Talking Heads

Talking Heads formed at the Rhode Island School of Design in 1975, bringing an art-school sensibility to New York's punk scene that set them apart from their CBGB peers. David Byrne's twitchy vocals and oblique lyrics, combined with the locked-in rhythm section of Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, created music that was simultaneously cerebral and danceable. Their collaboration with Brian Eno on More Songs About Buildings and Food, Fear of Music, and Remain in Light introduced African polyrhythms and studio experimentation to post-punk, with Remain in Light's fusion of Fela Kuti-influenced Afrobeat and punk energy producing a landmark record. Stop Making Sense, directed by Jonathan Demme, is widely regarded as the greatest concert film ever made, showcasing Byrne's oversized suit and the expanded band's kinetic performance. Speaking in Tongues brought them pop success with 'Burning Down the House.' The band's influence radiates through art-pop, dance-punk, and any artist who treats awkwardness as an aesthetic virtue.