Talking Heads is an American rock band from New York. The name "talking head" means in English a specialist intervening on television. Coming from the New York punk scene and later associated with the post-punk and new wave movements, the band existed between 1974 and 1991 and has played at the CBGB alongside bands such as Ramones, Television and Patti Smith.
The new wave musical style of Talking Heads combines elements of punk, avant-garde, pop, funk, world music and rock art. Singer-songwriter David Byrne brings esoteric and whimsical lyrics to the band's songs and emphasizes their spectacular side with his multimedia input. David Byrne, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz meet at the Rhode Island School of Design where they decide to form their first band, The Artistics, in 1974. The new band, however, separates quickly and does not reform until later. In 1975, the three stalwarts, now known as Talking Heads, gave their first concert at the CBGB in New York. But it is only in 1976 that the band is complete with the arrival of singer, guitarist and keyboardist Jerry Harrison.
The quartet signed his first contract at Sire Records in 1977 and released shortly after his first single, "Love Goes to Building on Fire". The same year the album Talking heads: 77 appears in the bins. In addition, the Talking Heads will have a first hit with the general public in 1979 with the release of their second album, More Songs about Building and Food . Composed of eleven new tracks, it is produced in collaboration with the famous producer Brian Eno. However the real success will be at the rendezvous in 1980, with the album Remain in Light which mixes the Rock sound to which is added African rhythms. This last album will project them at the top of the British charts and leading to a European and American tour.
In 2002, the group entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2011, Rolling Stone ranked the 100> group on its list of the 100 best bands of all time>.
