(Videodrome is a recurring feature in which we highlight exceptional videos and/or performances.)
Stop Making Sense may have the Big Suit, but if you’re looking for the pinnacle of live Talking Heads footage, I’d point you in the direction of this unbelievable show from Rome, 1980. Completing the Heads’ journey from minimalist to maximalist, it features the expanded, ten-piece lineup blazing through tunes from the just-released masterwork Remain In Light, as well as dynamically re-inventing choice selections from the back catalogue. They still sound like the band of the future more than 30 years later, with careening polyrhythms, interstellar Adrian Belew guitar-work, and P-Funk grooves courtesy of Bernie Worrell. Once in a lifetime, indeed. words/ t wilcox
Related: Talking Heads :: Stardust Ballroom – Los Angeles, Sept. 28, 1979
and i now have plans tonight.
1 | dan December 10th, 2012 at 5:30 pmThis is awesome, thanks!
2 | Kian December 11th, 2012 at 7:29 amNever was really much for the Talking Heads besides ‘this must be the place.’ My opinion is now changed. David Byrne’s “play the building” exhibits, on the other hand………
3 | Dylan December 11th, 2012 at 9:50 amholy crap.
4 | ksam December 12th, 2012 at 12:00 amBelew is off the chain.
5 | Curt Shannon December 12th, 2012 at 10:10 amI still think the very beginning of this live version of Born Under Punches has the best guitar solo of all time. Adrian Belew really knows the ins and outs of his instrument!
6 | Kurt December 13th, 2012 at 9:32 amBelew’s little blog post about joining Talking Heads is hilarious: http://elephant-blog.blogspot.ca/2007/03/anecdote-606.html
7 | tylerw December 14th, 2012 at 8:58 am