The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode Title: Intro Rewind: Talking Heads (Extended)
Released: August 25, 2025
Main Theme:
Stephen Colbert sits down with all four members of Talking Heads—David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison—to celebrate the 40th anniversary re-release of the legendary concert film Stop Making Sense. This extended, never-before-heard interview covers the band’s origins, early days, life on the road, the making and impact of Stop Making Sense, and their complex band dynamics.

Episode Overview

This special episode reunites Colbert and Becca, the show's producer, with the full Talking Heads lineup. The conversation blends heartfelt fandom, band history, behind-the-scenes stories, and thoughtful reflection on Stop Making Sense’s enduring legacy. The chemistry is playful, candid, and insightful—perfect for both die-hard fans and newcomers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stephen Colbert’s Talking Heads Story

• Colbert’s Fandom:
  • Shares personal tales of formative years spent with Talking Heads' music, admitting he skipped their 1983 UVA concert for a Shakespeare paper—a decision he humorously and regretfully re-examines.
  • Quote:
    “I watched that film and I went, oh, you dummy. You dummy. You could have written that paper anytime.” — Stephen Colbert (05:31)
• Becca’s Connection:
  • Joins with her own family’s lore, revealing her mother failed a school test to see the band, providing a balance to Colbert's mature (if regretful) choice.
  • “I think my mom actually has the opposite story where she...failed a test because she wanted to go to a...Talking Heads show.” — Becca (05:37)

2. The Immediate Power of Talking Heads’ Music

• Cultural Impact:
  • Colbert describes how songs like “Burning Down The House” would become showstoppers at college parties.
  • “When the song came on, the party just stopped. And something else happened.” — Stephen Colbert (02:27)

3. Early Band Days & Origins (10:22–16:13)

• Humble Beginnings:
  • The members reminisce about the unglamorous start: cramped station wagons, empty pizza parlors, and even odd gig-mates like a drunken fire eater.
  • “We were still playing to, like, 50 people, maybe 100...in the station wagon. We would play shopping malls...pizza parlors.” — Chris Frantz (11:28)
• Meet-Cute Band Formation:
  • Chris Frantz discusses forming a band at RISD “to entertain our friends,” leading to the early lineup and covers of The Who, Miracles, Paul Revere & The Raiders.
  • Tina Weymouth was not initially part of the band, sitting “in another corner of the room because it was so loud.”
  • Jerry Harrison joined after The Modern Lovers broke up, training as an architect before the band won him over.
  • Tina joined as bassist because, “they really needed a bass player and nobody would join them.” (15:35)
  • “I just thought, oh, God, these guys, they're so amazing and they're so creative. And we had a chemistry.” — Tina Weymouth (15:47)

4. Life on the Road, CBGB's, and Touring with the Ramones (17:50–22:17)

• CBGB’s Scene:
  • Chris recalls the daunting early days at the club—seeing the Ramones, thinking they were a Spanish band, witnessing onstage arguments (“like a performance art act”), and immersing themselves in a community with Patti Smith, Television, and others.
• Ramones Tour & Euro Adventures:
  • Tina reflects on being the only woman touring with the Ramones, sharing tuners, and the egalitarian way European fans embraced musical variety.
  • “We did other tours with Dire Straits, we did other tours with XTC. I mean, it all worked together.” — Tina Weymouth (20:37)
  • Legendary moment: Fans at a Flanders show “pogoing so hard,” some collapsed through the floor and climbed right back to rejoin the crowd.
  • “We just saw this dimple appear in the middle of the crowd and we thought, oh, what?...And then those kids were falling through the floor into the basement, coming back out...” — Tina Weymouth (22:02)

5. Stop Making Sense 40th Anniversary (22:54–27:57)

• Re-release Origins:
  • Rights reverted to the band after 40 years. A24 jumped at the chance to remaster, not just re-stream the movie. (23:13)
• Restoration Story:
  • Jerry Harrison details hunting down the original negatives in a Kansas warehouse and updating the sound with modern technology and longtime collaborators.
  • “It was really good that we started early, and I worked with a wonderful mixer who worked on...the original album.” — Jerry Harrison (23:56)
• Seeing Themselves Now:
  • Watching their young selves in IMAX, Chris beams: “My wife is in it, and what a babe...When I look at it, I just think, Chris, you did the right thing.” — Chris Frantz (25:18)
• Band Chemistry on Stage:
  • Jerry describes assembling the legendary extended band, mixing friends, collaborators, and funk greats like Bernie Worrell, crediting the Stop Making Sense era as uniquely creative.
  • “I came back to the studio and went, we have the best band in the world. I can't believe this.” — Jerry Harrison (26:17)

6. Colbert’s Fan Pilgrimage (27:57–29:00)

• Tells of seeking out the famous “Burning Down the House” exterior from the video while at the Jersey shore: “We just drove and sat in front of the house and looked at...It was just like a center hall colonial house. We were like, here we are.”

7. Addressing Band Tensions & Reunion Rumors (29:30–31:17)

• Colbert’s Delicate Question:
  • Asks if old frictions remain:
  • “Over the last couple of decades, there’s been some friction in the band...is that all water under the bridge or do you still need to wear galoshes around each other?”
• Chris Frantz’ Response:
  • “Any band that's been together a long time has had twists and turns and ups and downs...but I think we love each other and we've made such great music together. And this movie...is so good that we all agreed we got to get together and protect our legacy.”
• Colbert’s Playful Nudge for a Reunion:
  • “You gotta admit, it would be legendary right now if you got up there and played a song.”
  • To which Tina quips: “We’ll be still waiting.” (31:15)

8. Final Reflections: What Does “Stop Making Sense” Mean? (31:57–32:45)

• David Byrne:
  • “It was more about like maybe talking to myself a little bit saying, don't be so rational all the time. Maybe sometimes trust your instinct, trust your feelings, trust those kinds of things, and see what happens.” (32:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I mean, the Last Waltz is good. But this is...extraordinary.” — Stephen Colbert on Stop Making Sense (06:09)
• “We were really good at what they call maintaining. So nobody knew.” — Chris Frantz, on the band's “rock and roll lifestyle,” (16:37)
• “Our sound man said, that's because he's full of drugs.” — Chris Frantz, on his always-smiling demeanor, (16:51)
• “To us, they [the Ramones] were like a performance art act.” — Chris Frantz, on witnessing punk’s chaos at CBGB’s (19:33)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Colbert’s Regretful Concert Tale: 02:27–05:28
• Starting Out – Band Formation & Early Gigs: 11:28–15:35
• CBGB’s & Ramones Era: 17:50–22:17
• Discussing Stop Making Sense Restoration: 22:54–25:26
• Band Tensions & Reunion Hopes: 29:30–31:17
• Meaning of “Stop Making Sense”: 31:57–32:45

Tone & Style

The atmosphere is alternately nostalgic, funny, and warm, with Colbert’s gleeful fandom giving the band space for both myth-busting and memory-sharing. The Talking Heads are witty, candid, and quick to poke fun at themselves and each other, while Colbert’s questions and stories balance deep admiration with playful banter.

Summary

This extended cut offers a comprehensive, heartfelt, and often hilarious exploration of Talking Heads’ four-decade journey from art-school underdogs to icons, culminating in arguably the greatest concert film of all time. From station wagon tours and CBGB gigs to the complexities of creative collaboration, and finally, a contemplative answer to what it means to stop making sense, this episode is a prized time-capsule for music history fans and Late Show listeners alike.