Talking Heads, "Psycho Killer" Live at CBGB, 1975

Live at CBGB, New York, NY, 1975.
Introduction by Seymour Stein, Sire Records.
From the film "Talking Heads: Chronology"

[@markbrown7913]

What strikes me as a minor revolutionary act in the year 1975 is wearing your hair short enough to show your ears. That and collared shirts. Nobody outside the military had short hair in America in the mid 1970's. And everybody at concerts wore t-shirts. These guys were deliberately uncool, which is really cool.

[@soakedbearrd]

yeah it anti anti or counter counter-culturalist

[@doorswhofan]

So true, Mark Brown. Imagine how Iggy Pop & the Stooges must've felt back when they started in the late 60s. Same thing, only more so.

[@nellolombardozzi26]

Mark Brown davidbowie

[@ryckybo66]

it was deliberate and a well studied outfit, Byrne tells about it in his book

[@daverice2426]

Yep. I cut my Frampton-length hair in '78 right after seeing the Dead Boys; lost track of how many people said "You look like you escaped from a mental hospital!" Couldn't get straight-leg jeans anywhere either, had to alter flares/bellbottoms. In late '70s-early '80s Detroit boot-cut Levis and short hair were enough to make people slow down their Camaros to gape at you/want to kick your ass

[@sydgriffin7591]

I guarantee if I had been in the audience I'd have scratched my head thinking "who the F are these clowns?" They were like no other band at that time. No offense to them by this comment. Talking Heads are my all time favorite band for over 40 years!

[@Madrrrrrrrrrrr]

If he doesn't sound nervous, he's not David Byrne

[@flanplan5903]

Well to be fair, his nervousness here is completely genuine; it was the band’s first time ever performing publicly, and the band were in their early mid 20’s at that time, and they had only rehearsed for a month or so. Wouldn’t you be nervous if that happened to you?

[@Leapless]

​@@flanplan5903 Even if I had to play my own song in front of my family and friends for the first time I would've been pretty much nervous as well!

[@jgunther3398]

If I walked in and saw somebody singing like that about a psycho killer, I'd think I was looking at one. 🤣

[@Madrrrrrrrrrrr]

@@flanplan5903 you are missing the point here ;)

[@mikeyoungblood1642]

Pretty crazy you had Talking Heads, Ramones and Blondie, 3 bands who totally changed music history playing for handfuls of people at CBGBs in 1975

[@Hard-Verano]

and Iggy Pop 👌

[@chip1354]

@@Hard-VeranoIggy from ihio

[@TheCuthere]

The Police played there to about 20 people, imagine??

[@MiaBerwick]

And Patti Smith

[@j.jester7821]

The Stooges, Television, Misfits, B-52s, Devo, Violent Femmes, The Cramps... I could go on and on.

[@larrymcqueary]

It's not that often you get to see video footage of a band like this from their earliest days, when they were just another band in New York... polite applause, mistakes and all. Awesome.

[@brfswigcham]

Holy shit, this is history. This is the history of the "heads," rock 'n roll, New York City music scene, CBGB's, new wave, etc.

[@wonderfulenglish2666]

I love how they were an unknown support act and there's about fifteen people clapping at the end because the crowds hadn't arrived for the Ramones yet. TH were ten years ahead of their time here. Kudos!

[@BrianTakita]

Less intensity seems to convey the psycho more.

[@Paul-z7n6d]

I remember when this song came out. I was 6 years old. Still listening after 50 years.

[@branevans3705]

The beatnik era of the punk scene. Great songwriter and amazing band

[@someguy4505]

Before he knew how good his voice was.

[@Burreearden02]

That's the best version of Psycho Killer I've ever heard!

[@ergbudster3333]

Totally agree. The hardest thing for a musician to keep is rawness.. and yet rawness is rock'n'roll itself. What I say now? Stop trying to be perfect! You're just neutering yourself. If you want perfection go the symphony then. Go to the opera.

[@louisskulnik7390]

@@ergbudster3333 by the time the album is cut, a band loses a lot of magic. Happened to Pink Floyd.

[@PiperAtTheGatesOfYourMom]

@@louisskulnik7390 ehhhh idk about that. DSOTM and WYWH have some very very complex mixing and editing that gives it such a magic and experience. If you we’re talking about the Syd Barrett era id agree with you a bit more but I think 1971-1976 they were 100% a studio-strength band. Not saying they were great live; they were fuckn incredible, but imo the studio only helped their vision. Unlike if The Beatles did shows in 67-69, it wouldn’t sound nearly as good

[@beastieboy9286]

@@PiperAtTheGatesOfYourMom Piper at the gates of dawn is an incredible album masterpiece

[@krollpeter]

@@louisskulnik7390 Nowadays I am not sure anymore, if producers should generally not much more keep their hands out. In '73 / '74 Pink Floyd played DSOTM much bluesier and more rock-coloured life, as compared to the brushed up and polished version which appeared on the album. I personally prefer the bluesier, rock, and jazzy-er renditions. Us And Them for example is gorgeous at Wembley, stronger rhythm, jazzy saxx and the back- and forth singing in between Mr. Gilmour and the singer ladies - brilliant!

[@fucheduck]

I think David Byrne defined the '80s long before the '80s.

[@mrmackee123]

Spot on 👍

[@jasonsphinx8461]

Heh..

[@michaelfschein2]

The three best years of '80s music were '77, '78, and '79.

[@EdgarMendoza-sv6jh]

True dat !

[@kevinelliott5823]

Great comment!!

[@gurigran1799]

Fantastic material! A quiet Byrne and Tina with her gray green Jazz Bass... Almost made me cry. Regards from Argentina.

[@pl5bnsf]

Such an amazing band dynamic with the Talking Heads. Anti social lead singer/player (basically a genius). Self-taught bass player who ends up blazing her own unique styles. And a drummer perfectly suited to support those two. And Jerry, who was able to work with all of them! Listen to David's 'How music works' audiobook and Chris's audiobook and it gives a good view of the starting point of the group. I just find it interesting to research how groups evolved and started. So many groups start up...not many make a mark in music, takes perseverance, talent, luck and just the right combo of people. Then sad when it falls apart. But so many bands end up with complicated histories, band member changes and heartache. Have to learn to enjoy things when it's good and accept change.

[@alexmagureguiloyola6776]

No estás mal suena bien siempre me ha gustado

[@jgunther3398]

they really aren't that good at this point. they must have had some powerful coaching from somebody just after, maybe a producer. what they had going for them was decent original songs, the most important thing

[@jeffdawson2786]

I could see myself there that night after the show, drinking with my friends, “Yeah, they’re okay, but I don’t think they’re going anywhere.” Then I bought Talking Heads ‘77. Oops, my favorite album.

[@Leapless]

I wish I was live around 70's then I can relate to this. Just finished listening Talking Heads 77 for like 10 times repeatance and wish I had their original copies cause they blew me away.

[@jvanson1153]

He looks like my Uncle Tristan. We committed him to the Dryden Psychiatric Institute in June of 2008. It was for the best.

[@ergbudster3333]

OK. Best comedy comment of the week.

[@Whatsahandle4]

Hahaha. Damn

[@teddyblankenship782]

Talk about a freaking legendary place. In the span of about 1 year you had Blondie, Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, The Ramones, Patti Smith.... and thats all before 1976. Then those acts got huge. Mustve been a hell of a scene. Totally different sounding bands, Talking Heads (like college dork rock but awesome), Blondie with that very poppy proto punk, and The Ramones just blowing the roof off with what we consider now the modern punk sound...... Probably the best music scene ever.

[@ronniestanley75]

The CBGBs movie did such a great job portraying that whole thing!! The sound is more real seeing it exactly the way I imagine a fledgling band with a new sound, should be. Raw. And still finding their sound. And in black and white. Cause, who had the money for color back then? Fucking love it!

[@RandallGoya]

I saw T Heads about a year later, at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, RI. I thought they were terrible, particularly the bass player. By the next time I saw them a few months later, they were an exciting and sublime experience. Saw them many times after, every chance I had.

[@sdufg]

wow, 50 years ago already.

[@jonmc6078]

Next time you hear a garage band that doesn't quite have it all together yet - they might be the next TH. There was still a little magic in that clip. Lovely to watch that.

[@nosny3570]

what a country this once was. So much talent and so little hype. A lost piece of America today

[@charlenelinden8930]

I was there that night. Fabulous fun.

[@sambeaty6143]

I love this band. saw them at the fox theatre in Atlanta 1982. I wish I had a dollar for every time ive played remain in light! tina was 8 mos, pregnant when I saw them. its one of my favorite shows still. and ive seen everybody. from ABB to zappa.

[@chefevabee]

Such a sexy and sad version of this song somehow..

[@rays2794]

That was worth watching, glad I clicked that. I saw the band not long after this and was mesmerized as I still am when I listen. Psycho Killer and Life During Wartime are two of the best songs to come out of that era of music.

[@swami1]

Too bad Byrne didn't wake up before he got to the club that night.

[@Ginevive]

+richard speck lol right? lol

[@swami1]

He was in his "laconic rock star" mode.

[@krollpeter]

I expect him every second to throw his guitar onto the floor and run away from stage fright.

[@mldiode]

Saw them in college in Buffalo, N.Y. Their LD had one of the first computerized lighting consoles. I stood behind him and was so blown away that he could control the lights with a computer. The whole experience was amazing. I might add that I saw them for like $5.00 So many great acts did the college circuit in those days. Great times!

[@ritmo113]

I've loved this song for 40 years and just started learning the bassline so I've been watching different liver versions. I love how Tina gets lost a couple of times in this one but it stays together. Amazing to see them in early days. lovexxxxx

[@actkind]

This is amazing... 1975 - any guess as to how many Quaaludes David has taken to calm his little nerves before this performance? Love this bit of history that's taken 39 YEARS to get to me. Thank you PRI!

[@samsmith4216]

David Bynes Vocals changed over time but it's very cool how Tina's baseline stayed the same....a perfect line that needed nothing.

[@aykay7828]

49 years ago. Fuck.

[@rclc161]

You Found???? You had good taste in music and happened to be in the right place at the right time you EGOMANIAC!

[@gottlicherhammer]

Settle down, Beavis. He said he found them; not created them. I found an oasis in the desert once. That doesn’t make me God.

[@TheVedder11]

in august of 81 ,I was in drug rehab in N.J. . My roommate for about a week was a member of the Talking Heads , out of respect im not going to say who it was . I was a kid {15} to young to realize how big of a deal it was . every nite in the room he would play , I look back now at how lucky I was .

[@ergbudster3333]

Hmm. Now which ones play guitar? Yeah, guitar. Obviously it ain't drums or piano, not in 1981. Therefore guitar. Not bass so it wasn't Tina. So it was...

[@oest2029]

Nah it was Chris who wound up in rehab. Tina says so here: www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-chris-frantz-tina-weymouth-8533427.html%3famp

[@todddavis9437]

I was in rehab with a member of the band hole

[@bluebow68]

Great old footage!..Always loved this song..!

[@juanespinosa1259]

It's cute to see how stage killers in their genesis were so nervous on stage in 1975. Tina Weymouth was all over the place on her bass parts. And this for a such a well rehearsed band like the Heads. But the CBGB crowd could be a feisty one if they didn't like you. Screw up and you get a beer shower and eternal shame as you weren't to play in any other clubs in NY with this kinda sound. Even though all that, and mind you, this is one of my favorite versions of Psycho Killer. Hearing where it come's from it's great. The version from 1977 is great but this is better.

[@matttownsend305]

They were all trying different versions as players in their initial live renditions, I note all three are loose and adventurous here.

[@RileyAicher1]

Love seeing how long the process of crafting a great song can take. Took them 3(ish) years to craft this into the percect single they released in '77

[@stevemcniel5513]

love this song

[@titaniumpecker]

1975. CBGB. Talking Heads warming up for The Ramones. Those were magic times in NYC.

[@olivierlusseyran]

Wonderful band and great version.

[@ffranzos]

I saw there. Saw them the first time in spring of '75, and quite a few times in the next couple of years. First time, there was 12 people in the audience, with them opening for The Ramones.

[@TVindustries5000]

this whole thing used to be on youtube ages and ages ago. Like with mic check and everything. as well as a performance of warning sign at CBGBs. but its probably on some obscure ass dvd boxset where no one can see them

[@formusicplaylist1]

this made me like this song to a completely different degree. i have a whole new appreciation for this song by having seen this!

[@mjsimons9757]

The Talking Heads and the bands that came out of CBGB saved music in the late seventies and eighties from the cooperate crap and the glam rock of the 70's. Three chords played poorly on crappy equipment in a dirty $#!thole bar in the Bowery. Now that's rock and roll. God, I miss those times.

[@delfindraupnir4855]

and how oldie you sir?

[@gcampa]

"saved music"... music is doomed since Schoenberg and his dodecaphony shit, music stopped right there, mr.

[@ergbudster3333]

Wha?

[@TwelveDeck]

No Jerry Harrison. This is Talking Heads stripped right back to the bare bones.

[@cosmeticsandpurseswithevelyn]

I Hung out there at CBGB for 4 years from 77 on up met lost of bands backstage but didnt think Talking Heads played there regularly.

[@edgarpenaflor2611]

Yes, Tina's bass sounds hypnotized

[@renecg796]

Cbgb best time of my life

[@billadams7703]

Vintage and super classic. How the stars are born

[@caseyramone]

100 years ahead of their time.. or well, they were exactly right at the time.. same goes for the Ramones

[@dezawol9786]

What an amazing original 👏 band

[@johnnymorr2918]

David looks like Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) from Taxi Driver in here.

[@homersgut]

incredible talent really shines in acoustic set esp w/Davids amazing vocals

[@OlafProt]

I LOVE this clip. Pure luck they caught it. That groove at 3:45 ish too!

[@ChuckleBucketBaby]

i remember in 1978? i would've been 13. And i joined the Columbia Record Club. what was it? 5 records for five bucks, then 10 more at regular prices? I forget lol . But I got Ramones: Leave Home. and Beach Boys and Stevie Wonder, ELO......

[@stevebengel1346]

10 for 1¢ 😂

[@corafoxyfowler]

wow excellent footage I saw Talking Heads at a venue in Birmingham England, called Barberellas does anyone have details of the year maybe it was the year after 1976/.77 Im sure it was before the first album came out

[@MrsP474]

May 1977

[@epipd5712]

Love this video. Lots of great bands played at CBGB.

[@MTMF.london]

I wasn't there at that particular gig but I lived in the neighborhood from 1978 through 1989 and caught many acts at CBGB. What a place and what a blast the whole area was then not like now -- full of shiny towers and NYU dorms! Shame!

[@TheVedder11]

MT Yankin rite . how times have changed .

[@Timoteisespor2011]

The bass player stuff up so many times during the song is hillarious.

[@matttownsend305]

They were all trying different versions as players in their initial live renditions, I note all three are loose and adventurous here.

[@MauriceMossisitnot]

I think Tina learned bass from David in two weeks before joining the band.

[@coreycox2345]

I recently spent 10 days getting to know my son's fiance. She picked this as her first song at Karaoke. I started to think of her as like me.

[@golf253]

Best ever to take that stage.

[@Mark-v7y8t]

I always thought Byrne was simply playing a part. I never ever thought he was ever showing his true self. In other words, the joke was on us and still is.

[@TheCuthere]

Love this version, almost melancholy with the different note

[@CanadianOgre69]

Love this, always based my own cover off the much later radio edition, and I think I might dial it back a little then ramp it up. Sort of a transition from this laid back feel to a more manic one.

[@nateofnazareth7785]

poor david sounds so shaky up there. who knew he'd be where he is now

[@331SVTCobra]

hahahaha! Love this! Look at Chris, Dave, and Tina. She looks so adorable with that hair!

[@jumpers3]

NY,1975,an early reserved performance of a song that would inite Beautiful

[@patbrennan6572]

David Bynes, Tina weymouth and Chris Frantz are three of my favorite artists.

[@rudylacchin983]

Best version of Psycho Killer ever? Could well be!

[@kcinca5410]

CBGBs the place to be on the East Coast. A few years previous to this, I saw the Eagles as bottom bill to Jethro Tull on the West Coast. So much great music everywhere and so much diversity. Funny how in my memory, it seems like almost a decade before but I'm sure it wasn't. Jimi had only been gone five years. Oh, to bring back the days of 3 nights of music with four bands for only $3.00 (each night). Am I old?

[@brianallancobb]

Three years before I saw them the first time, in Portland, OR.

[@YouzTube99]

So interesting to see early TH. For comparison, check them out three years later: Talking Heads - Psycho Killer Live on stage Old Grey Whistle Test 1978 Weymouth is really confident and sounds fantastic, very well recorded and up in the mix. You can also get a sense of how much Harrison added to their sound. And Byrne, well, continues to evolve.

[@dustbunny9281]

Thank goodness for producers and engineers

[@josevitor4883]

Top Brasil 🇧🇷 top Brasil 🇧🇷 top Brasil 🇧🇷 muito bom mesmo kkkkkkkk 💯 banda de rock 😈👌👌👌

[@oswaldograffebernal]

AMO ESTE TEMA...

[@BeggarsNight]

Reading Chris Frantz’s new book about the Heads…he says that early on they made a lot of mistakes because there were no monitors and they were still trying to develop a sound that was their own

[@-elchoya9832]

THE PRETTIEST AND CUTEST BASS PLAYER EVER!

[@Ami483]

What a metamorphosis. From a shy kid to a magnificient confident stage animal haha

[@HalfGreyhound]

I saw the Talking Heads on the first west coast trip when they played the free show at UCLA; the promoter had no clue what to do with them obviously because the opening act on the bill was a southern boogie act, called Arc Angels (I believe), which seriously was as misguided a pairing as I have ever seen. The Heads were great. I was 15 at the time, so it really made my day but no one at my school liked New Wave at all. It was Zep or nothing in Orange County in 1978.

[@mctavish23]

Absolutely amazing

[@ScottWiecenski]

For those have never been inside CBGB, the club was VERY narrow and long from the minuscule stage to the front door. It was like being the back of a tractor trailer truck. Everything was painted black and had tons of graffiti and band stickers. It was overall a filthy and run down club.......but it had soul.

[@johnking6252]

Got the peanut butter? Rock on ... to a better day ! Guys inside my HEAD. 👀

[@johncarlow1371]

Unbelievable band

[@mariafietta6864]

I know what the guy means,🤩 I was hit by the Talking Heads the first time I heard them not in 1975 but some years later 🏁❤️🌊🎵💎🎤

[@kevinogill6726]

I was there, not that particular show, but that place, that time. My dad got pissed at UMFUG on my t-shirt until I explained what it meant 😂😂

[@kshepard52]

I used to like this song until I saw this. Excuse me... gotta fall asleep now. I will say, they got amazingly better later on...

[@krollpeter]

Why can't we put up links here? Pls look up "Between The Teeth - David Byrne - Live - 1992". And then please comment again. Peter Kroll, Singapore

[@johntorres9159]

If I had a time machine. No doubt this would be my first stop. I mean CBGC

[@camwells9726]

Saw them in the early years but not this early, touring Nz , Pretty sure it was just after more songs about buildings and food , and they were a 4 piece , Then saw them again years later , when they had the big band , Both were great

[@eltonlopesmoreira]

Nossa que raridade!! Abraços do Brasil

[@StellarChi]

Wowww So Pure !

[@philippehotia2206]

TRES BONNE MUSIQUE j'ai TOUJOURS AIMER TALKING HEADS SUPERBE

[@LymanGreen]

I just need desperately this version on a recording.

[@DodoTees]

Talking Heads Psycho Killer is on my Desert Island mix

[@HEARTOFACHAMP100]

I Was There!!!!!!! BRILLIANT!

[@ergbudster3333]

OK. Which one are you? The tall skinny wierd singer guy? Or the serious looking short blonde woman?

[@TheArchmage100]

The best live of Psycho killer.

[@brighidclaire]

I love it.

[@wendimaloy1552]

I was There!!!!

[@patrickcrabb5260]

Amazing!