David Byrne interview 1983

[@Babils1]

interviewed by Annik Honoré.

[@chadlong1109]

Etienne Vernaeve Was she the woman Ian Curtis left his wife for?

[@chasvonplatten1298]

Annik's sensitivity to her subject is excellent. She allows David Byrne the space to speak freely and with a childlike candor and innocence that is facinating. His insights and perspectives unhindered and facinating.

[@kellygames8183]

@@chasvonplatten1298 Yes Yes that child-like innocence radiates from him like a strobe light that kind of puts one in a trance. It's stunning!

[@davemoore1400]

Etienne Vernaeve Thanks for this interesting fact! 🤙🏻

[@shelbylioness_]

She was probably looking to kill another idol...sorry not a fan

[@grape123]

It comforts me to know someone I look up to so highly has high functioning autism as well, and that they can be attractive and interesting.

[@talkinglegs9606]

I feel the exact same way! It makes me think that if people can like David and think he's cute, then they can think the same way about me! In fact, David is the only reason why I started being myself and not a fake annoying extroverted class clown.

[@sarahwolfmayr2116]

@@talkinglegs9606 same here. I see myself in his way of talking or reacting to other people. And that he has transformed his special way of being in an important part of pop culture is so inspiring. I trust in being myself a lot more now

[@bstardust7439]

Absolutely, and to be such a fucking amazing artist and creative. The socializing may not come easy to him but his art sure as hell does!

[@Dinosaurs_with_laser_guns]

I draw a line between the words Autistic and Authentic.

[@NewWaveEnthusiast]

@@talkinglegs9606 That's scarily relatable to me. Sometimes we just need a role model who isn't afraid to be themselves, (especially if we have the same personality) which can encourage us to be ourselves.

[@worangejuice]

“You can look at the chair but you have to sit in it to understand it” ❤️

[@Dinosaurs_with_laser_guns]

He’s very intelligent

[@mrdave777]

How a man so uncomfortable in his skin during interviews....can transform like he does on stage. Incredible.

[@Boss_Tanaka]

MrDave 777 because on stage you see the real David Byrne. He likes to be seen singing and dancing and expressing himself freely the way he wants and he needs it.He is not uncomfortable with people when doing so because nobody judges him in these moments. An interview is more intimate and requires you to react directly to someone and it s intimidating for someone with poor social skills. Still this guy is a real gentleman

[@mrdave777]

Boss Tanaka I wanted to say you composed a terrific response! Thank you! You worded that perfectly! Their live concert SMS is a masterpiece! I haven’t listened or watched in over a week yet find myself singing bits of songs from that concert throughout the day! When music does that, the artists are on to something! I have a difficult time listening to TH studio albums! I had their greatest hits and liked just a few songs! With that said, SMS took a lot of those songs, perfected them. AND all the artists were at their musical peak! “They’ve enlisted all their family, they’ve enlisted all their friends...”. Another bit I can’t get out of my head!

[@ta617]

@@mrdave777 SMS is easily my favorite concert film :)

[@marthastephens2179]

He's Autistic. Genius .

[@nicolakirton2252]

I think it is amazing that so many people who have similar types of mental illness to the one David Byrne has, turn out to be some of the most artistic people around. I can understand why people such as David Byrne can feel more at home on the stage, a place where you would think they would be their most uncomfortable because they are exposed to hundreds and thousands of people looking at them and possibly judging them. However, that is not what occurs to you when you are on stage, because you can sort of pretend to be someone else while you are on stage, and you can forget your troubles when you on stage,, because you have to concentrate when on stage. So, being on stage can be a form of distraction, something which is very important for people with similar mental illnesses to the Asperger's that David Byrne has, and to people who have depression and anxiety. In my opinion, I think David Byrne and Talking Heads are some of the most iconic people and bands in my lifetime who have been responsible for some of the most iconic songs and lyrics of my lifetime.

[@bellag3739]

God he’s so sweet

[@kellygames8183]

Yup! As sweet as a cupcake!!

[@dewey7726]

I love his voice and i love everything he has to say, it always comforts me knowing there's someone like David Bynre who sees the weirdness of things and questions evrything and talks about things so inteligently

[@kellygames8183]

Yes I'm weird too and proud of it and love this beautiful weirdness!

[@nicolakirton2252]

I always believe in questioning things, something which has been lost, I think, because since the days of Thatcher and Reagan people have neither been taught or encouraged to question things, because the politicians both at the time of Thatcher and Reagan and afterwards consider intelligent and questioning people as a threat to them. All that means is that these politicians, who we were always encouraged to believe were some of the greatest thinkers of our time, and some of the greatest politicians both then and amongst the ones who went before them, is that they were not very intelligent politicians themselves, which is why they were so eager to place everything in the hands of those who paid them the most to support the greediest and most evil policies in the history of politics in the world.

[@glanni]

@@nicolakirton2252 I love this comment! I agree! 💖

[@JamieSwitzer]

He has such a hypnotic stare, and I love how he talks.

[@kellygames8183]

Yes he has such beautiful depth and actually thinks which is rare nowadays.

[@Dan0__]

He could host a children's show...

[@yourfairyking]

@@Dan0__ The theme would be "Stay Up Late".

[@bedwarsgb4523]

@@yourfairykingOr Don’t Worry about the Government

[@pollymahone9392]

his eyes are beautiful

[@Ri5004]

I have aspergers too and I'm glad that I share traits with someone as talented as him.

[@portaccio]

There is so much Aspergers going on here. I support a few young men who are exactly like David in this interview. I really gives me hope for their futures.

[@BillysMum]

Beautiful human being. So measured, so aware, so clever.

[@BoltPin_05]

As a person with autism, I can relate with David, it’s tuff

[@topportret]

very good interview , she let hem talk how he wants and take the time for a answer , she does not push him

[@robertp-i4065]

His bromance with Brian eno is adorable

[@coffeeandpeach]

„Maybe Brussels? Belgium?“ „Maybe. It‘s very nice here“ David is such an incredibly king charming person. he‘s got a heart of gold for sure.

[@yourboyslim348]

What a fascinating individual.

[@flanplan5903]

I love his voice and strange accent...American-Canadian-Scottish (he moved to the United States/Canada at a very young age) with a hint of a Scottish lilt. Very soft spoken and sweet.

[@glanni]

Yes, all that and then his gentle way of talking, very pleasant and beautiful to listen to.

[@juliar9194]

Love how the gentle the voice of the interviewer is, makes this all the more pleasing to watch.

[@lapinpuff]

He's such a beautiful person. The fact he struggles socially and could still give such insightful, intricate answers is very impressive. My hero!!

[@teamyordle23]

What an interesting man

[@yomuin5389]

Whenever I feel like I'm the only one who finds normal things odd, even if I know I can't be the only one. I think of David Byrne.

[@jeffdawson2786]

This is quintessential David Byrne, the way I will always remember him.

[@johnchemist8628]

What an amazing artist. The physicality he brings to his music is amazing.

[@miroslava6199]

He is so sweet and hot at the same time omg

[@remopiccioni9456]

I always loved his music there is no band like the Talking Heads. There is also no one like David Byrne.

[@thomaspane9945]

I always knew David was a little bit off you could see it in his work. That's why I love his work makes me feel sane because I've also always been considered a little bit off. He is so different from his later interviews when he's much older.

[@dougpeters1625]

He is profoundly astute and a very keen observationalist.

[@BanjoLuke1]

This man and his band provided the score for much of my young adult life, maybe late adolescence too. Much of that score still resonates today. It makes me smile that I learned only a few years ago about his place further along the spectrum than many. How obvious it once we've been told. The music is extraordinary. The lyrics and their delivery are sublime. I never saw TH live, bit managed to see DB with a band at Eastnor, UK, about a decade ago. Just as good as I hoped he might be. Lots of TH tracks and even one piece from Bush of Ghosts. A maestro.

[@reiayanami161]

He’s perfect

[@residentenigma7141]

I've been listening to TH/DB for over 30 years now and everything makes sense. He's quite a tricky metaphorical poet. Deserves a Nobel Prize, in my opinion.

[@christofour217]

The most interesting man alive.

[@NewWaveEnthusiast]

He's got a heart of gold I swear

[@caroloneill3924]

He is just gorgeous 😍

[@jamesmcallister1941]

Very talented man love his music!!!

[@bocolatebhipbookie]

Best aspie ever

[@m4inline]

The interviewer is an angel.

[@lovelock444]

god i love him!! david byrne you are amazing. you are brilliant.

[@aggmeister]

I’d love to sit down and talk with him- His tone is comforting and we have similar manners of speech and thinking, it would be nice to have a conversation without any filter of our weirdness. And I do in fact have Asperger’s, and I have quite bizarre interests- I’d like to tell him of all the interesting art I find and study !

[@wearitlikeadiva]

My hubby has Aspergers. I can relate to David so well knowing my hubby’s Aspie characteristics

[@majcrash]

I think it's difficult for extroverts to understand how difficult an interview like this is for an extreme introvert, even if they don't have Autism. It takes a lot of time and practice to become good at it, but it still isn't comfortable, no matter how good you seem on the outside. He has done very well at performing during interviews as he has gotten older, but I am sure they are still very difficult for him.

[@mikeh4441]

Hes a beautiful bloke,Bush of Ghosts with Brian Eno in my top3 albums ever

[@worangejuice]

Fnhe camera man is in love with his movements

[@flannerymonaghan-morris7461]

This is VERY much unintentional ASMR…

[@ros559]

The Great David Byrne

[@hendershot01]

Thank you. Premium document if you ask me.

[@nightreaper1824]

He's really smart.

[@roses1419]

A very quotable man.

[@Ami483]

fascinating mind, I think I'm a new fan

[@thanhtran2640]

why does the camera zooms in on his face every cut lmaao

[@JavaScriptJolt]

Because he’s hot. He would have made a sexy vampire! 😍

[@DoubleADubstep]

This is a treasure

[@jakewilliams3766]

So tranquil

[@lambert2332]

I feel like Andrew Scott could play him in a movie

[@flanplan5903]

Yeah I do too. Speaking voices and mannerisms are also similar to each other.

[@user-sb3kt8oq6b]

that would be amazing

[@AbandonedMisadventures]

Christian Bale either!

[@pollymahone9392]

his voice is so beautiful ❤

[@Mccolinsclub]

His voice is so soft and soothing but at the same time gives me the creeps lol

[@ghart56]

Had a great day.

[@flanplan5903]

Well to be fair, he was/is very well known to be socially awkward, anxious, and painfully shy (especially in older interviews) so he’s probably speaking like that as a coping mechanism.

[@victormontano7148]

I just found out Dave is autistic!, but he is an autistic genius!!!.

[@starsstolen7558]

Thank u

[@flannerymonaghan-morris4825]

Holy cow he has PIERCING brown eyes. How the interviewer lady didn’t get distracted by them, I don’t know.

[@samcad-ho3ze]

I always notice Autistic people, from the ‘high functioning’ to the non verbal are invariably beautiful looking humans.

[@blew1t]

7:15

[@deanndandeann3805]

Continuity out the window with this one. Perhaps the next one we can mute the answers and keep the questions. Much love to David Byrne. :)

[@mrdave777]

Can anyone tell me when this was recorded vs the masterpiece Stop Making Sense? Thx to the individual who offers such content here!

[@th3102]

i believe stop making sense was a year after this

[@giovata]

Stop Making Sense was recorded in mid December 1983, and Talking Heads were busy touring the US from August until early 1984 with no shows in other countries, so this (recorded in Belgium) would have been from either before August or a period during the tour where they didn't have many shows, possibly November. I'm guessing it's from around June though

[@son_of_stan]

I never knew he was scottish well his parents were so Scottish descent is more accurate.

[@petalchild]

He was actually born in Scotland too.

[@NOWtheband]

Kawaii.

[@donaldquirk7801]

Strange how he said they are forced to live in the same area.

[@adamcombs2739]

Just honest

[@nutslab]

god.

[@slowdance2softrock727]

I hate how the interviewer is kinda responding to him as if he’s a kid

[@electricfishfan]

Apparently that happened a lot and was one of the reasons the band broke up unamicably. I can imagine that Tina, as strangely as she’s reflected on it in some of her statements, carried resentment for feeling like she had to mother him to make gigs work. And you can understand why-women especially-would be drawn to feel that way, although not a good behavior.

[@slowdance2softrock727]

@@electricfishfan yeah it’s a terrible reality. I’m diagnosed autistic too, but I’m very lucky to have a somewhat ‘normal’ outward expression. I can’t imagine how horrible it feels to be someone on the spectrum who has an expression similar to David Byrne and just getting babied all the time.

[@Shmarful]

the artists experience of the crowd vs the camera spotlighting him to boil down his soul to conversation or a medium of expressing himself in which abstract creativity is crippled

[@son_of_stan]

Sometimes he looks and moves like sheldon from the big bang lol.

[@flannerymonaghan-morris7461]

Speaking voice also sounds slightly similar.

[@jeffn1384]

Haha. After listening to his music and seeing many interviews there's part of me that thinks he's putting on that nervous attitude for effect.

[@electricfishfan]

I think he definitely leaned into it for comedic effect as you can see in his self-interview and his stage presence. I do the same thing, and so do a lot of comedians and people in anxious moments. Brian Eno attested once that David was mostly like this all the time, even while being mugged, for what that’s worth.

[@dizzydean]

I think most people don't understand that people who are on the spectrum may act like what you see in the interview but when you get them to do something they are very passionate or obsessed about whether music, a certain hobby, sport etc..they can perform all of these confidently with no hint of nervousness because they are so into their world that they could care less about the audience or spectators. I probably didn't explain it well here, lol

[@ryderplaysmusic7741]

I just occurred to me that his mannerisms and general appearance remind me of sheldon from big bang theory lol

[@AlystrZelland]

They're both on the spectrum a hair-Sheldon is a STEM genius and David is a musical genius

[@simonnash9563]

Surely the actor playing the Good Doctor has based his mannerisms on David (albeit exaggerated and exentuated).

[@mrdave777]

Hey Byrnism. What got you started in your love for David? How many years? If you could mention the epitome of a TH song. What is it? Thanks for all the content!

[@jennyjolivet9430]

Once in a lifetime

[@jamesthevulture777]

Poverty of speech at its finest: he is a true inspiration for fellow schizospecs and autistics alike.

[@pho_is_not_interesting]

Is David schizophrenic?

[@barryscott3327]

@@pho_is_not_interesting he is autistic

[@sarahdlp524]

On the spectrum????

[@rconley95]

Yes

[@battlehacka]

he is like Sheldon Cooper from The big bang Theorie.

[@marguskiis7711]

Sheldon Cooper

[@alecmisra4964]

Badly edited

[@lewyevans757]

You could show this to someone who doesn’t know who David Byrne is and tell them it’s an interview with a serial killer

[@nenadmarkovic2370]

Heroin

[@talkinglegs9606]

I think you mean handsome ;)

[@fryingwiththeantidote2486]

I like heroin.

[@juliankenning]

Nope.

[@cardigansarecool]

He only tried heroin once but didn’t like it, in his own words

[@kellygames8183]

So either all of you who keeps talking about what drugs he's on are either too stoned yourself to observe the absence of behaviors associated with these drugs or you know nothing about these drugs.