Editing Talking Heads (section)

==History==

=== 1973–1977: Early years ===
{{main|Talking Heads: 77}}
In 1973, [[Rhode Island School of Design]] students [[David Byrne]] (guitar and vocals) and [[Chris Frantz]] (drums) formed a band, the Artistics.{{r|Gans_198512|page=[https://archive.org/details/talkingheads0000gans/page/28/ 28]|quote=It was called the Artistics. We played real loud. It had more pieces than we have now.}}<ref>Gittins, Ian, ''Talking Heads: Once in a Lifetime: the Stories Behind Every Song'', Hal Leonard Corporation, 2004, p. 140. {{ISBN|0-634-08033-4}}, {{ISBN|978-0-634-08033-3}}.</ref> Frantz has described the Artistics as a "prototype punk band" that would perform a number of covers, including "Psycho" by [[the Sonics]], [[the Who]]'s "[[I Can't Explain]]" and [[Al Green]]'s "[[Love and Happiness]]", live.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wisgard |first=Alex |date=July 17, 2020 |title=Nine Songs – Chris Frantz from Talking Heads |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/talking-heads-chris-frantz-nine-favourite-songs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211232531/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/talking-heads-chris-frantz-nine-favourite-songs |archive-date=December 11, 2024 |access-date=April 18, 2025 |website=[[The Line of Best Fit]]}}</ref>

Fellow student [[Tina Weymouth]], Frantz's girlfriend, often provided transportation. The Artistics dissolved the following year, and the three moved to New York City, eventually sharing a communal loft.<ref>Simon Reynolds. ''Rip It up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984''. Penguin Books (2005) p. 159.</ref> After they were unable to find a bassist, Weymouth took up the role. Frantz encouraged Weymouth to learn to play bass by listening to [[Suzi Quatro]] albums.<ref name="Bass Player">[https://web.archive.org/web/20081206031839/http://www.bassplayer.com/article/tina-weymouth/mar-97/5958 Tina Talks Heads, Tom Toms, and How to Succeed at Bass Without Really Trying] Gregory Isola, ''[[Bass Player (magazine)|Bass Player]]'', retrieved December 6, 2008.</ref> Byrne asked Weymouth to audition three times before she joined the band.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-chris-frantz-tina-weymouth-8533427.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-chris-frantz-tina-weymouth-8533427.html |archive-date=May 26, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=How We Met: Chris Frantz & Tina Weymouth|last=Jacques|first=Adam|date=March 17, 2013|work=The Independent|access-date=December 3, 2020|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Harrison and Byrne-Talking Heads.jpg|left|thumb|Jerry Harrison & David Byrne on guitars Minneapolis in 1977]]
The band played their first gig as Talking Heads—opening for the [[Ramones]] at the [[CBGB]] club—on June 5, 1975.<ref name="halloffame2"/> According to Weymouth, the name Talking Heads came from an issue of ''[[TV Guide]]'', which "explained the term used by TV studios to describe a head-and-shoulder shot of a person talking as 'all content, no action'. It fit."<ref>Weymouth, Tina (1992). In ''Sand in the Vaseline''. CD liner notes, p. 12. New York: Sire Records Company</ref> Later that year, the band recorded a series of demos for [[CBS Records International|CBS]], but did not receive a record contract. However, they drew a following and signed to [[Sire Records]] in November 1976. They released their first single in February the following year, "[[Love → Building on Fire]]". In March 1977, they added [[Jerry Harrison]], formerly of [[Jonathan Richman]]'s band the [[The Modern Lovers|Modern Lovers]], on keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals.<ref name="rs_flashback">{{cite magazine|last=Greene|first=Andy|title=Flashback: Talking Heads Perform 'Psycho Killer' at CBGB in 1975|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/flashback-talking-heads-perform-psycho-killer-at-cbgb-in-1975-20130711|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=July 11, 2013|access-date=April 23, 2014}}</ref> [[Gary Kurfirst]] started managing Talking Heads in 1977.<ref>{{citation |title=Ramones, Jane's Addiction, Talking Heads manager passes away
|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/talking-heads-5-1320331|work=[[NME Networks]]|date=January 14, 2009 |access-date=January 14, 2009}}</ref>

The first Talking Heads album, ''[[Talking Heads: 77]]'', received acclaim and produced their first charting single, "[[Psycho Killer]]".<ref name="allmusic_77">{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Talking Heads 77|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/talking-heads-77-mw0000650867|work=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=April 23, 2014}}</ref> Many connected the song to the [[serial killer]] known as the [[Son of Sam]], who had been terrorizing New York City months earlier; however, Byrne said he had written the song years prior.<ref name="Gittins2004">{{cite book|author=Ian Gittins|title=Talking Heads: Once in a Lifetime: The Stories Behind Every Song|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvhoZyTzspYC&pg=PA30|year=2004|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn=978-0-634-08033-3|page=30}}</ref> Weymouth and Frantz married in 1977.<ref name="rs_tomtom">{{cite magazine|last=Clarke|first=John|title=Rockers Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth Talk Marriage|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-talking-heads-and-tom-tom-clubs-chris-frantz-and-tina-weymouth-on-their-rock-roll-marriage-20130704|access-date=May 1, 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 4, 2013}}</ref>

===1978–1980: Collaborations with Brian Eno===
{{main|More Songs About Buildings and Food|Fear of Music|Remain in Light}}
''[[More Songs About Buildings and Food]]'' (1978) was Talking Heads' first collaboration with the producer [[Brian Eno]], who had previously worked with [[Roxy Music]], [[David Bowie]], [[John Cale]], and [[Robert Fripp]];<ref name="eno_credits">{{cite web|title=Brian Eno {{!}} Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brian-eno-mn0000617196/credits|work=Allmusic|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref> the title of Eno's 1977 song "King's Lead Hat" is an [[anagram]] of the band's name. Eno's unusual style meshed with the group's artistic sensibilities, and they began to explore an increasingly diverse range of musical directions—from [[psychedelic funk]] to [[African music]], influenced prominently by [[Fela Kuti]] and [[Parliament-Funkadelic]].<ref name="Ricchini">{{cite news |first= William |last= Ricchini |title= Napolitano Brings Out Best Of Heads |newspaper= [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |url=http://articles.philly.com/1996-11-12/entertainment/25650345_1_heads-keyboardist-jerry-harrison-performance |date= November 12, 1996 |access-date= April 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230030048/http://articles.philly.com/1996-11-12/entertainment/25650345_1_heads-keyboardist-jerry-harrison-performance |archive-date=December 30, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Pilchak">{{cite book|first= Angela M. |last= Pilchak |title= Contemporary Musicians |volume= 49 |year= 2005 |publisher= [[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] |isbn= 978-0-7876-8062-6 |page= 77}}</ref><ref name="Simon Reynolds 2005 p. 163">Simon Reynolds. ''Rip It up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984''. Penguin Books (2005) p. 163.</ref> This recording also established the band's relationship with [[Compass Point Studios]] in [[Nassau, Bahamas]]. ''More Songs About Buildings and Food'' included a cover of [[Al Green]]'s "[[Take Me to the River]]", which brought Talking Heads into the public consciousness and gave them their first ''Billboard'' Top 30 hit.<ref name="Simon Reynolds 2005 p. 163"/>

[[File:Talking Heads band1.jpg|thumb|Harrison (left), Frantz (middle) and Byrne (right) performing with Talking Heads in 1978]]
The collaboration continued with ''[[Fear of Music]]'' (1979), which mixed the darker stylings of post-punk rock with white [[funkadelia]] and subliminal references to the geopolitical instability of the late 1970s.<ref name="Simon Reynolds 2005 p. 163"/> Music journalist [[Simon Reynolds]] cited ''Fear of Music'' as representing the Eno–Talking Heads collaboration "at its most mutually fruitful and equitable".<ref>Simon Reynolds. ''Rip It up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984''. Penguin Books (2005) pp. 163–164.</ref> The single "[[Life During Wartime (song)|Life During Wartime]]" produced the catchphrase "This ain't no party, this ain't no disco".<ref>{{cite web|last=Janovitz|first=Bill|title=Life During Wartime – Song Review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/life-during-wartime-mt0031644471|work=Allmusic|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref> The song refers to the [[Mudd Club]] and [[CBGB]], two popular New York nightclubs of the time.<ref name=latimes_20years>{{cite web|last=Robbins|first=Ira|title=20 Years Later, CBGB Ain't No Disco: Clubs: A look back as the Bowery bar concludes a monthlong celebration of its commitment to underground rock's trends|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-31-ca-7219-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 31, 1993 |access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref>

''[[Remain in Light]]'' (1980) was heavily influenced by the [[Afrobeat]] of Nigerian bandleader [[Fela Kuti]], whose music had been introduced to the band by Eno. It explored West African [[polyrhythm]]s, weaving these together with Arabic music from North Africa, disco funk, and "found" voices.<ref>Simon Reynolds. ''Rip It up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984''. Penguin Books (2005) p. 165.</ref> These combinations foreshadowed Byrne's later interest in [[world music]].<ref name=allmusic_byrne_bio>{{cite web|last=Ankeny|first=Jason|title=David Byrne {{!}} Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-byrne-mn0000197364/biography|work=Allmusic|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref> To perform these more complex arrangements, the band toured with an expanded group, including [[Adrian Belew]] and [[Bernie Worrell]], among others, first at the [[Heatwave (festival)|Heatwave]] festival in August,<ref name=michigan_daily_heatwave>{{cite news|last=Robins|first=Jim|title=Expanded Talking Heads Climax Canadian New Wave Festival|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2706&dat=19800906&id=UhNKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bx4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1428,170371|newspaper=[[The Michigan Daily]]|date=September 6, 1980}}</ref> and later in their concert film ''[[Stop Making Sense]]''.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}

During this period, Weymouth and Frantz formed a commercially successful splinter group, [[Tom Tom Club]], influenced by the foundational elements of [[hip hop]],<ref name=latimes_tomtomclub>{{cite news|last=Boehm|first=Mike|title=x-Heads Say They Got Byrned: Split Still Miffs Frantz, Weymouth, Even Though Tom Tom Club Keeps Them Busy|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-10-ca-490-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=September 10, 1992}}</ref> and Harrison released his first solo album, ''[[The Red and the Black (album)|The Red and the Black]]''.<ref name=nytimes_poplife>{{cite news|last=Palmer|first=Robert|title=The Pop Life|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/18/arts/the-pop-life-097396.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 18, 1981}}</ref> Byrne and Eno released ''[[My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (album)|My Life in the Bush of Ghosts]]'', which incorporated world music, found sounds and a number of other prominent international and post-punk musicians.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bush|first=John|title=My Life in the Bush of Ghosts|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/my-life-in-the-bush-of-ghosts-mw0000651183|work=Allmusic|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref>

{{Listen
|filename=Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime.ogg
|title="Once in a Lifetime"
|description=The fourth song from ''Remain in Light'' used Eno's [[Oblique Strategies]] technique and featured Byrne's alienated meditation on life. The song was named one of the 100 most important American musical works of the 20th century by NPR.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 100 most important American musical works of the 20th century|url=https://www.npr.org/programs/specials/vote/list100.html|work=[[NPR]]|access-date=May 5, 2014}}</ref>
|format=[[Ogg]]}}
''Remain in Light''{{'}}s lead single, "[[Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads song)|Once in a Lifetime]]", became a Top 20 hit in the UK, but initially failed to make an impression in the US. It grew into a popular standard over the next few years on the strength of its music video, which [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']] named one of the greatest of all time.<ref>Simon Reynolds. ''Rip It up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984''. Penguin Books (2005) p. 169.</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Sanburn |first=Josh |title=The 30 All-TIME Best Music Videos – Talking Heads, 'Once in a Lifetime' (1980) |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2011/07/28/the-30-all-time-best-music-videos/slide/talking-heads-once-in-a-lifetime-1980/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=July 26, 2011|access-date=October 19, 2024}}</ref>

===1981–1991: Commercial peak and breakup===
{{main|Speaking in Tongues (Talking Heads album)|Little Creatures|True Stories (Talking Heads album)|Naked (Talking Heads album)}}
After releasing four albums in barely four years, the group went on a recording hiatus, and nearly three years passed before their next release, although Frantz and Weymouth continued to record with Tom Tom Club. In the meantime, Talking Heads released the live album ''[[The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads]]'', toured the United States and Europe as an eight-piece group, and parted ways with Eno,<ref>Simon Reynolds. ''Rip It up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984''. Penguin Books (2005) pp. 169–170.</ref> who went on to produce albums with [[U2]].<ref name=eno_credits />

1983 saw the release of ''[[Speaking in Tongues (Talking Heads album)|Speaking in Tongues]]'', a commercial breakthrough that produced the band's only American Top 10 hit, "[[Burning Down the House]]".<ref>{{cite web|last=DeGagne|first=Mike|title=Burning Down the House – Talking Heads – Song Review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/burning-down-the-house-mt0011948974|work=Allmusic|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref> Once again, a striking video was inescapable, owing to its heavy rotation on MTV.<ref>{{cite web|last=Johnston|first=Maura|author-link=Maura Johnston |title=Sick Of It All (16) Battles Talking Heads (8) As SOTC's March Madness Takes A Trip To CBGB|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/03/new_york_musician_tournament_talking_heads_sick_of_it_all.php|work=[[Village Voice]]|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref> The following tour was documented in [[Jonathan Demme]]'s ''[[Stop Making Sense]]'', which generated another [[Stop Making Sense (album)|live album of the same name]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Light|first=Alan|title=All-TIME 100 Albums|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2006/11/02/the-all-time-100-albums/slide/stop-making-sense/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=January 25, 2010|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref> The tour in support of ''Speaking in Tongues'' was their last.<ref name=philly_milward>{{cite web|last=Milward|first=John|title=The Many Faces And Artistic Endeavors Of The Talking Heads David Byrne And His Mates In The Band Are Keeping Busy – Together, With 'Naked', And On Their Own.|url=http://articles.philly.com/1988-04-14/entertainment/26253138_1_videos-heads-david-byrne|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140425033500/http://articles.philly.com/1988-04-14/entertainment/26253138_1_videos-heads-david-byrne|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 25, 2014|work=[[Philly.com]]|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref>

{{quote box|align=left|width=25em|quote=I try to write about small things. Paper, animals, a house… love is kind of big. I have written a love song, though. In this film, I sing it to a lamp.|source = —[[David Byrne]], interviewing himself in ''[[Stop Making Sense]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Harvey|first=Eric|title=David Byrne: Live From Austin TX|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10783-live-from-austin-tx/|work=[[Pitchfork Media]]|access-date=May 5, 2014}}</ref>}}
Three more albums followed: 1985's ''[[Little Creatures (album)|Little Creatures]]'' (which featured the hit singles "[[And She Was]]" and "[[Road to Nowhere]]"),<ref>{{cite web|title=Little Creatures – Talking Heads|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/little-creatures-mw0000191997/awards|work=Allmusic|access-date=April 27, 2014}}</ref> 1986's ''[[True Stories (Talking Heads album)|True Stories]]'' (Talking Heads covering all the soundtrack songs of Byrne's [[True Stories (film)|musical comedy film]], in which the band also appeared),<ref name=nytimes_true_stories>{{cite news|last=Maslin|first=Janet|title=True Stories (1986) DAVID BYRNE IN 'TRUE STORIES'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D05E0DF153AF937A35753C1A960948260|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 27, 2014}}</ref> and 1988's ''[[Naked (Talking Heads album)|Naked]]''. ''Little Creatures'' offered a much more American pop-rock sound as opposed to previous efforts.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Little Creatures|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/little-creatures-mw0000191997|work=Allmusic|access-date=April 27, 2014}}</ref> Similar in genre, ''True Stories'' hatched one of the group's most successful hits, "[[Wild Wild Life]]", and the accordion-driven track "Radio Head".<ref>{{cite web|last=Hastings|first=Michael|title=Talking Heads – True Stories|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/true-stories-mw0000192119|work=Allmusic|access-date=April 27, 2014}}</ref> ''Naked'' explored politics, sex, and death, and showed heavy African influence with polyrhythmic styles like those seen on ''Remain in Light''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|title=Talking Heads get 'Naked'|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19880320&id=tKldAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VV0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1938,5020831|newspaper=[[Observer-Reporter]]|date=March 20, 1988}}</ref> During that time, the group was falling increasingly under David Byrne's control, and after ''Naked'', the band went on "hiatus".<ref name=allmusic_bio /> In 1987, Talking Heads released a book by David Byrne, ''What the Songs Look Like: Contemporary Artists Interpret Talking Heads Songs'', with [[HarperCollins]] that contained artwork by some of the top New York visual artists of the decade.

[[File:Tina weymouth tom tom club.png|alt=|thumb|upright=0.8|Tina Weymouth and her husband Chris Frantz formed the side project [[Tom Tom Club]].]]
In December 1991, Talking Heads announced that they had disbanded.<ref name=allmusic_bio /> Frantz said he learned that Byrne had left from an article in the ''Los Angeles Times'', and said: "As far as we're concerned, the band never really broke up. David just decided to leave."<ref>Boehm, Mike (September 10, 1992). "x-Heads Say They Got Byrned: Split Still Miffs Frantz, Weymouth, Even Though Tom Tom Club Keeps Them Busy". ''Los Angeles Times''.</ref> Their final release was "Sax and Violins", an original song that had appeared earlier that year on the soundtrack to [[Wim Wenders]]' ''[[Until the end of the World]]''. Byrne continued his solo career, releasing ''[[Rei Momo]]'' in 1989 and [[The Forest (album)|''The Forest'']] in 1991.<ref name=allmusic_byrne_bio /> This period also saw a revived flourish from both Tom Tom Club (''[[Boom Boom Chi Boom Boom]]'' and ''[[Dark Sneak Love Action]]'')<ref>{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Tom Tom Club {{!}} Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tom-tom-club-mn0000611929/biography|work=Allmusic|access-date=April 27, 2014}}</ref> and Harrison (''[[Casual Gods]]'' and ''[[Walk on Water (Jerry Harrison album)|Walk on Water]]''), who toured together in 1990.<ref>{{cite news|last=Christensen|first=Thor|title=Harrison starts to find own voice|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19900522&id=fiohAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5H4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7137,8383973|newspaper=[[The Milwaukee Journal]]|date=May 22, 1990|access-date=January 12, 2016|archive-date=May 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504184239/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19900522&id=fiohAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5H4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7137,8383973|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===1992–present: Post-breakup and reunions===
Harrison produced records such as the [[Violent Femmes]]' ''[[The Blind Leading the Naked]];'' the [[Fine Young Cannibals]]' ''[[The Raw and the Cooked (album)|The Raw and the Cooked]];'' [[General Public]]'s ''[[Rub It Better]];'' [[Crash Test Dummies]]' ''[[God Shuffled His Feet]];'' [[Live (band)|Live]]'s ''[[Mental Jewelry]]'', ''[[Throwing Copper]]'', and ''[[The Distance to Here]];'' and [[No Doubt]]'s song "New" from ''[[Return of Saturn]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerry Harrison {{!}} Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jerry-harrison-mn0000330961/credits|work=Allmusic|access-date=May 1, 2014}}</ref> Frantz and Weymouth have produced for several artists, including [[Happy Mondays]] and [[Ziggy Marley]]. Tom Tom Club continues to record and tour intermittently.<ref name="allmusic_tomtom_bio">{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Tom Tom Club – Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tom-tom-club-mn0000611929/biography|access-date=May 4, 2014|work=Allmusic}}</ref>[[File:Talking Heads SXSW by Ron Baker.jpg|alt=|thumb|left|Weymouth, Frantz, and Harrison at [[SXSW]] in 2010]]
Talking Heads reunited to play "Life During Wartime", "Psycho Killer", and "Burning Down the House" on March 18, 2002, at the ceremony of their induction into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], joined onstage by former touring members [[Bernie Worrell]] and Steve Scales.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Greene|first=Andy|title=Flashback: Talking Heads Reunite for One Night Only |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/flashback-the-talking-heads-reunite-for-one-night-only-20121023|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=October 23, 2012|access-date=May 4, 2014}}</ref> Byrne said further work together was unlikely, due to "bad blood" and being musically "miles apart".<ref name="age">{{cite news |last=Blackman |first=Guy |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Music/Byrning-down-the-house/2005/02/04/1107476787488.html |title=Byrning down the house |work=The Age |location=Australia|date=February 6, 2005|access-date=October 3, 2009}}</ref> Weymouth has been critical of Byrne, describing him as "a man incapable of returning friendship"<ref name="age" /> and saying that he did not "love" her, Frantz, and Harrison.<ref name="Bass Player" /> In 2020, Frantz published a memoir about his relationship with Weymouth, ''Remain in Love'', which covered the band's conflicts.<ref name=rollingstone-aug16-2023>{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=August 16, 2023 |title=Talking Heads to Appear Together for First Time in 21 Years |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/talking-heads-appear-together-first-time-21-years-1234807644/ |access-date=August 17, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

Weymouth, Frantz, and Harrison toured without Byrne as Shrunken Heads in the early 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wilonsky|first=Robert|date=October 21, 1999|title=Heads up|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/heads-up-6397139|access-date=August 1, 2020|website=Dallas Observer}}</ref> In 1996, they released an album, ''[[No Talking, Just Head]]'', under the name the Heads. The album featured a number of vocalists, including [[Gavin Friday]] of [[the Virgin Prunes]], [[Debbie Harry]] of [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]], [[Johnette Napolitano]] of [[Concrete Blonde]], [[Andy Partridge]] of [[XTC]], [[Gordon Gano]] of [[Violent Femmes]], [[Michael Hutchence]] of [[INXS]], [[Ed Kowalczyk]] of [[Live (band)|Live]], [[Shaun Ryder]] of [[Happy Mondays]], [[Richard Hell]], and [[Maria McKee]].<ref name=allmusic_notalking>{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|title=No Talking Just Head – The Heads|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/no-talking-just-head-mw0000079013|work=Allmusic|access-date=May 1, 2014}}</ref> It was accompanied by a tour with Napolitano as the vocalist. Byrne took legal action to prevent the band using the name the Heads, which he saw as "a pretty obvious attempt to cash in on the Talking Heads name".<ref name="rs-byrne-ing">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.davidbyrne.com/music/cds/feelings/feelings_press/feelings_RollingStone_interview.php |title=Byrne-ing Down the House|author=Levine, Robert |date=June 26, 1997|magazine=Rolling Stone |via=DavidByrne.com |access-date=October 31, 2009}}</ref> The band briefly reunited in 1999 to promote the 15th anniversary re-release of ''Stop Making Sense'', but did not perform together.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sragow |first1=Michael |title=Talking Heads talk again |url=https://www.salon.com/1999/04/27/heads/ |website=Salon |date=April 27, 1999 |access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref>

In September 2023, ''Stop Making Sense'' was re-released in [[IMAX]] with remastered sound and picture to coincide with the film's 40th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop Making Sense |url=https://www.imax.com/movies/stop-making-sense |access-date=September 24, 2023 |website=imax.com |date=August 16, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The band members reunited that month for a Q&A at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]], following limited showings of the film in theaters,<ref name=rollingstone-aug16-2023/><ref>{{cite web |last=Inskeep |first=Steve and Reena Advani, Phil Harrell, Daoud Tyler-Ameen |date=September 22, 2023 |title=The everyday can be just fine |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/09/22/1200623785/talking-heads-stop-making-sense-interview |access-date=September 22, 2023 |website=Morning Edition |publisher=NPR |quote=the new release's remastered sound and picture, projected in... IMAX}}</ref> and gave subsequent interviews together to promote the re-release.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Talking Heads on the return of 'Stop Making Sense' |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/video/talking-heads-on-the-return-of-stop-making-sense/ |date=September 24, 2023|access-date=October 5, 2023 |publisher=CBS News|website=CBS Sunday Morning|language=en}}</ref> With regard to the possibility of a reunion tour, Harrison told the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'': "Right now, we're concentrating on ''Stop Making Sense'' and how much fun we're having revisiting the film. We're living in the moment, so that's all we're thinking about."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tannenbaum|first1=Rob|title=A once-in-a-lifetime reunion: Talking Heads on 'Stop Making Sense,' the Big Suit and their future|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-09-20/talking-heads-stop-making-sense-rerelease |access-date=September 24, 2023|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=September 20, 2023}}</ref> In January 2024, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' reported that Talking Heads had turned down an $80&nbsp;million offer for a reunion tour, which would have included a performance at [[Coachella (festival)|Coachella]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Brooks |first1=Dave |title=Coachella Wanted a Talking Heads Reunion, Too |url=https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/coachella-wanted-talking-heads-reunion-1235593270/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 1, 2024}}</ref>
[[File:Stop Making Sense, Pantages Theater panel (2024) (5-3 cropped).jpg|thumb|Talking Heads with [[Andy Richter]] (seated to the left), [[Pantages Theater (Tacoma, Washington)|Pantages Theater]], June 2024]]

In 2023 and 2025 Harrison and Belew toured with a large band performing a set of ''Remain in Light'' songs.<ref>https://postpunkmonk.com/2023/06/12/harrison-belew-cool-cool-cool-remain-in-light-tour-a-gift-we-never-expected/</ref><ref>https://www.brooklynvegan.com/talking-heads-jerry-harrison-adrian-belew-announce-2025-remain-in-light-tour-dates/</ref>