Editing Talking Heads (section)

=== 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>