In 1984, David Byrne helped put together a TV special on the Talking Heads for U.K. TV’s Channel 4, a 68-minute mix of live material filmed at Wembley Arena, interviews with the band, TV news clips, commercials and other various bits of found footage and sound — sort of a visual version of My Life in the Bush of Ghosts set to a live concert soundtrack.
The film — which comes to us via Joey X, and can be seen below — was titled “Once in a Lifetime” when it was broadcast in the U.K., but apparently is known to the band and fans as “Talking Heads vs. Television” (Byrne, credited in the film as “creative consultant,” lists it as such on his website).
Check it out:
‘Talking Heads vs. Television’ (1984)
Songs performed include:
“Life During Wartime”
“Big Blue Plymouth (Eyes Wide Open)”
“Once in A Lifetime”
“Mind”
“Big Business”
“I Zimbra”
“Slippery People”
“Psycho Killer”
“My Big Hands (Fall Though the Cracks)”
“Swamp”
“What A Day That Was”
“Crosseyed And Painless”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Download: David Byrne and St. Vincent release free ‘Brass Tactics’ EP
- Stream: Talking Heads’ early demo of ‘Wild Wild Life’ — single off ‘True Stories’
- Vintage Video: David Byrne’s ‘Between the Teeth’ — watch full 1993 concert film
- Milestones: David Byrne is 60 today — watch full Talking Heads concert filmed in 1980
- Video: Talking Heads play ‘Psycho Killer’ in 1975 — from upcoming ‘Chronology’ DVD
at 3:20 pm
Talking Heads = MTV “Wanna-bee’s”
Television = ‘The Real Thing,’ Punk Rock Forefathers. Little Johnny Jewel (1975)
David Byrne has to resort to “world music” to battle back any sense of cred.