David Byrne on Letterman

[imFlyPaper]

I like the way things were, when this was on television n such. there was this whole expected and true etiquette expectation for or from a show. and the format was than already figured out and than after when watching you got the real message or the better version of what could have been extracted for you

[burningburney94]

how would I describe this interview.....its like 60 Minutes on Acid.

[GunslingerMatt]

WOW! i'm doing a research about asperger, and here it takes me. David Byrne act just like me! Now I know I'm not lonely. :D

[diekontrolleure]

@GunslingerMatt he is a enneagram 5w4 type, he doesnt have asperger

[SchrecTC]

I would be unnerved if I was being portrayed the way Letterman tried to paint in David Byrne. He seems to make it look as if David enjoys making loads of money for "easy" art. If you look at it closely, David likes getting his message out about "the box" we share.

[djspesh82]

He's funny and makes good responses to questions.

[veeMuree]

o my god... take me david byrne... take me!!!

[jamesham12345]

This is a classic case of Aspergers syndrome in action.

[ComradeLeonTrotsky]

He just seems like a normal guy who is a little shy.

[PennyDreadful1]

Wow he really does act asperger.

[lucretia101]

talking interview...as opposed to wha? lol jk. Great clip :-D

[puppiezR2cute]

~*`byrne`*~

[ShadowShift7]

So is he talking like this as a little "act"? The short silences and strange emphasis are incredible.

[LynchMobFilms]

He looks like Pee Wee Herman in this, lol

[GenuineColour]

he's not awkward at all. he's just not trying to make a fool out of himself. Byrne is the man!

[thirtyfivemil]

Actually, this is brilliant. David seems awkward, but it's a excellent counter-play against Letterman's usual smoothness, which in turn makes Letterman awkward.

[011111000000]

Asperger syndrome explains everything.

[culayta]

He totally reminds me of Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates!

[gregnotes]

Christian Bale should play him in a movie about early Talking Heads, he looks like him

[Uncompetative]

@gregnotes Surely, Jim Parsons from the Big Bang Theory would be better?

[bend0matic]

David Byrne has a great playlist on itunes radio...check it.

[turbodeluxx]

I've met a few guys like himself. Usually there are harmless but they can tare up a stage and stir a crowd I tell ya. Love the music. Get back with the band Dave. Talking Heads Dave, remember them Dave?

[purpleporcupine59]

Lots of posters here giving Letterman a hard time but Byrne is more than a little odd and he was a tough interview. Saying that I think Byrne is more comfortable in front of a mic than a camera. He is a true musical genius and that is one band I would go out of my way to see if they ever re-united.

[missdaspeaker]

David Byrne is in touch with a higher level and the world is a better place for it.

Can we say the same about Letterman?

[MrZzachariah13]

@missdaspeaker fuck letterman

[jogga16]

he's not on drugs.... everyone is being very naive.

[greenman8]

No he Is bright, he is Indigo. Its those not in tune thinking it has to be drugs, that makes him the way he is. just like the system assumes those with Dyslexia and ADHD are different. not true we are becoming the norm and it is the boring people who maintain the steady normal think we are nuts. Unbelievable!

[jenbunny1984]

You can see aspergers characteristic, I have work with individuals with aspergers

[91thebossman]

how yacked out is he?

[josephuia]

I doubt he is on anything... he would probably be more "normal" on drugs... Its probably the sensitivity he has for life that makes him the way he is.... Beautiful!

[fenderstratguy]

0:15 Whoa, did you see that catch? Shades of Mr & Mrs Smith!

[Creaturefiend565]

Definitely  on acid. No doubt

[imFlyPaper]

"I DID IT AT HOME" haha ..... sweet

[JohnBlazeFilm]

Got to be on acid!

[howhard63]

I think he's stoned!

[jakekarlson]

lol at the failed applause at 3:38

[REMCUREBOY]

One of the coolest frontmen ever. 

[cosmicrider287]

david byrne is an intelligent man.

[awuhu]

Letterman did a terrible job here.

[linesinaconversation]

@awuhu As usual... he's really bad at speaking to musicians, because I don't think he cares much about music.

[moobie1010]

nervous as hell.

[theicyridge]

David Byne has the strangest sort of total charm I've ever seen.

[BoozehammerOfGalem]

@theicyridge Well said. He comes off like the love child of Andy Warhol and Mr. Rogers.

[SarahElisabethMaria]

@theicyridge Total Charm is very well put! He is like fragile and strong, sarcastic and sweet etc. and he makes all of it work , he's a 'total person' it seems. (I should say he "was" but I didnt)

[Headbanger142]

I'll tell you later.

[curtisdope]

he's dressed like forest gump.

[ballandrew0]

haha this is awesome. david byrne is so much smarter (crazier?) than letterman

[SadlyWatches]

brilliant people on acid are always entertaining...

[ncast54]

WOW, i didnt know they made CD"S that big back in the day

[jrpears1]

Sometimes, having someone else write your questions out for you instead of just getting familiar with your subject and his or her personality can go very, very bad.

[treytreytrey07]

I don't feel that David Byrne has Aspergers. he probably was very flustered being interviewed in that type of an environment in front of a decent sized live audience, which I can relate to 100%. I've seen other interviews of him where he was relaxed and communicated perfectly fine. and even though he did a good job of carrying it here, I think Letterman definitely is the type of strong personality that can easily cause someone to lose their nerve

[marvg47]

This makes so much sense now. When I originally watched this with my brother, we thought that he was high or drunk. We didn't realize that he had Aspergers. What's funny is I remember my mom giving us a tongue lashing over making fun of Joe Cocker on SNL because she said it was mean to make fun of people with cerebal palsy (and he probably was drunk/high).

[aquagrl63]

@marvg47 When I was younger I mocked boy who had Aspergers, not knowing he had aspergers (he was a older than me, and it was back when I thought that all boys were out to get me). I have recently been diagnosed with Aspergers.

[peterikarlstad]

Goddammit, I´m an "aspie" too - too bad I´m not as creative as him...

[TravelerKM]

I really didn't think it was that awkward...

[dizzankss]

i got a girlfriend that is better then that.

[1234567890101]

this wasn't as awkward as everyone made it out to be

[Teriszega]

@1234567890101 everyone made this out to be awkward?

[PoppaPurp]

letterman sucked!

[Dano739]

I think both Letterman and Byrne did the best they could, given the situation. Those with Asperger's find it very difficult to relate to others and are often described as 'living in their own world'. Whether Byrne has a form of Asperger's or not, he is in my opinion a creative genius indeed. I'm glad he's been able to make it all work to his advantage and it's great to see that his work is still as edgy and innovative as ever.

[BootHeels7]

He was such a nervous wreck back then, but goddamnit if I don't love his work.

[mrpicky510]

@BootHeels7 David Byrne has aspergers syndrome which is a mild form of autism and because of it he is very creative but has a hard time dealing with people one to one, it's not Letterman's fault at all

[BootHeels7]

@mrpicky510 Never said it was Letterman's fault. I heard that he himself thought he had Asperger's, but was never medically diagnosed. But I can totally see it if he did. His weird persona is actually what I like about Talking Heads.

[BootHeels7]

@mrpicky510 PS I think you meant to respond to RiverSolitaire

[RiverSolitaire]

The most awkward interview I've ever seen, but it's more Letterman's fault

[TerrorBlack]

the best