David Byrne graced the stage of Friday night’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in Brooklyn, inducting a band — Radiohead — that took its name from a song he wrote — “Radio Head” — for the Talking Heads’ 1986 film and album “True Stories.”
It was a connection not lost on Byrne himself: “I was surprised and very flattered when Radiohead stated that, yes, they named themselves after a song I’d written. But had to ask myself, ‘Why that song? That slightly goofy Tex-Mex song? Why that one?’ We’ll never know.”
Byrne allegedly wrote the song about actor Stephen Tobolowsky, who co-wrote the film “True Stories.”
Because only two of the band’s members — Ed O’Brien and Phil Selway — appeared at the ceremony, fans were robbed of the chance of seeing Thom Yorke belt out the Heads’ “Radio Head,” a song selection that certainly would not have been made even if Radiohead actually had performed. One can dream.
Below, check out Byrne’s full speech — as well as both versions of “Radio Head.”
David Byrne inducts Radiohead into Rock Hall
“Radio Head” in “True Stories”
Talking Heads’ “Radio Head”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Watch: David Byrne breaks out Prince’s ‘When Doves Cry’ at Portland karaoke bar
- Watch: David Byrne brings his untethered band to ‘Late Show with Stephen Colbert’
- Stream: Talking Heads’ early demo of ‘Wild Wild Life’ — single off ‘True Stories’
- Vintage Video: David Byrne’s ‘Between the Teeth’ — watch full 1993 concert film
- David Byrne and St. Vincent stream ‘Love This Giant’ album in full, debut video for ‘Who’
