David Byrne

David Byrne (; born May 14, 1952) is an American musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker. He was a founding member and the principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of the new wave band Talking Heads. Byrne was born in Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, and moved to the US with his family as a child. He co-founded Talking Heads in 1975 in New York City. After releasing eight albums, including seven certified gold or platinum, Talking Heads disbanded in 1991. Byrne has released solo recordings and worked with media including film, photography, opera, fiction, and non-fiction. He has collaborated with artists including Brian Eno, Fatboy Slim, X-Press 2 and St. Vincent. Byrne has received an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a Special Tony Award, and a Golden Globe Award, and was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Talking Heads.

Infobox

Born

(1952-05-14) May 14, 1952 (age 73)Dumbarton, Scotland

Citizenship

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Occupations

Singer songwriter musician record producer music theorist visual artist actor writer filmmaker

Years active

1971–present

Spouses

mw- Adelle Lutz (m. 1987; div. 2004) Mala Gaonkar (m. 2025)

Children

Origin

Arbutus, Maryland, U.S.

Genres

Rock new wave art pop worldbeat

Instruments

Vocals guitar keyboards

Labels

Matador Todo Mundo Luaka Bop Nonesuch Thrill Jockey Sire Warner Bros.

Formerly of

Talking Heads

Website

davidbyrne.com

Tables

· Discography and other works › Soundtracks and music for theater

Year

Album details

1981

Year

1981

Album details

The Catherine Wheel Released: November 1981 Labels: Sire

Peak chart positions

104

Peak chart positions

—

Notes

Music for the 1981 Twyla Tharp dance production The Catherine Wheel.

1985

Year

1985

Album details

Music for "The Knee Plays" Released: May 1985 Labels: ECM

Peak chart positions

141

Peak chart positions

—

Notes

Music for Philip Glass and Robert Wilson's play The Civil Wars: A Tree Is Best Measured When It Is Down. Re-released as The Knee Plays in 2007.

1986

Year

1986

Album details

Sounds from True Stories Released: 1986 Labels: Sire

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Notes

Soundtrack to the film True Stories.

1987

Year

1987

Album details

The Last Emperor Released: 1987 Labels: Virgin

Peak chart positions

152

Peak chart positions

—

Notes

Score to the film The Last Emperor, composed with Ryuichi Sakamoto and Cong Su.

1991

Year

1991

Album details

The Forest Released: June 1991 Labels: Luaka Bop/Warner Bros.

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Notes

Music for the 1988 Robert Wilson theatre piece The Forest.

1999

Year

1999

Album details

Your Action World Released: January 1, 1999 Labels: Self-released

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Notes

Music for Byrne's art presentation of Your Action World.

1999

Year

1999

Album details

In Spite of Wishing and Wanting Released: 1999 Labels: Self-released

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Notes

Music for the Ultima Vez dance production In Spite of Wishing and Wanting.

2003

Year

2003

Album details

E.E.E.I. (Envisioning Emotional Epistemological Information) Released: July 2, 2003 Labels: Self-released

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Notes

Music for Byrne's speaking tour and PowerPoint presentation.

2003

Year

2003

Album details

Lead Us Not into Temptation Released: September 30, 2003 Labels: Thrill Jockey

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Notes

Soundtrack to the film Young Adam.

2008

Year

2008

Album details

Big Love: Hymnal Released: August 19, 2008 Labels: Todo Mundo/HBO/Playtone

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Notes

Soundtrack to the second season of Big Love.

2010

Year

2010

Album details

Here Lies Love Released: April 6, 2010 Labels: Todomundo/Nonesuch

Peak chart positions

Notes

With Fatboy Slim. A disco song cycle occasionally given staged performances.

2019

Year

2019

Album details

American Utopia on Broadway Original Cast Recording Released: October 25, 2019 Labels: Nonesuch

Peak chart positions

—

Peak chart positions

—

Notes

Original cast recording of the Broadway production of American Utopia.

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions		Notes
Year	Album details	US	UK	Notes
1981	The Catherine Wheel Released: November 1981 Labels: Sire	104	—	Music for the 1981 Twyla Tharp dance production The Catherine Wheel.
1985	Music for "The Knee Plays" Released: May 1985 Labels: ECM	141	—	Music for Philip Glass and Robert Wilson's play The Civil Wars: A Tree Is Best Measured When It Is Down. Re-released as The Knee Plays in 2007.
1986	Sounds from True Stories Released: 1986 Labels: Sire	—	—	Soundtrack to the film True Stories.
1987	The Last Emperor Released: 1987 Labels: Virgin	152	—	Score to the film The Last Emperor, composed with Ryuichi Sakamoto and Cong Su.
1991	The Forest Released: June 1991 Labels: Luaka Bop/Warner Bros.	—	—	Music for the 1988 Robert Wilson theatre piece The Forest.
1999	Your Action World Released: January 1, 1999 Labels: Self-released	—	—	Music for Byrne's art presentation of Your Action World.
1999	In Spite of Wishing and Wanting Released: 1999 Labels: Self-released	—	—	Music for the Ultima Vez dance production In Spite of Wishing and Wanting.
2003	Envisioning Emotional Epistemological Information) Released: July 2, 2003 Labels: Self-released	—	—	Music for Byrne's speaking tour and PowerPoint presentation.
2003	Lead Us Not into Temptation Released: September 30, 2003 Labels: Thrill Jockey	—	—	Soundtrack to the film Young Adam.
2008	Big Love: Hymnal Released: August 19, 2008 Labels: Todo Mundo/HBO/Playtone	—	—	Soundtrack to the second season of Big Love.
2010	Here Lies Love Released: April 6, 2010 Labels: Todomundo/Nonesuch	96	76	With Fatboy Slim. A disco song cycle occasionally given staged performances.
2019	American Utopia on Broadway Original Cast Recording Released: October 25, 2019 Labels: Nonesuch	—	—	Original cast recording of the Broadway production of American Utopia.

· Discography and other works › Film and television

1984

Stop Making Sense

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Concert film from Talking Heads tour; also composer

1992

Between the Teeth – Live

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

VHS release; also composer

2004

David Byrne Live at Union Chapel

Role(s)

Himself

2010

Ride, Rise, Roar

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Concert documentary

2020

American Utopia

Role(s)

Himself

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1984	Stop Making Sense	Himself	Concert film from Talking Heads tour; also composer
1992	Between the Teeth – Live	Himself	VHS release; also composer
2004	David Byrne Live at Union Chapel	Himself
2010	Ride, Rise, Roar	Himself	Concert documentary
2020	American Utopia	Himself

· Discography and other works › Film and television

1979

Saturday Night Live

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Episode: "Cicely Tyson/Talking Heads"

1986

True Stories

Role(s)

The Narrator

Notes

Feature film; also director, writer, composer

1987

The Last Emperor

Role(s)

—

Notes

Feature film; composer

1988

Married to the Mob

Role(s)

—

Notes

Feature film; composer

1989

Heavy Petting

Role(s)

—

Notes

Documentary; interviewed subject

Saturday Night Live

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Episode: "Woody Harrelson/David Byrne"

1995

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Episode: "Fire Drill"

2003

Young Adam

Role(s)

—

Notes

Feature film; composer

2003, 2012

Role(s)

The Simpsons

Notes

Himself (voice)

2007

Big Love

Role(s)

—

Notes

12 episodes; composer

2011

This Must Be the Place

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Feature film

2016

Contemporary Color

Role(s)

—

Notes

Feature film; composer

2019

John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Children's musical comedy special

2020

Saturday Night Live

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Episode: "John Mulaney/David Byrne"

2025

Étoile

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

(S01:E05) "The Rat"

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1979	Saturday Night Live	Himself	Episode: "Cicely Tyson/Talking Heads"
1986	True Stories	The Narrator	Feature film; also director, writer, composer
1987	The Last Emperor	—	Feature film; composer
1988	Married to the Mob	—	Feature film; composer
1989	Heavy Petting	—	Documentary; interviewed subject
1989	Ile Aiye (The House of Life)	—	Documentary; composer
1989	Saturday Night Live	Himself	Episode: "Woody Harrelson/David Byrne"
1995	Space Ghost Coast to Coast	Himself	Episode: "Fire Drill"
2003	Young Adam	—	Feature film; composer
2003, 2012	The Simpsons	Himself (voice)	Episodes: "Dude, Where's My Ranch?", "How I Wet Your Mother"
2007	Big Love	—	12 episodes; composer
2011	This Must Be the Place	Himself	Feature film
2016	Contemporary Color	—	Feature film; composer
2019	John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch	Himself	Children's musical comedy special
2020	Saturday Night Live	Himself	Episode: "John Mulaney/David Byrne"
2025	Étoile	Himself	(S01:E05) "The Rat"

References

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/talking-heads
"The Dumbarton Road to Nowhere"
http://dearscotland.com/2010/04/02/the-dumbarton-road-to-nowhere/
The Daily Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/4986234/David-Byrne-stay-hungry.html
Rolling Stone
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/qa-david-byrne-52229/
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09vz6r1
"2020 Great Immigrants Recipient"
https://www.carnegie.org/awards/honoree/david-byrne/
Time
https://web.archive.org/web/20080115153738/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C962640-8%2C00.html
Gittins, Ian, Talking Heads: Once in a Lifetime : the Stories Behind Every Song, Hal Leonard Corporation, 2004, p. 140 I
Paper
https://www.papermag.com/40-years-late-talking-heads-most-valuable-member-is-still-its-most-under-recognized-1-2482571556.html
Bass Player
https://web.archive.org/web/20090210190543/http://bassplayer.com/article/tina-weymouth/mar-97/5958
Talking Heads Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 15, 2013
http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/talking-heads/bio
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
http://rockhall.com/inductees/ceremonies/2002/
Discogs
https://www.discogs.com/composition/7ab34001-d0f7-416f-9914-17a9f4e16f6a-Gods-Child-Baila-Conmigo
"Tour Dates for David Byrne – Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno"
https://web.archive.org/web/20080822132005/http://www.everythingthathappens.com/tour.html
"DavidByrne.com – Tours"
https://web.archive.org/web/20090316041327/http://www.davidbyrne.com/tours/index.php
The Daily Beast
https://www.thedailybeast.com/videos/2012/08/23/david-byrne-goes-indie
American Utopia
http://www.nonesuch.com/journal/david-byrne-american-utopia-due-march-9-nonesuch-records-announced-2017-01-08
"David Byrne's American Utopia tour might be the most ambitious and impressive live show of all time"
https://www.nme.com/reviews/live/david-byrnes-american-utopia-tour-might-ambitious-impressive-live-show-time
Variety
https://variety.com/2025/music/news/david-byrne-new-album-who-is-the-sky-world-tour-dates-1236424328/
Pitchfork
https://pitchfork.com/news/david-byrne-announces-tour-and-new-album-shares-video-for-new-song-watch/
Song and Circumstance
Film.com
https://web.archive.org/web/20130726014726/http://www.film.com/movies/review-wall-street-money-never-sleeps#fbid=KdR0UiwBhKE
Contemporary Color
http://www.contemporarycolor.com/about/
THE MAKERS SERIES DAVID BYRNE AND MALA GAONKAR Stanford Arts. Access February 9, 2023.
https://arts.stanford.edu/arts-institute/the-makers-series-david-byrne/
ibdb
http://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/american-utopia-522679/
Variety
https://variety.com/2019/music/reviews/david-byrne-american-utopia-broadway-review-1203376072/
EW.com
https://ew.com/tv/2019/12/24/david-byrne-sack-lunch-bunch-cameo-john-mulaney/
Music
https://popculture.com/music/2020/03/01/snl-david-byrne-triumphant-return-over-30-years-saturday-night-live/
JamBase
https://www.jambase.com/article/david-byrne-saturday-night-live-videos
"Theater of the Mind" Invites Audiences to Revisit—and Rethink—Their Past The New Yorker. Access February 9, 2023.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/theater-of-the-mind-invites-audiences-to-revisit-and-rethink-their-past
Take a Trip Through David Byrne's Mind Smithsonian Magazine. Access February 9, 2023.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/david-byrnes-theater-of-the-mind-180980778/
Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-theater-of-david-byrnes-mind/id152249110?i=1000581927918
Archive.today
https://archive.today/20150419222152/http://jack.mauveweb.co.uk/artists/thompson/19920324.html
David Byrne to Provide Promotional Music for Windows XP: "Like Humans Do" to Give Music Fans a Taste of the Digital Musi
https://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2001/aug01/08-01DavidByrnePR.mspx
You May Find Yourself On Windows XP Forbes.com by Davide Dukcevich, August 21, 2001. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
https://www.forbes.com/2001/08/21/0821byrne.html
Drowned in Sound
https://web.archive.org/web/20201201105653/https://drownedinsound.com/releases/5416/reviews/3648-
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/mar/12/popandrock.shopping1
"WIRED Concert and CD: A Study in Collaboration"
https://creativecommons.org/2004/09/28/wiredconcertandcdastudyincollaboration/
NME
https://web.archive.org/web/20080622165612/http://www.nme.com/news/paul-simon/35824
Wired.com
https://web.archive.org/web/20080519033341/http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/05/david-byrne-con.html
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/arts/music/30byrn.html
"David Byrne Playing the Building"
https://web.archive.org/web/20140729105750/http://www.fargfabriken.se/en/archive/item/298-david-byrne
Newsweek
https://web.archive.org/web/20080802041942/http://www.newsweek.com/id/138378
Toronto film festival hit by protest over Tel Aviv strand by Ben Walters, 7 September 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/sep/07/toronto-film-festival-boycott
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2011/may/24/arcade-fire-david-byrne-speaking-in-tongues
Obscure Sound
https://web.archive.org/web/20160201194540/http://www.obscuresound.com/2013/03/ryuichi-sakamoto-david-byrne-psychedelic-afternoon/
Domino
http://www.dominorecordco.us/usa/news/13-05-14/anna-calvi-announces-strange-weather-ep-listen-to-papi-pacify-cover/
AllMusic
https://www.allmusic.com/album/and-the-anonymous-nobody-mw0002947120
NME
https://www.nme.com/news/music/andre-3000-mitski-and-more-to-feature-on-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-soundtrack-3168786
Deadline Hollywood
https://deadline.com/2023/02/oscars-david-byrne-stephanie-hsu-son-lux-perform-this-is-a-life-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-ceremony-1235273011/
"David Byrne & Fatboy Slim Disco Musical 'Here Lies Love' Heading To Broadway"
https://deadline.com/2023/01/david-byrne-fatboy-slim-here-lies-love-broadway-1235218896/
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/30/theater/here-lies-love-david-byrne-musicians.html
"A direct attack on Broadway audiences — and live music"
https://www.local802afm.org/allegro/articles/presidents-report-june-2023/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs4g4f1u5W0/
Here Lies Love
https://playbill.com/article/musicians-union-responds-after-here-lies-love-characterizes-them-as-artistic-gatekeepers
Here Lies Love
https://playbill.com/article/broadways-here-lies-love-changes-course-is-now-hiring-live-musicians
Stereogum
https://www.stereogum.com/2260159/david-byrne-hard-times-paramore-cover/music/
NME
https://www.nme.com/news/music/david-byrne-to-cover-paramores-hard-times-for-record-store-day-2024-3597053
Luakabop.com
http://www.luakabop.com
NPR audio interview 8 July 2000. Npr.org, Retrieved June 11, 2010.
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1076395&ps=rs
"Radio David Byrne"
http://www.davidbyrne.com/radio/index.php
SoundExchange
https://www.soundexchange.com/about/our-team/board-of-directors/
Visual art listing at Byrne's website. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
http://www.davidbyrne.com/art/david_byrne_artbio.php
"David Byrne | Speaker | TED"
https://www.ted.com/speakers/david_byrne
Ted.com
https://www.ted.com/talks/david_byrne_how_architecture_helped_music_evolve
NME
https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/ted-talks-10-music-related-lectures-that-will-enrich-your-day-9354
"(Nothing But) Flowers" with string quartet
https://www.ted.com/talks/david_byrne_ethel_thomas_dolby_nothing_but_flowers_with_string_quartet
Davidbyrne.com
http://davidbyrne.com/emma-byrne
"David Byrne Can't Vote But Hopes You Will". Rolling Stone. November 4, 2008. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
https://web.archive.org/web/20081113152122/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/11/04/david-byrne-cant-vote-but-hopes-you-will/
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/mar/04/david-byrne-i-am-able-to-talk-in-a-social-group-now-american-utopia
youtube.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM1GHhyDc30?si=SJsHV3HWySsg8Oy3&t=1860
NME
https://www.nme.com/news/music/david-byrne-2-10-1237994
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3oHiChsIjNTDe0X8QNDshy
www.bbc.co.uk
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p00yq6c6
This Must Be the Place: The Adventures of Talking Heads in the 20th Century
https://archive.org/details/thismustbeplace00davi
Bowman, p. 235.
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/29/magazine/same-as-he-ever-was.html
Bowman, p. 336.
CBS News Sunday Morning
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/david-byrne-on-american-utopia-and-living-an-optimistic-life/
The Daily Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/4986234/David-Byrne-stay-hungry.html
The Daily Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/3612979/How-the-Talking-Head-learnt-to-sing-from-the-heart.html
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jan/15/cindy-sherman-interview
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/style/malu-byrne-andrew-kuo-david-byrne-wedding.html
KAYO News
https://www.kayofm.com/kayo-country-entertainment-news/
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/style/david-byrne-wedding-mala-gaonkar.html
davidbyrne.com
http://www.davidbyrne.com/archive/art/books/bicycle_diaries/
KCRW Rhythm Planet
https://web.archive.org/web/20160809153034/http://blogs.kcrw.com/rhythmplanet/david-byrne-and-barry-white-what-cars-they-drove/
"David Byrne: Song lyrics are overrated"
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/04/01/ted.david.byrne/
BikePortland.org
http://bikeportland.org/2009/07/23/rockerbike-activist-david-byrne-announces-portland-event-21399
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/09/arts/design/09bike.html
bam.org
https://www.bam.org/visit/david-byrne-bike-racks
Bicycling
https://www.bicycling.com/news/a43769384/david-byrne-met-gala/
Davidbyrne.com
http://www.davidbyrne.com/film/index.php
Davidbyrne.com
http://www.davidbyrne.com/art/david_byrne_artbio.php
Bloomsbury
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/american-utopia-9781635576689/