Chris Frantz

Remain in Love is Chris Frantz’s memoir of his time as the drummer of Talking Heads and one half of the driving force behind Tom Tom Club. It is also a memoir of his 42-year marriage (and the dating years before that) with Tina Weymouth, the sublimely inventive bassist of Talking Heads and the other half of Tom Tom Club. This book talks about the joys of putting together a good groove, the challenges of life on the road, and naturally the conflicts with David Byrne and the perma-hiatus show more that Talking Heads has ended up on.

Reviews of this memoir suggest that Frantz is bitter about Byrne’s treatment of the rest of the Talking Heads. It is true that there was plenty of love lost: among other things, Byrne would leave the others behind on tour without letting them know and would take sole credit for co-written songs such as the classic “Psycho Killer” (the story behind how this song got put together is really interesting). Byrne also seemed unable to be happy for the successes of others in the band (e.g., Tom Tom Club going gold). However, the overriding tone of the book is by no means as bitter as the reviews suggest. Frantz focuses on the good times, of which there were many, and the sheer delight of performing music with a bunch of cool people who are on the same musical page. And this includes Byrne—Frantz does not hesitate to mention Byrne’s inventiveness and talent.

The book is written in a conversational style and contains lots of anecdotes about the music scene (especially about touring Europe with the Ramones, among other bands) and about Frantz’s and Weymouth’s families. Throughout the book are black-and-white pictures that span childhood, musical career, and parenthood. I would definitely recommend this to fans of Talking Heads, and would suggest that it be read with any of their albums in the background. I chose their live album, The Name of This Band is Talking Heads. show less

I have one complaint about this audiobook. How could such groovy, funky drummer and one half of music's most irresistible rhythm section be such a lusterless, flat narrator? OK, now that that is out of the way....

I thank Frantz for reporting to us the birth of punk from the front row of touring with The Ramones, regularly performing at CBGB, etc. And then, to see the birth of rap sometime around the the New York City blackout of 1977 in time to integrate some it with Tom Tom Club. Along the show more way Franz picked up and overcame cocaine abuse, maintained a marriage and family with Tina Weymouth and put it all down for us.

I feel in no way his intention is to belittle anyone. Still, what emerges about David Byrne is that he is selfish (to the point of self-defeating aggrandizement) and inconsiderate to the point of stealing credit and breaking promises. Also, the producing capabilities of Brian Eno are belittled in convincing ways as it appears Eno, like Byrne, has is more about a personal brand than having anything meaningful to offer collaborators..

At one point, he remarks how happy and in love he is penning his book while Tina writes here alongside him. When do we get to read that book? show less

An entertaining listen charting the history of one of my favorite bands. Dragged a little in the details of travels and one show after the next...and, yes, we know you love your wife and think she is beautiful and talented and brilliant (no argument there)...but all in all, I enjoyed the ride, the details about how some of the best songs came together, and the realities of working with a variety of different people and personalities/egos to create some of the best albums of my youth and show more young adulthood. show less

Some interesting stories but suffers from poor editing in so many ways resulting in cringy and frustrating passages throughout the book. Really a 3.5 but rated a little higher because of my personal interest in many of the musicians discussed.