RETRO: Talking Heads “The Great Curve” live in Rome 1980

Posted February 23rd, 2008 by eric

Vintage Talking Heads performance, featuring King Crimson’s Adrien Belew on guitar. Also, Crosseyed and Painless, Born Under Punches, and Cities. All amazing. With all the talk about Vampire Weekend sounding like early Talking Heads (even from David Byrne himself), I must say they have a frighteningly long way to go before they can touch this level of genius. [via Mefi]

Tags: video

4 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Rob // Mar 8, 2008 at 3:47 am

    There are a total of 9 live songs from this live show. It’s an expanded Heads lineup with an extra bass player, percussion, vocals and an incredibly good performance from Adrian Belew (King Crimson) on guitar.

    This is Remain In Light vintage Heads, and the good stuff gets a great working out.

    All 11 tracks are on YouTube. You can even find the torrent if you want the whole show. The quality is as good as you can expect from a VHS copy of a TV show.

    This show illustrates just how good Talking Heads were, and the brilliance of the core band. Tina Weymouth looks scrumptious, and David Byrne is at his manic best.

    I can’t tell you how good this stuff is. Would have to rate as one of the best live shows ever, by any band.

  • 2 Rob // Mar 8, 2008 at 3:48 am

    Oops, I meant 11 songs, not 9.

  • 3 Creedance // Oct 12, 2009 at 11:41 am

    I’ve been told that this show was on December 1980. Does anybody know the exact date?

  • 4 Creedance // Oct 12, 2009 at 11:44 am

    Never mind. Dec. 18, 1980, live at Palaeur Arena, Rome. Thanks anyway