Former Talking Heads leader David Byrne turns 58 today, and we mark his birthday with one of his quirkier solo projects: Music for the “Knee Plays,” a 1985 brass-band-and-vocals album Byrne composed for Robert Wilson’s opera “the CIVIL warS.” The 12-track collection was released on CD, in expanded form, for the first time ever in 2007 (previously it had been available on cassette and vinyl), and is quintessential Byrne, with predictably oddball lyrics delivered in his laconic deadpan. Above is a 10-song performance of “Knee Plays” by Byrne and the Les Miserables Brass Band, aired on BBC2 in 1988. You can watch the whole thing in the embedded playlist, or check out the individual tracks at Slicing Up Video.
PREVIOUSLY IN MILESTONES
- U2’s Bono turns 50 today
- World Party’s ‘Goodbye Jumbo’ was released 20 years ago today
- R.E.M. turns 30 today; band made debut April 5, 1980, at St. Mary’s Church
- Depeche Mode’s ‘Violator’ released exactly 20 years ago today
- Depeche Mode’s ‘101′ live album released 21 years ago this week
- Minutemen, Black Flag recorded ‘Minuteflag’ EP 25 years ago this week
- The Smiths’ ‘Meat is Murder’ released 25 years ago today
- New Order’s ‘Technique’ released 21 years ago today
- Remembering INXS’s Michael Hutchence on his 50th birthday
