Halfway through Burning Down the House, Jonathan Gould offers a sharp and insightful look at how the Talking Heads’ rise reflected both the quirky art scene of 1970s New York and the broader cultural shifts of the era. His writing balances musical analysis with vivid portraits of the band members, making their story feel both personal and emblematic of the times. At this point, the book is both an engaging history lesson and an invitation to think about the ways art and identity intersect.

Talking Heads were indisputably one of the best bands to come out of the late 70s. They became a part of the burgeoning punk movement in NYC, although it’s debatable whether the Heads should be considered punk (despite the many, many subgenres attributed to that genre these days). They came of age with the Ramones, Blondie and several other great bands while proving themselves worthy of the hype. David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison and Chris Frantz were a group that could do no wrong for several years, but eventually imploded due to the weight of success, ego and money.

Jonathan Gould’s new book, ‘Burning Down the House: Talking Heads and the New York Scene That Transformed Rock’ is a fascinating portrait of the band and their rise and fall. The subtitle is unnecessary because there isn’t much here about the scene itself other than what is necessary to tell the story of the Heads. However, that doesn’t detract from the fact that this is probably one of the best rock & roll biographies of the last twenty or thirty years (maybe ever). The book is exhaustively researched, well-written and paced perfectly to keep the reader engaged and interested.

To be sure, there was a LOT that I didn’t know about Talking Heads before reading Burning Down the House. I’m not going to go into details because I don’t want to spoil the read for anyone else, but I can tell you that the band members often come across as egotistical jerks (which is standard for Rock Bios). About halfway through the book, you will be wondering how these people managed to stay together for as long as they did and when the breakup finally comes, it’s long overdue.

Gould, for his part, tries to stay impartial, but it becomes clear pretty quickly that Byrne is the driving creative force in the band and that the others are just riding the wave. Harrison and Frantz were capable musicians but just were not on the same talent level as Byrne. Tina didn’t even know how to play when the band got together. This all leads to some compelling reading but it is frustrating when you understand that Byrne is autistic and the others were not. You really want them to understand where David is coming from, but they just don’t have the tools needed to do so in the 70’s and 80’s. In the end, the reader understands much more than the subjects of the book and it’s sad that the band members remain estranged to this day even with what we now know about autism and it’s effects.

Fans of the band will likely love this book (as I did) but even if you don’t know anything of the Heads beyond a couple of singles, you’ll still find a great read here. Jonathan Gould has presented us with a fantastic book that is engaging and thorough, providing a history of the band that often feels like a novel. I would like to thank Jonathan Gould, Netgalley and Mariner Books for providing me with an ARC of Burning Down the House. I greatly enjoyed it.

If you’re a Talking Heads fan, you’ll love this book. But there’s also a lot in here for folks not familiar with them, too. Gould has also written a history of the music and art scene in 1970s New York, providing a cultural and musical narrative that was much more interesting and in-depth than I expected.

I requested an ARC of the book from the publisher when I saw the book was announced because I’ve been a Talking Heads fan for five years but hadn’t known much about the band itself - just the music. This was a great story, Gould is a really talented writer that held my attention well, and I also came away with a very long playlist of referenced songs and bands from the book. I’ve read a few music memoirs over the last few years — Jann Wenner’s Like a Rolling Stone, Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller, and while Burning Down the House isn’t a memoir, it was definitely my favorite. Highly recommend!

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of Talking Heads live debut at CBGB in New York on June 5, 1975, author Jonathan Gould presents a fascinating biographical portrait of a band filled with meticulous research and plenty of local color regarding the "punk" and new wave scene in NYC in the mid to late 70's. In addition to discussing the genesis of Talking Heads, Gould also discusses many of the other bands playing the Clubs like CBGB, including the Ramones, Patti Smith, the New York Dolls, Velvet Underground etc.

Gould also hypothesizes that David Byrne was an undiagnosed "high functioning autistic" or on the Asperger's spectrum, as an explanation for some of his quirkiness when the Heads first began performing, and well as an explanation for the latter dissension in the band when Byrne took credit for most of their early success, and shut out Tina Weymouth and Chris Franz from royalties, as well as the song writing process.

As a late comer to Talking Heads ( probably around Fear of Music and Remain in Light ) it gave great insight into the artistic process of writing their material, learned from their long time producer Brian Eno, which involved the band playing the music/rhythms etc, and voicing gibberish over it until words/lyrics formed. I had seen an interview with Byrne discussing this writing style when discussing Burning down the House but was not aware that this song writing method had been going on for several albums. It was when the band moved away from Brian Eno that Byrne started writing material himself and shutting out the rest of the band that started the downfall of this ground breaking quartet ( later expanded during Stop Making Sense era ).

As much as I enjoyed the book, like the Heads material, it got a little tedious near the end. Gould's style of discussing the making of a record, followed by a chapter regarding the album itself and the public's reaction to same dragged on with the latter albums that were not as well received. I think even the author was tiring of the material from True Stories to Naked, and the various band members solo output.

A ,must read for any true Talking Heads fan, or even a fan of the punk/new wave bands from NYC and the CBGB era.

Talking Heads is my favorite new wave band. I was a kid when their music was popular. I thought I knew everything about this incredibly talented band by I was dead wrong. Jonathan does a superb job with all the research he did for this book. This a comprehensive and inspiring read. I love all the backstories he included. The music is always the main focus point, but there was some juicy and delicious gossip as well. The only gripe is the length. I think it’s a little long and repetitive in certain spots, but overall this is a well written book about one of the most important and respected bands in new wave history.

With meticulous research and an obvious passion for his subject, Jonathan Gould has put together an account of a remarkable band and the historical context that formed them. Burning Down the House is far "thicker" than the usual pop culture book, providing intimate portraits of each band member and the relationships that defined their lives and identities. Talking Heads fans and those who appreciate the cultural decades in which their career blossomed will find this a fascinating, satisfying read.

My thanks to both NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advance copy of this biography and history of a band that merged, art, design, lyrics and diverse musical influences to create a band whose influence is still being name checked today.

I went to school with a kid who I won't name, for I am sure that he must be on the Top Ten Most Wanted lists of at least a few countries, as he was very much like his father. The father in question had everything, before anyone else. Supermax players, betamax VHS, laserdisc players from Japan, components for stereos one only saw in movies. TVs literally as in plural tvs that projected, filled walls and seemed out of Star Trek. Also, he had movies that weren't even written about in magazine yet. Not all of them, but enough. And it was here that I saw a movie that looking back had much more of an influence on me than I thought. This was a concert movie, from a band I think I might have heard of called The Talking Heads. The movie was Stop Making Sense, and it blew my mind. This was probably my first understanding that music and art could make something magical. Most of my music was AM radio, Columbia Record and Tape bought. Now in thinking about it, this could some synapses to fire in my brain, making me a different person at the end. I have met a lot of fans of the band, but most of what we know is rumor, misinformation, or down right lies. They were there, they broke up, and never really got back. After reading this all encompassing book, I understand a lot more. Burning Down the House: Talking Heads and the New York Scene That Transformed Rock by music historian and writer Jonathan Gould is a look at the band, the history and what was happening around them that formed and guide these four people into making magic together, and why it all went away.

The book begins with a look at New York City, a wretched hive and scum and villainy that it was in the 1970's. The city was teetering on the brink of collapse, but offered an enviroment for those who dared to create something new. Maybe it was there own lives, maybe it was art, maybe it was both. New ways of looking at music, were catching on, maybe you couldn't play an instrument, but if one looked cool doing it, one could have a following. Into this stepped a three piece at the time, a band that spent as much time working on how they looked and acted on stage, as how to play it. The band was Martina Michèle Weymouth, better known as Tina, Chris Frantz, and David Byrne, later joined by Jerry Harrison. The book than looks back at the members, discussing their births, influences, and how they came together. Art school was the cauldron that brought them together, something that would be reflected in their work and music that was yet to come. CBGB's was their start, and slowly with a few hiccups, and the addition of the last member the band began to grow. They came at a time when punk was big, but video killed the radio star, something a band that prized their visuals so much were able to overcome and thrive in the MTV medium. However as with a lot of bands, tensions, credits, and attitudes soon overwhelmed the music, and the band broke apart into solo careers for them all.

Gould looks not only at the band, but the scene, with a major character being the city of New York. Gould looks at a lot of other things also, the changes in the industry, video rise of radio, movie deals, health issues and much more. One gets a very good sense of everything that was going on with this band, one that has eluded quite a lot of other writers. This is a warts and all tale, with most of these rock heroes acting human, claiming credit were undeserved, and where there are a few contrary stories, Gould tries to get to the truth. If he can't, well he prints the legends that people have said over the years. Gould is a very good writer and covers the band, the the many other side characters, well. This is a complete book, but moves fast. I learned a lot about various subjects that seemed odd to mention, but really fit the narrative, and made the band members seem real. A rare music book that really gets to the heart of the music and the players, without being a hagiography.

Fans of the band will learn quite a bit, as well as people interested in music during the 70's and 80's. This is a very well done study, about a band that even today not many people know a lot about, though they can remember the songs. I can' wait to read what Jonathan Gould has planned next.

Burning Down the House by Jonathan Gould is my kind of book. I love reading about music and bands and scenes and recording sessions and tours and all the complexities and histories mingling therein. That, that is my zone. And Gould does not disappoint.

Being a music geek and having an immersive approach, I've devoured every musical tidbit I can, learning this or that, filing it all away in the cabinets in my brain. As much as I've learned and discovered about the Talking Heads, though? Yeah, I was only scratching the surface. I thought I knew all there was to know.

I so didn't.

This book filled in the gaps and then some.

Bursting with history and stories and accountings, supported by ample, connective information relevant to the changing/moving times and cultures, along with the band's progression, Burning Down the House is a comprehensive look at one of the best, most influential, truly original rock bands in American music.

Burning Down the House by Jonathan Gould is a must read for any Talking Heads fan, as well as anyone interested in music history at the time this band's story unfolds.