(L-R) Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, David Byrne and Jerry Harrison at BAM Harvey Theater in New York City on Sept. 13.Photo:Slaven Vlasic/Getty
Slaven Vlasic/Getty
Talking Headswere on top of the world with the 1984 release of their groundbreaking concert filmStop Making Sense. But despite critical acclaim and a raucous response from fans, the film also marked the end of an era — the band never toured again.
During a film screening and Q&A at BAM Harvey Theater in Brooklyn Wednesday night, bassist Tina Weymouth revealed her “regrets” at not continuing to tour after Stop Making Sense.
Still, the musician, 72, admitted she’s moved on: “But now that’s in the past and we don’t care anymore.”
(L-R) Tina Weymouth, Ednah Holt, Lynn Mabry, David Byrne and Alex Weir in Stop Making Sense.Jordan Cronenweth. Courtesy of A24
Jordan Cronenweth. Courtesy of A24
Weymouth joined the group in the early 1970s alongside frontmanDavid Byrne, keyboardist and guitarist Jerry Harrison and drummer Chris Frantz, her husband.
Harrison, 74, reflected on the band’s demise Wednesday night, saying he felt “there was a lost opportunity that would have been fun for all of us.” He also revealed that he had hopes Talking Heads could have a slot in the legendary1985 Live Aid benefit concertlineup.
“I love playing live, so sure, I would have liked to have continued that,” he said. “I mean, I was disappointed that we were not a part of Live Aid because… I actually was in London in his office when Bob Geldof was trying to line people up. And so I kind of thought, ‘We should do this.’”
(L-R) Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, David Byrne and Jerry Harrison at BAM Harvey Theater in New York City on Sept. 13.Slaven Vlasic/Getty
Despite his desire to play the show, Harrison said he knew Byrne had already all but moved on, and was hard at work on Talking Heads’ sixth albumLittle Creaturesand his musical comedy satire filmTrue Stories.
“He was in a different headspace with that,” he said. “But there is an element of, well how do you top this and things like that. So I think there was a little bit of trepidation that everybody felt of, once it’s ben captured in a film like this, we really have to kind of conceive of something new and that might take a little while.”
Byrneopened up to PEOPLEin August about the band’s acrimonious end, and admitted he was “not as pleasant to be around” in his younger years.
“When I was working on some Talking Heads shows, I was more of a little tyrant,” he said. “And then I learned to relax, and I also learned that collaborating with people, both sides get more if there’s a good relationship instead of me telling everybody what to do.”
The musician, who recently brought his musicalHere Lies Loveto Broadway, conceded that the split “wasn’t handled well,” and that he has “regrets on how that was handled.”
(L-R) Chris Frantz, David Byrne and Tina Weymouth onstage in New York in 1977.Richard E. Aaron/Redferns
Richard E. Aaron/Redferns
On Wednesday, Heilemann pressed the group — who last played together at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2002 — on whether the enthusiastic fan response toStop Making Sensecould inspire a reunion of sorts. Despite a rousing round of applause and plenty of whoops and hollers, the musicians deflected.
“Speaking personally, I’m just very happy,” said Frantz, 72. “I have a feeling of great gratitude to be here tonight with my bandmates, and to have a fabulous audience watching the movie in a great theater with a great emcee interviewing us. I’m just happy right now in this moment.”
The setlist is a retrospective of the band up to that point, and also includes solo Byrne tracks and “Genius of Love,” a hit from Weymouth and Frantz’s side project Tom Tom Club.
A remastered version of the film will be released in IMAX on Sept. 22 and hit theaters everywhere on Sept. 29.
source: people.com
