History of David Byrne in Timeline
David Byrne is a highly influential Scottish-American artist best known as the frontman for the new wave band Talking Heads. As a musician, he innovatively blended art rock, punk, funk, and world music, creating a distinctive sound and stage presence. Beyond music, Byrne is a multidisciplinary artist, engaging in filmmaking, writing, and visual arts. His work often explores themes of urban life, architecture, and cultural commentary, solidifying his status as a significant figure in contemporary art and music.
May 1952: David Byrne Born
David Byrne was born in May 1952, marking the start of his life and career as a musician and artist.
May 1952: Birth of David Byrne
In May 1952, David Byrne was born in Dumbarton, Scotland, to Tom and Emma Byrne. His father was Catholic, and his mother was Presbyterian. Two years later, his family moved to Canada.
1970: Attended Rhode Island School of Design
In 1970, David Byrne attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
1971: Attended Maryland Institute College of Art
In 1971, David Byrne attended the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.
1971: Musical Career in Revelation
In 1971, David Byrne started his musical career in a high school band called Revelation.
1972: Bizadi Duo
Between 1971 and 1972, David Byrne was one half of a duo named Bizadi with Marc Kehoe.
1973: Formed The Artistics
In 1973, David Byrne returned to Providence and formed a band called the Artistics with Chris Frantz.
January 1975: Talking Heads Practicing Together
In January 1975, Talking Heads were practicing and playing together, while still working normal day jobs.
May 1976: Quit Day Job
In May 1976, David Byrne quit his day job to focus on music.
1977: Jerry Harrison Joined Talking Heads
In 1977, Jerry Harrison joined Talking Heads, expanding the band's lineup.
1979: Collaborated with Brian Eno
In 1979, David Byrne collaborated with Brian Eno, beginning work on "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts".
1979: Musical Guest on Saturday Night Live
In 1979, David Byrne served as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live as part of Talking Heads.
1981: Continued Collaboration with Brian Eno
In 1981, David Byrne continued to work with Brian Eno on the album "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts".
1981: Relationship with Toni Basil
In 1981, David Byrne had a brief relationship with Toni Basil and he dated Twyla Tharp between 1981 and 1982.
1981: Partnered with Twyla Tharp for Ballet
In 1981, David Byrne partnered with choreographer Twyla Tharp, creating music for the ballet "The Catherine Wheel".
1982: Meeting Adelle Lutz
In 1982, David Byrne met Adelle Lutz while visiting Japan.
1984: Stage Design and Choreography for Stop Making Sense
In 1984, David Byrne was chiefly responsible for the stage design and choreography of the concert film Stop Making Sense.
1985: Wrote Music for "The Knee Plays"
In 1985, David Byrne wrote the Dirty Dozen Brass Band-inspired score "Music for The Knee Plays" for Robert Wilson's opera.
1986: Soundtrack for Dead End Kids
In 1986, David Byrne provided a soundtrack for JoAnne Akalaitis' film Dead End Kids. He also added "Loco de Amor" with Celia Cruz to Jonathan Demme's film Something Wild.
1986: Wrote, Directed, and Starred in True Stories
In 1986, David Byrne wrote, directed, and starred in True Stories, a musical collage of Americana, also producing the film's music.
1987: Marriage to Adelle Lutz
In 1987, David Byrne married costume designer Adelle Lutz.
1987: Academy Award for The Last Emperor
In 1987, David Byrne's work was featured in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor, which won an Academy Award for Best Original Score.
December 1988: New York Premiere of 'The Forest'
In December 1988, the play "The Forest," with music by David Byrne, received its New York premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).
1988: Talking Heads Hiatus
In 1988, Talking Heads quietly went on hiatus, leading David Byrne to launch a solo career.
1988: Release of Talking Heads' "Naked"
In 1988, Talking Heads released "Naked", which featured the song "(Nothing But) Flowers" that David Byrne performed at the TED conference in October 2010.
1989: Directed the Documentary Île Aiye
In 1989, David Byrne directed the documentary Île Aiye.
1989: Released First Solo Album
In 1989, David Byrne released his first solo album, "Rei Momo", after leaving Talking Heads.
1989: Solo Musical Guest on Saturday Night Live
In 1989, David Byrne was a solo musical guest on Saturday Night Live.
1989: Birth of Daughter Malu Abeni Valentine Byrne
In 1989, David Byrne's daughter, Malu Abeni Valentine Byrne, was born.
1990: Co-founding Luaka Bop Record Label
In 1990, David Byrne co-founded the world-music record label Luaka Bop with Yale Evelev.
December 1991: Talking Heads Officially Split
In December 1991, Talking Heads officially split after a brief reunion to record "Sax and Violins."
1991: Released Soundtrack Album "The Forest"
In 1991, David Byrne released his soundtrack album for "The Forest".
March 1992: Performance with Richard Thompson
In March 1992, David Byrne performed with Richard Thompson in Brooklyn Heights, New York. The resulting concert was recorded and released as An Acoustic Evening.
1992: Directed the concert film Between the Teeth
In 1992, David Byrne directed the concert film of his Latin-tinged tour, titled Between the Teeth.
1992: Released "Uh-Oh"
In 1992, David Byrne released his third solo album, "Uh-Oh", featuring a brass section.
1994: Original Release of "Psychedelic Afternoon"
In 1994, David Byrne originally released the song "Psychedelic Afternoon" with Sakamoto, which was later re-recorded in March 2013 to raise money and awareness for children impacted by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
1994: Released "David Byrne"
In 1994, David Byrne released his fourth self-titled solo album, which was more of a rock record.
1994: Released "Between the Teeth"
In 1994, David Byrne released the concert film Between the Teeth.
March 1995: Collaboration with Selena
In March 1995, David Byrne collaborated with Selena, writing, producing, and singing "God's Child (Baila Conmigo)". This became Selena's last recording before her death on March 31, 1995.
March 31, 1995: Selena's Death
On March 31, 1995, Selena, with whom David Byrne had collaborated on the song "God's Child (Baila Conmigo)", was murdered.
1995: Collaborated with Selena
In 1995, David Byrne collaborated with Selena on her album Dreaming of You, with "God's Child (Baila Conmigo)".
1997: Hosting Sessions at West 54th and Album 'Feelings'
In 1997, David Byrne hosted Sessions at West 54th and collaborated with Devo and Morcheeba members on the album Feelings.
1997: Released "Feelings"
In 1997, David Byrne released his emotional fifth studio album, "Feelings", employing the Black Cat Orchestra.
1999: Soundscape for Ultima Vez
In 1999, David Byrne produced a soundscape titled "In Spite of Wishing and Wanting" for Belgian choreographer Wim Vandekeybus's dance company Ultima Vez.
2001: Released "Look into the Eyeball"
In 2001, David Byrne released his sixth album, "Look into the Eyeball", continuing the musical exploration of "Feelings".
2001: "Like Humans Do" Selected for Windows XP
In 2001, Microsoft selected a version of David Byrne's single "Like Humans Do" (edited to remove a marijuana reference) as sample music for Windows XP.
2002: Collaboration on "Lazy"
In 2002, David Byrne co-wrote and sang on "Lazy" by X-Press 2, reaching No. 2 in the UK and No. 1 on the US Dance Charts.
2002: Talking Heads inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2002, Talking Heads were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, reuniting to play three tracks.
2003: Released Lead Us Not into Temptation
Also released in 2003, David Byrne's Lead Us Not into Temptation included tracks from his score for Young Adam.
2003: Guest Starred on The Simpsons
In 2003, David Byrne guest starred as himself on a season 14 episode of The Simpsons.
September 2004: Creative Commons Benefit Concert
In September 2004, David Byrne co-authored a CD collection and performed with Gilberto Gil at a benefit concert for the Creative Commons license.
2004: Divorce from Adelle Lutz
In 2004, David Byrne and Adelle Lutz divorced.
2004: Live performance at Carnegie Hall with Caetano Veloso
In 2004, David Byrne performed live at Carnegie Hall with Caetano Veloso which was later released as a show in 2012.
2004: Released Grown Backwards
In 2004, David Byrne released Grown Backwards with orchestral string arrangements.
2004: "Lazy" Featured on Grown Backwards
In 2004, the track "Lazy", which David Byrne collaborated on, was featured with orchestral arrangements on his Grown Backwards album.
August 2005: North American and Australian Tour
In August 2005, David Byrne's North American and Australian tour with the Tosca Strings ended with shows in Los Angeles, San Diego, and New York.
2005: Initiation of Radio David Byrne
In 2005, David Byrne started his own internet radio station, Radio David Byrne, where he posts playlists of music he likes each month.
2005: "Playing the Building" installed in Stockholm
In 2005, the "Playing the Building" project, where a structure is connected electronically to a pipe organ and made playable, was installed in Stockholm. David Byrne used the project to allow people to experience art firsthand.
2005: Started Work on Here Lies Love
In late 2005, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim began work on Here Lies Love, a disco opera about Imelda Marcos.
February 2006: Here Lies Love Debut
In February 2006, some music from Here Lies Love was debuted at the Adelaide Festival of Arts in Australia.
2006: Release of "Arboretum"
In 2006, David Byrne released Arboretum, a sketchbook facsimile of his Tree Drawings, published by McSweeney's.
2006: Featured on Thievery Corporation's Album
In 2006, David Byrne's singing was featured on "The Heart's a Lonely Hunter" on The Cosmic Game by Thievery Corporation.
2006: "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" Re-Release
In early 2006, the album "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" was re-released for its 25th anniversary, featuring new bonus tracks.
February 2007: Here Lies Love at Carnegie Hall
In February 2007, some music from Here Lies Love was performed at Carnegie Hall.
2007: Relationship with Cindy Sherman
From 2007 to 2011, David Byrne was in a relationship with artist Cindy Sherman.
2007: Cover of "Ex-Guru"
In 2007, David Byrne covered The Fiery Furnaces' song "Ex-Guru" for a Thrill Jockey anniversary compilation.
2007: Big Love soundtrack aired
In 2007, season two of Big Love aired, featuring a soundtrack by David Byrne.
April 2008: Paul Simon Retrospective Concert
In April 2008, David Byrne performed "You Can Call Me Al" and "I Know What I Know" at Paul Simon's retrospective concert series at BAM.
2008: Reunited with Eno for Album
In 2008, David Byrne and Brian Eno reunited for the album 'Everything That Happens Will Happen Today'.
2008: Bicycle Parking Rack Designs
In 2008, David Byrne designed a series of bicycle parking racks in the form of image outlines corresponding to their locations.
2008: Released Big Love: Hymnal
In 2008, David Byrne released Big Love: Hymnal, the soundtrack to season two of Big Love, and the first release on his independent record label Todo Mundo.
2008: "Playing the Building" and "Toe Jam"
In 2008, David Byrne transformed the Battery Maritime Building into a playable musical instrument for "Playing the Building" and collaborated on "Toe Jam" with the Brighton Port Authority.
August 2009: Auction for London Cycling Campaign
In August 2009, David Byrne auctioned his Montague folding bike to raise money for the London Cycling Campaign.
2009: Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour
From late 2008 through early 2009, David Byrne toured worldwide with a band on the Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour.
2009: "Playing the Building" installed at London Roundhouse
In 2009, the "Playing the Building" project, where a structure is connected electronically to a pipe organ and made playable, was installed at the London Roundhouse. David Byrne used the project to allow people to experience art firsthand.
June 2010: TED Conference Speaker
In June 2010, David Byrne spoke at the TED conference about the effects of architecture on music.
October 2010: TED Performance
In October 2010, David Byrne performed "(Nothing But) Flowers" at the TED conference with Thomas Dolby and Ethel.
2010: Apparance on The Suburbs Deluxe Edition
In 2010, Arcade Fire released The Suburbs, which would later feature David Byrne in the deluxe edition.
2010: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps soundtrack
In 2010, David Byrne and Brian Eno provided the soundtrack for the film Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.
2010: "Here Lies Love" concept album release
In 2010, David Byrne originally released his concept album "Here Lies Love", which later debuted as a fully staged production in March 2013.
2010: Exhibition at the Nasher Museum of Art
In 2010, David Byrne's original artwork was featured in The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl exhibition at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.
May 2011: Backing Vocals on Arcade Fire Track
In May 2011, David Byrne contributed backing vocals to "Speaking in Tongues" by Arcade Fire, from the deluxe edition of their 2010 album The Suburbs.
2011: End of Relationship with Cindy Sherman
David Byrne ended his relationship with artist Cindy Sherman in 2011.
2011: Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
In 2011, the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami happened, which caused David Byrne and Sakamoto to re-record "Psychedelic Afternoon" to raise money and awareness for children impacted by the natural disaster in March 2013.
2012: Collaboration and Live Album Release
In 2012, David Byrne featured on Jherek Bischoff's album and released a live album with Caetano Veloso recorded in 2004.
2012: Released Collaborative Album with St. Vincent
In 2012, David Byrne released a collaborative album with St. Vincent called Love This Giant.
2012: Music as Communication
In 2012, David Byrne stated that he felt music was his way of communicating when he couldn't do it face to face because of his autism.
2012: Dual Citizenship
In 2012, David Byrne, a resident of the United States since childhood, became a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and the United States.
March 2013: "Here Lies Love" Staged and Collaboration for Tōhoku Relief
In March 2013, David Byrne debuted a fully staged production of "Here Lies Love" and re-released "Psychedelic Afternoon" with Sakamoto for Tōhoku earthquake relief.
October 2013: Death of Father, Thomas
In October 2013, David Byrne's father, Thomas, passed away.
2013: Love This Giant Tour
In 2012 and 2013, David Byrne and St. Vincent toured North America, Europe, and Australia to promote Love This Giant.
May 2014: Collaboration on Anna Calvi's EP
In May 2014, David Byrne announced his involvement with Anna Calvi's EP, Strange Weather, collaborating on two songs.
June 2014: Death of Mother, Emma
In June 2014, David Byrne's mother, Emma, passed away.
2014: Scottish Independence Referendum
During the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, David Byrne expressed his preference for Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom.
2015: Organized Contemporary Color
In 2015, David Byrne organized Contemporary Color, two arena concerts in Brooklyn and Toronto.
August 2016: Featured on De La Soul Album
In August 2016, David Byrne was featured on "Snoopies" on De La Soul's Kickstarter-funded album.
2016: Co-created NEUROSOCIETY
In 2016, David Byrne collaborated with Mala Gaonkar to co-create NEUROSOCIETY, an immersive theater performance.
2016: Documentary Film of Contemporary Color
In 2016, a documentary film of the Contemporary Color concerts was released, directed by the Ross brothers and produced by Byrne.
January 2018: Announced First Solo Album in 14 Years
In January 2018, David Byrne announced his first solo album in 14 years, "American Utopia".
October 2019: Appeared in John Mulaney's Special
In October 2019, David Byrne appeared in John Mulaney's children's musical comedy special John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch (2019), where he performed the song "Pay Attention!".
October 2019: American Utopia Opened on Broadway
In October 2019, David Byrne's American Utopia opened at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway.
February 29, 2020: Performed on Saturday Night Live
On February 29, 2020, David Byrne performed on Saturday Night Live with John Mulaney as host after a 30-year absence.
2020: Self-Description as on the Autism Spectrum
In a 2020 interview, David Byrne described himself as on the autism spectrum, feeling it allows him to hyperfocus on creative pursuits.
2022: "This Is a Life" for Everything Everywhere All at Once
In 2022, David Byrne co-wrote and sang on "This Is a Life" for the film Everything Everywhere All at Once and performed it at the Academy Awards.
2022: Theater of the Mind Production
In 2022, David Byrne collaborated with Mala Gaonkar on "Theater of the Mind", an immersive theater production in Denver, Colorado.
July 20, 2023: "Here Lies Love" Broadway Debut
On July 20, 2023, the stage version of David Byrne's Here Lies Love made its Broadway debut, facing criticism over the initial plan to use pre-recorded music.
2023: Attended Met Gala on Single Speed Bike
In 2023, David Byrne arrived at the Met Gala riding a Budnitz single speed bicycle.
