Earlier than final night time’s episode of The Late Present With Stephen Colbert, Speaking Heads hadn’t appeared on a late-night TV present collectively in many years. They carried out on The Late Present With David Letterman in 1983 and filmed their live performance film basic Cease Making Sense that very same yr. David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison returned to late-night TV collectively for a chat on final night time’s Colbert surrounding the latest theatrical launch of the movie. Watch your complete interview under.
After Stephen Colbert gushed about his love of Speaking Heads, they started by speaking about discovering success early of their profession, the period the place they have been driving to reveals in Frantz’s dad and mom’ station wagon, and taking part in to small crowds at empty procuring malls and pizza parlors. “Our opening act was a hearth eater,” Byrne stated of 1 such gig. “We additionally performed a Beefsteak Charlie’s in Yonkers.”
They talked about Byrne and Frantz’s pre–Speaking Heads cowl band, which Tina Weymouth stated performed at a “painful” quantity. Harrison talked about going from the Fashionable Lovers to becoming a member of the Speaking Heads, and Weymouth mentioned her entry into the band. Requested in the event that they have been partiers, Frantz stated, merely, “That may be sure.” Byrne talked about disliking the time period artwork rock and never feeling like they ever match into the world of punk rock.
They went on to debate regaining the rights to Cease Making Sense, how Harrison took place forming the reside band that seems within the movie, and their reactions to the movie right this moment. Additionally they touched on their historical past with the constructing the place they have been talking with Colbert, the Ed Sullivan Theater. “We recorded and combined a few of our most cherished songs right here,” Frantz stated. They recorded vocals and overdubs for Stay in Mild and Talking in Tongues at a studio within the constructing.
To finish the interview, Colbert requested about the potential for a reunion, strongly encouraging them to go over and seize devices and carry out proper then and there. The viewers gave a wild ovation, however the band demurred. “OK, sit down,” Colbert advised the gang. “That wasn’t honest.”
Learn Pitchfork’s latest interview with the band, “Speaking Heads’ Unique Lineup on Cease Making Sense, Their Early Days, and the Future,” and listen to the podcast model (dated September 28) by subscribing to The Pitchfork Evaluate on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you hear.
