Talking Heads are not set to reform anytime soon, according to Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz. Of the groups who emerged from the New York punk scene in the late 70s, Talking Heads have remained one of the most enduringly influential. The past decade has witnessed scores of bands taking their awkward punk-funk sound and ripping it off wholesale.
The renewal of interest in the band's music has been matched by calls for Talking Heads to reform. Yet despite an appearance at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2002 the group have stubbornly trod their own path.
Recently touring with side venture Tom Tom Club, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz recently spoke about the various reasons behind the non-existent Talking Heads re-union - reasons which tend to focus on singer David Byrne.
Speaking to The Quietus, drummer Chris Frantz admitted that the success of the Tom Tom Club probably contributed to Talking Heads extending their career.
"It's really no secret that David always had his sights set on a career outside Talking Heads - he felt like that was just one phase of his development" he explained.
"And I think the fact that we were selling tons of record on our first album, and getting lots of airplay, and having people sample our songs – that made David think, 'Oh, maybe these people are still of value to me.' Ha! But bless David's heart, I don't really want to disparage him because the stuff that we did together was so remarkable and outstanding… but, you know, nobody's perfect."
Continuing, the drummer admitted that he has considered the possibility of David Byrne suffering from some form of autism.
"Yes, and if you know anything about autism then you know it's not something that can be cured. It doesn't go away. A lot of people are on what's called the 'high functioning' end, and I think in David's case that is very likely true."
After the band's appearance at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame many fans assumed that the one off appearance would transform into a re-union tour. Yet this wasn't the case, according to Chris Frantz.
"I think we all hoped – Jerry and Tina and I – that David would just kind of wake up and think: 'What was I thinking? Talking Heads was a great band, wonderful chemistry, why don't we just take one more lap around the track just for the hell of it?' But I guess in the back of our minds we knew that was not on David's agenda."
Source: Clash Music