.