David Byrne, the former frontman of Talking Heads, is set to release a 4K cinema version of his acclaimed concert film American Utopia. To mark the occasion, he will join us to answer your questions about the film and his extensive career.
A Legendary Performer
The big suit is what comes to mind first when thinking of David Byrne on stage, but the Talking Heads frontman has maintained an astonishingly high level of live performance into his mid-70s. Born in Scotland and later settling in the US, Byrne brought erudition, passion, and puckish wit to Talking Heads, who formed amid the creative maelstrom of 1970s New York. Across eight studio albums, including hits like Once in a Lifetime and Burning Down the House, they created a unique funky, spry new wave sound, arguably finding its finest form in the live concert film Stop Making Sense.
Solo Career and Collaborations
Byrne had already embarked on projects outside the band, including the celebrated Brian Eno collaboration My Life in the Bush of Ghosts and his interstitial music for Robert Wilson's 1985 opera The Civil Wars. His solo career truly began after Talking Heads split in 1991, embracing a wide range of musical styles from Latin, African, and European traditions. He collaborated with artists like St Vincent and Fatboy Slim, and scored a UK No 2 hit with Lazy by X-Press 2. His 2018 album American Utopia was a major success, reaching No 3 in the US.
The American Utopia Tour and Film
The album prompted one of the most celebrated concert tours of the last decade, culminating in a Broadway run filmed by Spike Lee. That film is now being released in 4K for one night in cinemas on 5 August. To mark the release, Byrne is joining us to answer your questions about the film and topics across his career. He also released his most recent album, Who Is the Sky?, in September 2025.
Post your questions in the comments before noon GMT on Wednesday, and we will publish his answers in the 10 July edition of the Film & Music section as well as online.
