Is david byrne gay?

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also is morrisey? or is he Bi ?

― Mike Hanle y, Thursday, 28 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

David Byrne lives down the street from me, actually, and he's often spotted with a child or two whom I believe are his own.

― alex in nyc, Thursday, 28 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

He's so fucking boring, he wishes he was gay so there would be something that could raise even an eyebrow of interest in him.

Luaka bop = dud, talking heads = wildly overrated.

― Nicole, Thursday, 28 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Nicole speaks words of wisdom so strong I can merely but echo them.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 28 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Talking Heads were brilliant and ahead of their time. Granted, their later albums were forgettable, but to rob the band of their due is misinformed.

― alex in nyc, Thursday, 28 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Luaka Bop is awesome. I don't see how a label that collects pop eccentricities from around the planet could have the consistency required for dud status. I didn't like Talking Heads that much, but I give the man credit for excellent and broad taste and for recognizing that there is pop life outside of the US and UK.

And no, AFAIK, he's not gay. I recall reading about his wife or long-time female partner or whatever she is. I also wonder what prompts people to ask if someone is gay or a lesbian.

― Kerry Keane, Thursday, 28 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Nasty nasty. Why the hostility ? I have no idea what David Byrne is like as a person, but I find him very entertaining (and unique - name anyone else with a similar style) on Talking Heads's wonderful (and equally unique) records. If you dislike them, surely ("Burning Down The House" and "Once In A Lifetime" aside) they are fairly easy to ignore.

― Patrick, Thursday, 28 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Luaka Bop has *vague* points at best, my friends. Byrne himself is a non-starter. I allow Talking Heads collectively a bit more credit, but no more than that. Quite how Radiohead sees something worthwhile in them is an utter mystery to this day.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 28 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

And as for robbing the band of their due -- fiddlesticks. I can't rob what I don't think they have. ;-)

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 28 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Radiohead....now *THERE'S* your wildly overrated band.

― alex in nyc, Thursday, 28 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I met David Byrne in New York recently. We were riffing casually on the brilliance of Brazilian avant bossa man Tom Ze when suddenly I noticed that David's hand was on my knee. 'David, are you gay?' I blurted. He leaped up onto the bar and, lit by a pink follow spot, began to dance a stick-man samba, periodically buffeted by imaginary blasts of hot wind. He looked like an epileptic flamingo. Franz Kafka, who was standing nearby sucking on a strawberry sour, turned to me and said 'That man certainly can make flippy floppy'.

― Momus, Thursday, 28 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Has anyone else noticed how the first song on that new David Byrne album sounds like Overload by Sugababes?

I wasn't sure which thread this should go on but it appears far more people have opinions regarding the 'babes rather than Mr Byrne so I thought it'd be safest here.

― jamesmichaelward, Thursday, 28 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Luaka Bop gets mad phat propz from me for releasing records by Tom Ze and Cornershop as well as those Brazilian compilations - and I bet there's more great stuff they've put out that I haven't heard.

― Patrick, Thursday, 28 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

momus - did he have the big suit on?

― Geoff, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Surely the classic urban myth about David Byrne was that he was straight - but with a particular requirement

― Mark Morris, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Luaka Bop gets mad phat propz from me for releasing records by Tom Ze and Cornershop as well as those Brazilian compilations - and I bet there's more great stuff they've put out that I haven't heard.

I guess I should have qualified my luaka bop comment; the music itself isn't bad, it's just something about the label that's so patronizing and smacks of colonialism.

As for the Talking Heads, I really think they are completely overrated. There's just something completely irritating about them that I can't get past, even Eno couldn't save one of their albums for me.

― Nicole, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

the music itself isn't bad, it's just something about the label that's so patronizing and smacks of colonialism.

This accusation gets bandied about a lot when people try to give some exposure to world music. I don't know why exactly. Anyone got any idea ?

― Patrick, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't get the notion, either. Aren't those new agey "world beat" compilations that some labels put out and sell for $10.99 a better example of colonialism? Actually, I think it's kind of insulting to see someone like Tom Ze in those terms. As if what he's doing is "indigenous" and we're not.

A lot of music he puts out is *pop* and is therefore automatically international, or should be.

― Kerry Keane, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Momus have those Thai motor fumes got into your brain!? I wish Momus and David Byrne would make music together, as I wish MANY great creative minds would. As for Radio head and Talking Heads: Radiohead isnt HALF what TH are. Radio heaad is nice but they're basically copiers of past sounds, whereas TH came up with something new. God. Don't even compare the two. PLease. Also, they're later records are NOT bad at all! NAKED is pure GENIUS. Sorry, but you don't dis the Talking heads. You just don't.

― Mike Hanle y, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Even Talking Heads couldn't save Eno for me.

I don't quite mean that.

― the pinefox, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Proof positive that it is not critically acceptable to dislike David Byrne/Talking Heads. It is basically a consensus other than me...

― Nicole, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I really don't know where you get that idea. I don't know ANYBODY who likes Talking Heads AT ALL.

― the pinefox, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Nicole, no hard feelings. ;) I actually think *you're* in the majority, as far as I've seen. In the circles I've run in, it seems the feeling is that David Byrne has good taste, but Talking Heads sucked. My impression was that they were always sort of "uncool."

I remember when I was in high school - early to mid 80s, and I tried to buy a Talking Heads album, and the long haired rock critic wannabe rocker dude at the counter ridiculed me and told me to put it back because I should be embarrassed to have it. Being really wimpy back then, I did what I was told. The one good thing was that I picked up the VU live album with the lady's butt on the cover. He approved of that. I also got an Incredible String Band album - The 5,000 Spirits... my boyfriend at the time went dutch on this one with me, we hated it (I like it now), and he insisted that we take it back, he *made* me take it back, but of course I had to do the dirty work, and scary rocker dude was visibly irritated and I was trembling at the record counter. God, was I a wuss. But I have all of those albums now. Anyway, I think I don't like TH because I'm always reminded of that episode whenever the subject comes up.

― Kerry Keane, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Wow. HOw can you not like Talkin Heads? I feel very scared now for the world. :(

― Mike Hanle y, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I agree with Mike. I immediately discount anyone who can't recognize the genius of Talking Heads. Do your homework, kids. They were the definite article. Radiohead are mere pretenders to the throne....and spectacularly overrated.

― Motel Hell, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't think that Radiohead are very relevant to THeads, or vice versa. They're just very very different. I don't know how this misleading comparison has crept into the discussion.

(I like Talking Heads a lot. I like the first Radiohead LP too, but my CD of it was stolen.)

― the pinefox, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Well, for a start, Radiohead take their name from a Talking Heads song (off TRUE STORIES).

― alex in nyc, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You're right, of course - I forgot that. It used to be so obvious, but the word 'Radiohead' has become naturalized.

― the pinefox, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Talking Heads were awesome, if only for "I Zimbra". David Byrne has a supremely annoying voice, yet it somehow matches the songwriting. I don't think you can seperate the two and have as great a result (see how most of Byrne's solo stuff sucks cows).

― Dan Perry, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"I agree with Mike. I immediately discount anyone who can't recognize the genius of Talking Heads. Do your homework, kids."

I'm confused. Could you and Suburban Record Store Black T-Shirt Man (mentioned above) settle this one for me? Seems we have two competing versions of "history" here, and as a practicing wuss (albeit an over-30 one), I will defer to the judgment of the victor. As a bonus, the winner gets a column in the local suburban music magazine of his choice.

"They were the definite article."

NO. That was The The.

― Kerry Keane, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Sucks Cows".......I'm going to have to remember that.

In addition to "I Zimbra," what about "Crosseyed & Painless," "Life During Wartime," "Love=>a Building on Fire," "Born Under Punches," "Heaven," "Memories Can't Wait," "Lifetime Piling Up,"...and, yes,...."Psycho Killer."

Talking Heads were SOOOO MUCH MOOOORE than just "Burnin' Down the House."

At the end of the day, I reckon it's all a matter of taste, but you cannot take away the fact that Talking Heads broke new ground and paved the way for countless bands.

― alex in nyc, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't have to like something to acknowledge it had an influence. Bruce Springsteen, in my humble opinion, deserves flaming hot death. Clearly he has had an influence over time, regardless.

Talking Heads may have 'busted down doors,' yadda yadda ya. Whatever, folks, that doesn't change the fact that I DON'T LIKE THEM. If you don't like that fact, go to hell -- and I mean that as politely as possible, but the point is, you're not me and I'm not you. Didn't we already have that type of discussion on the Elvis Costello thread?

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

All of Remain in Light is freakin magestic. I turn that way up in my phones at night when its dark . Just like the instructions for listening to MIND BOMB.

― Mike Hanle y, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I totally understand Ned not enjoying Bruce Springsteen's music but I'm a little baffled by the vehemence of his hatred. Bruce seems like a nice enough guy. Then again maybe you could say the same about Celine Dion, whose hot flaming death I definitely wouldn't complain about. But Springsteen is way easier to avoid, at least around here. That live album pretty much sank like a stone, didn't it ?

― Patrick, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bruce may in fact be a charming and erudite dinner companion. His music makes me want to kill. It's just a simple step up. ;-)

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Aargh.

― Patrick, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Gotta agree with Ned there. Bruce seems like a very amiable, informed, nice gent, but his music makes me want to gouge out my eardrums with a rusty screwdriver. All those parping saxophones....ick.

― alex in nyc, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

That's another question I have, actually. Over on that sax thread I asked what everybody's beef was against saxophones and nobody really answered. That one genuinely surprised me, I had no idea that there was such an anti-sax sentiment out there.

― Patrick, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think the problem with saxophones is in part this -- a fine instrument, invented by Belgians and transformed by Americans, it has thanks to such songs as Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" and more importantly various knockoffs and things become the type of thing which now instantly evokes atmospheres of eighties AOR ballads and the accompanying videos designed by people who never in fact lived in the city and/or were never around the dingier corners at 3 am, apparently.

Picture the scene -- a leathery-faced singer, tan baked right on his sculpted, molded mask of a face, emoting in unclassic Eddie Money/David Coverdale style. The video shows a dark but oh so tastefully lit urban scene in a back alley somewhere or a deserted street, mysteriously without a bit of graffiti anywhere, or trash. Everything seems slick and wet, except that since there's no rain, so clearly it all came from the overexerting sweat glands of our wannabe Tom Jones or whoever. A red Ferrari provides a prop for an artificially enhanced, liposuctioned and equally baked and molded bleach-blonde model to pout moodily over while looking at the camera.

And during some part of this montrosity, a sax solo. Fucking fuck.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 30 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't much like saxophones in pop. But I adore Bruce Springsteen, and sometimes find him an inspiration.

― the pinefox, Saturday, 30 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

pinefox: just to clarify the Radiohead - Talking Heads connection, RH *did* cite "Remain in Light" as a central influence while they were birthing Kid A.

― Mitch Lastnamewithheld, Saturday, 30 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ned : Right, "You Belong To The City". That's convincing enough *L*. I haven't been too traumatized by the stuff, but I see why someone else might be :).

― Patrick, Saturday, 30 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ah thank you, that's a perfect example. What fucking tripe. Glenn Frey, a master of nothing.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 30 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one year passes...

I am a faggot and to be qwite honest.... I love David Byrne and his counterpart "LIKE HUMANS DO".

― Lammy, Monday, 16 December 2002 07:13 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm going to fill a CD with covers of "You Belong To The City" and mail it to Ned.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 16 December 2002 19:22 (twenty-three years ago)

Tim H - ahh so it was Mark Morris, not me!

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Monday, 16 December 2002 19:25 (twenty-three years ago)

three years pass...

Recalled to life

― Mr Jones (Mr Jones), Sunday, 5 February 2006 07:42 (twenty years ago)

I'm going to interrupt his I Love Powerpoint thing and shout "HEY BYRNE, DO YOU LEIK TEH COCK IN TEH ASS?"

― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!! (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Sunday, 5 February 2006 07:52 (twenty years ago)

wow, Ned used to be a meanie back in those days, his posts since i've been reading (6 months or so) are a model of wit and even-temperedness (is that even a word?)

― gordo heavyfoot (van dover), Sunday, 5 February 2006 08:20 (twenty years ago)

well, he's just sort of an dork who fronts all "nice guy" all the time, but kind of just a moron. check out the original Jeff Buckley thread, that one is high-larious. just a guy who got beat up in high school for his shitty anglophilia -- richly deserved -- and now he takes it out on the rest of us by bum-rushing threads with his inanities all day long; to be ignored.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Sunday, 5 February 2006 08:36 (twenty years ago)

Sir, you are a scholar and a patriot.

Those damn anglaphiles drive on the right hand side o' the road and never listened to The Clash! Never eat Nachos and BUD! BOO-YAHHHH!

― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!! (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!), Sunday, 5 February 2006 08:47 (twenty years ago)

Who bit off your dick Diamond?

― Trayce (trayce), Sunday, 5 February 2006 08:49 (twenty years ago)

I'm glad to hear folks say Talking Heads are overrated.

― Bimble brings a lawn chair to antartica so he can sit and drink silver coff (Bim, Sunday, 5 February 2006 11:44 (twenty years ago)

David Byrne lives down the street from me, actually, and he's often spotted with a child or two whom I believe are his own.
-- alex in nyc (vassife...), June 28th, 2001.
he stole tina weymouth's little girl for a week in 1986 , nothing sexual .

― retroboy, Sunday, 5 February 2006 12:04 (twenty years ago)

Nothing to do with the topic at hand - I just wanna congratulate Ned (5 years too late) for that paragraph evoking EXACTLY those qualities that make people hate the saxophone. (A hatred which is, of course, entirely undesereved and the justification 75% non-musical.)

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Sunday, 5 February 2006 17:04 (twenty years ago)

: S

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 5 February 2006 17:19 (twenty years ago)

I like the Heads, and NY is all right if you like saxophones. And I like saxophones - except when Kenny G plays one.

― Uncle Tom (Uncle Tom), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 20:23 (twenty years ago)

I can't believe ned doesn't like talking heads!

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 20:29 (twenty years ago)

nor can i believe he thinks bruce springsteen deserves flaming hot death!

this thread is a revelation

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 20:34 (twenty years ago)

Q: Are saxophones "straight" ?

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 20:38 (twenty years ago)

A: Soprano saxes are.

― EZ Snappin (afka Erik the Mainer) (EZSnappin), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 21:42 (twenty years ago)

Was Marvin Gaye?

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 21:52 (twenty years ago)

His new project is a "song cycle" or some such about Imelda Marcos. Imelda Marcos had lots of shoes. Draw your own conclusions.

― Eppy (Eppy), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 22:14 (twenty years ago)

Also, he likes the Arcade Fire. I think. or some other gay-ass band.

― Eppy (Eppy), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 22:19 (twenty years ago)

soprano saxes are what kenny g plays - thus they are flamingly gay.

― Uncle Tom (Uncle Tom), Wednesday, 8 February 2006 02:02 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

I wish i had ran him over when i had the chance last year in Manila. What a sight white gay and over the hill crusing around a thrid world shithole and thinking he is cool by leting us know what a hell hole it is. Bet you at the end of the day he drove his little boy scooter in to a five star hotel.

― jeoy boy, Tuesday, 30 May 2006 19:09 (twenty years ago)

I wish i had ran him over when i had the chance last year in Manila. What a sight white gay and over the hill crusing around a thrid world shithole and thinking he is cool by letting us know what a hell hole it is. Bet you at the end of the day he drove his little boy scooter in to a five star hotel.

― jeoy boy, Tuesday, 30 May 2006 19:11 (twenty years ago)

This is Ned Raggett as Mr. Edward Hyde.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 19:47 (twenty years ago)

'Proof positive that it is not critically acceptable to dislike David Byrne/Talking Heads. It is basically a consensus other than me... '

Yes, Talking Heads are about as critically unassailable as it gets. And David Byrne albums may now get panned or ignored but I agree that as a bohemian elder statesman he is bulletproof. He and Bowie are very similar in that regard.

― Carlos Keith (Buck_Wilde), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 20:24 (twenty years ago)

Looking at the responses upthread, it's striking how popular winds shift. It's true that up until 2002 the Heads attracted few new fans.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 20:36 (twenty years ago)

You know when a sax sounds good? When it's in a garage or rockabilly band, and it's restricted to playing the main guitar riff, Happy Days style.

― registered ratty (registered ratty), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 21:10 (twenty years ago)

This is Ned Raggett as Mr. Edward Hyde.

Well, you know. (I'm still amused at Stormy up there, hadn't noticed that until now. I like how he obsesses over me and I don't think anything about him!)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 21:42 (twenty years ago)

Anyway, my judgments back in 2001 remain valid. Yup.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 21:42 (twenty years ago)

Ned, you know I was talking about jeoy boy, right?

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 22:00 (twenty years ago)

He sounded like the Monster of Id version of your ire upthread.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 22:06 (twenty years ago)

and obviously this nice little curio isn't a fuckin' pimple on the ass of the artists mentioned in the ridiculous thread title. but then again ... well, anglophilia/listening-skills etc...
-- Stormy Davis (electrifyingmoj...), October 15th, 2005.

Ned, sticking up for a canonical artist? Seems unlikely. Never seen the guy post to ONE fucking jazz thread before. He basically likes to shit all over threads where people are excited about the work of geniuses. That's what anglophilia does to you, I guess. But maybe I was wrong, who knows. If he's sticking up for Trane, too little, too late from the douche. Cried wolf too many times.
-- Stormy Davis (electrifyingmoj...), August 18th, 2005.

oh I just think anglophilia in general is just endlessly laughable. it's just so fucking foreign to me. sure, use country-of-origin as aesthetic-criteria! no skin off my nose. if you have no idea how to parse out what players do with their instruments you tend to fall into the "wash over you" scheme of things. it's cool. give me 100 Led Zeppelin JOnes/Bonham tracks before I pick up one ridiculous Bauhaus piece of nonsense; but that's just me. long day on the ol internet, eh Ragget? one hell of a life you have. I did crack up a few minutes ago when I saw Ragget show up on a fuckin WORLD MUSIC thread for crissakes. Hahah Ragget "holding forth" on world music. hilarious. back to the Cure COMPANT CISC recordings thrad w. u raget
-- Stormy Davis (electrifyingmoj...), May 8th, 2005.

god what a pathetic group. I don't think it's IMPOSSIBLE for brits to get rhtythm and swing correct -- obviously Ward/Butler, Kerslake/Thain, Shirley/Ridley and so forth show that it COULD be done -- but this garbage is horrid. What kind of horrific anglophile spends a hard-won saturday listening to this garbage??
-- Stormy Davis (electrifyingmoj...), May 8th, 2005.

Scott, as is often the case, you speak for me. Those vocals are horrendous. I think maybe you have to be some kind of anglophile, a disease with which I, thankfully, was never stricken.
-- Broheems (electrifyingmoj...), June 7th, 2004.

Very kick-ass guitarist, very kick-ass vocalist, great taste in music/covers; had a great, sympathetic band. You'd have to be musically illiterate not to recognize his talents, even if you didn't like the particular idiom within which he worked... But then, ILM is a festering cesspool of anglophile/musical-illiterates...
-- Stormy Davis (electrifyingmoj...), May 26th, 2005.

I'm just answering the question! I'm allowed to, right? If the thread said, "let us praise the Pet Shop Boys", I would admit that I like a single here and there. Or I wouldn't say anything at all. But the thread asked a question, and I answered. And while I'm here I'll put in a word for the dear departed Oscar Brown, Jr. -- I think this great man, who just passed away, did a lot to enrich a lot of lives, even if yr avg anglophile fucknut doesn't care who he is, and so he should probably be celebrated a little bit too. Not as much as the Pet Shop Boys of course, but a little bit.
-- Stormy Davis (electrifyingmoj...), June 14th, 2005.

I've never even *heard* of "Stardust", owner of the 184th best song ever. Then again at no point in my life have I ever been an anglophile, thank fucking god.
-- Broheems (electrifyingmoj...), November 25th, 2003.

hehehehe, well, I actually have a ton of respect for Dan. He's a cool guy, I think. I have respect for Dan BECAUSE I know that he knows where he's coming from. He's a smart guy. Whereas Ned is just an anglophile dweeb who uses country-of-origin as his primary aesthetic criteria; beyond that, he's lost at sea.... But it's fun riling up the hivemind.
-- Stormy Davis (electrifyingmoj...), June 15th, 2005.

I don't know about scaring the guy away or anything ... I mean, I'm all for being an asshole at times ... but I dunno, I couldn't really see any reason to be negative! Better this guy actually contributing something to the community than random english dudes spamming noise board threads with candy raver nonsense. and that Bimble dood needs to get one non-anglophile taste and shut his pie hole.
-- Stormy Davis (electrifyingmoj...), April 22nd, 2005.

yeah, doods, let's make this a Sebadoh search and destroy. Did you know there are NO Sebadoh threads on ILM? I didn't want to start this over there though. Sebadoh are such whipping boys. I didn't want some stupid Anglophile piece of shit crapping my thread negative.
-- Stormy Davis (electrifyingmoj...), March 2nd, 2005.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 22:10 (twenty years ago)

Stormy once called me a "pathetic popist."

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 22:43 (twenty years ago)

A papist? Why, you catholic you.

Ned, you know I was talking about jeoy boy, right?

I was flattered either way. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 22:45 (twenty years ago)

it has never occurred to me that Ned could be considered "an anglophile" (at least not in the same way one could consider Geir a "europhile")

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 22:45 (twenty years ago)

Well, I've got my clear biases -- c'mon, my favorite groups ever are MBV and the Chameleons! But there's a lot of crap from that neck of the woods, just as there is from anywhere.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 22:47 (twenty years ago)

jaymc = fileophile

― lil' merzbow wow (haitch), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 22:48 (twenty years ago)

well yeah I know you like a lot of shoegaze stuff and 90s britpop (hey so do I) but I've never seen you privelege music from the isles over any other, or gone on any "British people play like THIS, Americans play like THAT" cultural agenda spiel...

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 22:49 (twenty years ago)

MORE ANGRY NED PLZ KTHXBYE

― Edward Bax (EdBax), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 23:07 (twenty years ago)

Grr! Etc.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 23:11 (twenty years ago)

I am an unrepentant Raggettphile.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 00:38 (twenty years ago)

Thank you, PayPal's in the e-mail.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 00:41 (twenty years ago)

IMPOSSIBLE for brits to get rhtythm

I liked that.

― ratty, Wednesday, 31 May 2006 01:06 (twenty years ago)

eleven months pass...

Quite how Radiohead sees something worthwhile in them is an utter mystery to this day.

http://www.metroactive.com/metro/07.19.06/gifs/thom-yorke-0629.jpg

― gershy, Friday, 18 May 2007 06:20 (nineteen years ago)

"Radiohead....now *THERE'S* your wildly overrated band."

that's something to stand behind, and shout wildly about!
strange how it shows up in a 'is david byrne gay' thread, but
still. i agree x 150 billion. can't see the appeal.

is DB gay? still a mystery. not one i care to solve.
does anyone even care about that stuff anymore?

― edde, Friday, 18 May 2007 16:48 (nineteen years ago)

I didn't think anyone could not like Ned Raggett. This thread actually shocked me a little.

― Manalishi, Friday, 18 May 2007 17:01 (nineteen years ago)

this thread reminds me of that story about Tina Weymouth calling people and telling them that David Byrne has a "baby penis."

― Alex in Baltimore, Friday, 18 May 2007 17:18 (nineteen years ago)

Cold calling? Like out of the phone book?

― Jon Lewis, Friday, 18 May 2007 17:20 (nineteen years ago)

I didn't think anyone could not like Ned Raggett. This thread actually shocked me a little.

Eh? *rereads upthread* Oh yeah, that. His cross to bear!

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 18 May 2007 17:29 (nineteen years ago)

wait is that a picture of dog latin up there?

― pretzel walrus, Friday, 18 May 2007 17:32 (nineteen years ago)

I don't know ANYBODY who likes Talking Heads AT ALL.

Eh, I like them. Not all of them, but definitely the Eno stuff, and Stop Making Sense.

― The Real Dirty Vicar, Friday, 18 May 2007 20:03 (nineteen years ago)

I don't know ANYBODY who likes Talking Heads AT ALL.

Maybe you're hanging out with people without taste.

― Alex in NYC, Friday, 18 May 2007 21:00 (nineteen years ago)

No, he is going out with Cindy Sherman.

― iago g., Friday, 18 May 2007 21:33 (nineteen years ago)

one year passes...

I'm going to interrupt his I Love Powerpoint thing and shout "HEY BYRNE, DO YOU LEIK TEH COCK IN TEH ASS?"
― ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!! (ESTEBAN BUTTEZ~!!!)

vintage estie

― velko, Monday, 23 March 2009 10:12 (seventeen years ago)

He wore a white tutu when he performed here last month or whatever. Does that mean he's gay?

― Sleep Tundra (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Monday, 23 March 2009 10:18 (seventeen years ago)

I actually don't think he's gay, but whatever. I'm not a big fan of David Byrne, so I'll let the fans decide.

― Sleep Tundra (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Monday, 23 March 2009 10:19 (seventeen years ago)

Byrne married costume designer Adelle Lutz in 1987. They have a daughter, Malu Abeni Valentine Byrne, born in 1989. Byrne and Lutz divorced in 2004. Byrne currently lives in New York City.

― Mark G, Monday, 23 March 2009 10:22 (seventeen years ago)

it took her 17 years to discover the truth

― velko, Monday, 23 March 2009 10:29 (seventeen years ago)

http://media.seattleweekly.com/david-byrne-and-his-tutu-at-benaroya-hall.3044130.36.jpg

― Sleep Tundra (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Monday, 23 March 2009 10:32 (seventeen years ago)

ooh, slopey pic link!

― Mark G, Monday, 23 March 2009 10:35 (seventeen years ago)

also is morrisey?

LOL

― Sacco, Vanzetti, Passantino... (Tom D.), Monday, 23 March 2009 11:57 (seventeen years ago)

No, he is going out with Cindy Sherman.

Was this true though?

― Say what you like Professor Words (Ned Trifle II), Monday, 23 March 2009 12:47 (seventeen years ago)

jesus what a weird thread. Talking Heads dislike is pretty much an impossible concept for me to wrap my head around.

― if you like it then you shoulda put a donk on it (bernard snowy), Monday, 23 March 2009 13:07 (seventeen years ago)

I like them okay, but they were ubiquitous in the eighties. Admit it, they had to die.

― u s steel, Tuesday, 24 March 2009 02:27 (seventeen years ago)

actually, i have it from an impeccable source that DB bedded down a very hot friend of a friend at Barnard back in the late 80s--the one night stand ended badly for her, however, as she woke to find 1/2 a shit dangling from his ass over her face. Psycho killer, anyone?

― iago g., Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:15 (seventeen years ago)

Was he running in the same circles as Karen Finley & Holly Hughes back then? It might have been a conceptual thing.

― 2 ears + 1 ❤ (Pillbox), Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:24 (seventeen years ago)

making flippy floppy

― velko, Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:28 (seventeen years ago)

no, this was a real honest to goodness, picked up a beautiful senior, they did it, she was asleep, and opened her eyes to a Once in a Lifetime view of his butt up close,centimeters away, and #2 coming out...i mean, at first it seems odd, but then think of his general persona. not such a stretch, told to me by the most honest person i've ever met..

― iago g., Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:29 (seventeen years ago)

Those rock stars think they can just shit on anyone, and then walk away scott free.

― 2 ears + 1 ❤ (Pillbox), Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:32 (seventeen years ago)

4-ply scott?

― iago g., Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:36 (seventeen years ago)

Sort of makes me rethink "The Overload," at least.

― 2 ears + 1 ❤ (Pillbox), Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:37 (seventeen years ago)

I must say, this charming little vignette hasn't really changed my view of TH...so-so, sometimes really good BUT there is something about art-music couples of a certain age in new york that is just nauseating. lou reed and laurie anderson are like the harry and leona helmsley of downtown...and lou is leona. Barf--what a jerk.

― iago g., Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:39 (seventeen years ago)

well played.

― iago g., Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:40 (seventeen years ago)

do you think "sing into my mouth" was a mistype?

― iago g., Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:40 (seventeen years ago)

Oh man, he put out a solo album in 2004 called Grown Backwards. In general, the connotative possibilities are such that maybe this subject deserves its own thread.

― 2 ears + 1 ❤ (Pillbox), Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:48 (seventeen years ago)

Lost my shape-Trying to act casual!
Can't stop-I might end up in the hospital
I'm changing my shape-I feel like an accident
They're back!-To explain their experience

Isn't it weird/Looks too obscure to me
Wasting away/And that was their policy

I'm ready to leave-I push the fact in front of me
Facts lost-Facts are never what they seem to be
Nothing there!-No information left of any kind
Lifting my head-Looking for danger signs

There was a line/There was a formula
Sharp as a knife/Facts cut a hole in us
There was a line/There was a forula
Sharp as a knife/Facts cut a hole in us

I'm still waiting...I'm still waiting...I'm still
waiting...
I'm still waiting...I'm still waiting...I'm still
waiting...
I'm still waiting...I'm still waiting...
The feeling returns/Whenever we close out eyes
Lifting my head/looking around inside

― 2 ears + 1 ❤ (Pillbox), Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:50 (seventeen years ago)

Coprophilia is sorta gay.

― u s steel, Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:54 (seventeen years ago)

In terms of sexual-orientation, coprophila knows no boundaries. Plus, poop was pretty popular with the NYC performance art scene back then, so there you go..

― 2 ears + 1 ❤ (Pillbox), Tuesday, 24 March 2009 05:01 (seventeen years ago)

I don't think my little anecdote--which I now feel a tad guilty sharing--counts as "performance art"

― iago g., Tuesday, 24 March 2009 11:13 (seventeen years ago)

Lou Reed was accused of the same vice

― Sacco, Vanzetti, Passantino... (Tom D.), Tuesday, 24 March 2009 11:15 (seventeen years ago)

Lou, really?...between the guy who told me and the woman he was referring to, whom i knew very slightly, i can't doubt it's true but feel bad for posting it.

― iago g., Tuesday, 24 March 2009 23:48 (seventeen years ago)

A+ revive

― I think no pants is sexy. (Matt P), Tuesday, 24 March 2009 23:55 (seventeen years ago)

someone on this thread said I was dating Cindy Sherman.

met David Byrne in New York recently. We were riffing casually on the brilliance of Brazilian avant bossa man Tom Ze when suddenly I noticed that David's hand was on my knee. 'David, are you gay?' I blurted. He leaped up onto the bar and, lit by a pink follow spot, began to dance a stick-man samba, periodically buffeted by imaginary blasts of hot wind. He looked like an epileptic flamingo. Franz Kafka, who was standing nearby sucking on a strawberry sour, turned to me and said 'That man certainly can make flippy floppy'.
― Momus, Thursday, 28 June 2001

now those WERE the days, my friends.

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 25 March 2009 12:04 (seventeen years ago)

Yes, Talking Heads are about as critically unassailable as it gets. And David Byrne albums may now get panned or ignored but I agree that as a bohemian elder statesman he is bulletproof. He and Bowie are very similar in that regard.

But it's easy to forget that up to and including "Earthling", Bowie had become something of a joke and was routinely mocked by the press for his pretentions towards art/trendiness(reviews grumbled that he hadn't done anything worthwhile since "Scary Monsters"). This change in perception of him being "unassailable" is something I'm sure has only come about more recently. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if it coincided with his decision to start playing his "classic" material again, which I believe he spent most of the nineties refusing to touch with a big stick. I'm not sure what my point was.

― Pheeel, Wednesday, 25 March 2009 13:14 (seventeen years ago)

xpost ...... I didn't realise that about Bowie.. and if true, I consider that strange since all those 70's albums had Rykodisc re-releases during the 90's.. The first time I decided I wanted to start listening past his greatest hits was when I saw Live At The 10 Spot on MTV in 1997.. there were hardly any hits played in that special except for "Fame" and "All The Young Dudes.." I was compelled by the simple fact that he DIDN'T play all radio hits, and instead opted for stuff like "Quicksand" and "Look Back In Anger.." yeah anyway, this is a byrne thread i believe..

― billstevejim, Thursday, 26 March 2009 06:15 (seventeen years ago)

sixteen years pass...

Surely the classic urban myth about David Byrne was that he was straight - but with a particular requirement
― Mark Morris, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

this might be the first mention of the "urban legend" on the internet!

― kurt schwitterz, Tuesday, 9 December 2025 19:13 (six months ago)

and from a famed choreographer no less

― Modollno Kahn (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, 9 December 2025 20:52 (six months ago)

He's By.

― The Luda of Suburbia (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 9 December 2025 20:52 (six months ago)

byrne is definitely kinkarooni imo

― map, Tuesday, 9 December 2025 21:10 (six months ago)

gay for barbecue
(i’ve told this before that on hie bigupped a favorite barbecue place of mine in Charlottesville)

― Modollno Kahn (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, 9 December 2025 22:11 (six months ago)

on his bike across america blog

― Modollno Kahn (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, 9 December 2025 22:11 (six months ago)

byrne should compete with guy fieri he has the hair for it

― map, Tuesday, 9 December 2025 22:12 (six months ago)

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