What is David Byrne’s Net Worth?
David Byrne, the lead singer of Talking Heads, has a net worth of $60 million. He is known for his work as a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, record producer, and filmmaker.
Aside from his work with Talking Heads, Byrne has released solo recordings, worked in film, photography, literature, and theatre. His Broadway musical “American Utopia” premiered in 2019 and was later made into a concert film directed by Spike Lee in 2020.
Early Life and Career
David Byrne was born on May 14, 1952 in Dumbarton, Scotland. His family moved to Canada when he was two and then to the United States when he was around eight. Growing up, Byrne learned to play multiple instruments, including the guitar, violin, accordion, and harmonica. His father modified a tape recorder so that Byrne could make multitrack recordings.
Byrne began his music career in a teen band called Revelation while attending Landsdowne High School. He later formed the Artistics with his classmate Chris Frantz, and after the group disbanded, Byrne moved to New York City and was joined by Frantz and his girlfriend Tina Weymouth.
Talking Heads: A Brief History
Talking Heads was founded in 1975 by Byrne, Frantz, and Weymouth, and later added Jerry Harrison. The band released their first album in 1977, which included the hit single “Psycho Killer.” Over the next few years, they released several critically acclaimed albums produced by Brian Eno.
The band had commercial success in 1983 with the hit song “Burning Down the House,” from the album “Speaking in Tongues.” The following year, the band released the popular concert film “Stop Making Sense.”
Their bestselling album, “Little Creatures,” was released in 1985, and their final album, “Naked,” came out in 1988. After Byrne left, the band performed under the name Shrunken Heads, and released an album as the Heads in 1996.
David Byrne’s Solo Career
David Byrne, while still with Talking Heads, collaborated on several solo projects, including the 1981 album “My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.” His first solo album after leaving Talking Heads was “Rei Momo” in 1989, which featured Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Afro-Hispanic music. Byrne released several more solo albums including “Uh-Oh” in 1992, “David Byrne” in 1994, “Feelings,” “Look into the Eyeball,” “Grown Backwards,” and “Everything That Happens Will Happen Today,” which he reunited with Brian Eno.
In 2012, Byrne collaborated with St. Vincent for the album “Love This Giant.” Six years later, he released his critically acclaimed album “American Utopia,” which earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Alternative Music Album and launched an ambitious tour incorporating poetry, dance, and theatrical production. Byrne also manages the label Luaka Bop, featuring music from Latin America and Africa.
David Byrne’s Multifaceted Career
David Byrne’s career has spanned a variety of media, including film, television, theatre, photography, and literature. He wrote, directed, and starred in the satirical comedy film “True Stories” in 1986 and won an Academy Award for Best Original Score for his collaboration on the soundtrack to “The Last Emperor” the following year.
Byrne has worked on numerous other soundtracks, including those for “Young Adam,” “Big Love,” and “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.” He has also collaborated on songs with artists such as Devo, Arcade Fire, and Selena and has contributed to multiple AIDS benefit compilation albums.
Byrne organized the arena concerts “Contemporary Color” in 2015, which were later made into a documentary. He has also appeared on television programs, including John Mulaney’s Netflix comedy special “John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch.”
One of Byrne’s most significant multimedia projects is “American Utopia,” which began as an album and became a live performance that debuted on Broadway in 2019. The concert was later made into a film directed by Spike Lee, and a picture book was released as a companion piece to the Broadway production.
In addition to his work in music and film, Byrne has also displayed his visual art in galleries and museums worldwide.
Personal Life of David Byrne
David Byrne dated Toni Basil and Twyla Tharp in the early 80s. He later married costume designer Adelle Lutz in 1987 and had a daughter named Malu in 1989. They divorced in 2004. He then started a relationship with Louise Neri, an art curator and gallery sales director. Byrne also dated artist Cindy Sherman. He is a dual citizen of the US and UK and currently resides in New York City. Byrne has not been professionally diagnosed, but suspects he has Asperger syndrome.
You May Also Like
ncG1vNJzZmiopaG9ta3SraCcZpOkunCwwK%2BgnWWSrr%2BvsYynnK1lp6S%2FtbSO