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Chris Frantz writes memoir, ‘Remain in Love’

By George Pelletier - Milford Bureau Chief | Sep 19, 2020

Chris Frantz, the enthusiastic drummer in the post-punk band Talking Heads, writes in his new book, “In 1991 David sneaked out of Talking Heads.” That’s how Franz describes mercurial lead singer David Byrne’s departure from the band. Other members of the group, Franz and his now-wife, bassist Tina Weymouth, along with bandmate and guitarist Jerry Harrison found out from an L.A. Times writer that Byrne had planned to leave the group and end Talking Heads.

Much of Franz’s new book is dedicated to the love affair between he and Weymouth and how much he adores her. Chunks of the books also describe the quirky relationship with Byrne, and how he was, let’s just say, less adored.

The book details the beginnings of Talking Heads, when in 1975, Franz, then-girlfriend Weymouth and Byrne talked about starting a band.

(Byrne reportedly said, “I guess so.”) As Byrne wasn’t much of a “people person,” it was Franz who buoyed the band and kept them creatively afloat.

The book vividly recounts the trio’s days at the Rhode Island School of Design where they met, the start of Talking Heads, playing the legendary CBGB’s in lower Manhattan, crafting hits from “Pyscho Killer” to “Burning Down the House,” and the talk of the never reunion.

“Remain In Love” features never-before-seen photos as well as Franz’s attention to detail – from the clothes that he was wearing to the meals that he ate. Franz has admitted he wasn’t much for keeping journals but fortunately Weymouth was. In the book, Franz talks about the complicated life of the band with the eccentric Byrne.

Franz didn’t set out to burn Byrne – anecdotes and recollections sometimes dance around the subject, other times the author stomps loudly about Byrne’s bad behavior and how it affected the outcome of the band. But while the business end of music saturates the book, the story is as much about the love affair between Franz and Weymouth as it is about the group’s success and quick demise.

There’s plenty of name dropping – Andy Warhol, Lou Reed and Debbie Harry are just a few – but “Remain in Love” is a love letter from Franz to Weymouth and Byrne was very much a part of their relationship as they were first art students, then rockers.

Franz isn’t shy about being a fan of the musicians and artists that he met. In fact, it’s a quality that makes him more endearing as a writer and as an integral part of one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the ’80s, who helped to pioneer new wave music by integrating elements of punk, art, funk and world music with avant-garde sensibilities.

Talking Heads did reunite for their Rock and Roll of Fame induction in 2002 but other than that, TH haven’t performed together in 35 years and haven’t released new music for more than 30 years. They’re done, Franz concludes. The Beatles have a better chance of reuniting than Talking Heads and that says a lot.

Aside from Talking Heads, Franz and Weymouth formed Tom Tom Club in 1981, and enjoyed wild success with the single, “Genius of Love,” a top 40 hit that went on to be one of the most sampled tracks of all time.

Franz also points out that Tom Tom Club had a gold record before the Heads ever did. So there.

In the middle of the book, Franz recalls the joint Ramones/Talking Heads European tour of ’77, reconstructed from Weymouth’s datebook and Franz’s own memories. (Harrison is rare with any assistance.)

Franz’s style of writing is breezy and tell-tale – just what you’d hope from a semi-bio of Talking Heads.

The book, a once-in-a-life time achievement is part memoir, part true inside story. Franz’s colorful prose illustrates his genius for lyrics- something he was figuratively and literally robbed of as a member of Talking Heads. Here at least, he can get in a word or two.

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