In 1973, Rhode Island School of Design students David Byrne (guitar and vocals) and Chris Frantz (drums), formed a
band, The Artistics. 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. 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. Byrne asked Weymouth to audition three times before she joined the band.
The band played their first gig as Talking Heads opening for the Ramones at CBGBs on June 5, 1975. 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’”. Later that year, the band
recorded a series of demos for CBS, but, surprisingly, 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 Modern Lovers, on keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals. Gary Kurfirst started
managing Talking Heads in 1977.
