In an effort to to promote the re-release of their concert film Stop Making Sense, two years ago David Byrne reunited with Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth. And while the group – who last performed together when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 – could tour again, the now 72-year old artistic legend admitted that is unlikely.
In an interview with England’s Sunday Times Culture magazine, Byrne said:
“I recall we were on TV together and people went, ‘Well, they all seem to be getting along.’ “But no, I don’t think so. On a practical level, trying to recreate the feeling that people had when they were in their early twenties? The time that they first heard that music? That’s a fool’s errand.” “And besides, I’m really enjoying what I’m doing.”
The iconic singer/songwriter’s new solo LP, Who Is the Sky? is his first in seven years and about deliberately trying to avoid writing about getting older, he said “Well, I’m certainly aware I am older. “But I have consciously tried not to write about aging or death approaching. It creeps in, but that is a well-trodden subject by songwriters.”
Admitting that he’s changed over the years and is a lot more “socially comfortable” than he used to be, Byrne added:
“Well, I am quite a bit more socially comfortable than I was.” “I do think music really helped. It’s a cliché, but music is cathartic.” “And it’s also about getting older. Because you can change with time.” “I have friends who’ve told me, ‘David, some things that you did were ridiculous.’ I’d invite people over to my house and then go and hide. I don’t do that any more.”
If people misunderstand his lyrics, the Scottish-born American musician feels he has “failed” as a songwriter and when asked if it’s annoying when people don’t realize what he is singing about, he said: “Well, I cannot help but think I have failed, because I wasn’t able to communicate what I thought I was.”
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Author: Al Denté
Photo: Distributed by Sire Records – Public Domain