Talking Heads have announced New Feeling, an upcoming coffee-table book documenting the band’s history through rare archival material and personal reflections from all four members. It is set to arrive on May 18th, 2027, via Abrams Books, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of their debut album, Talking Heads: 77. Pre-orders are now ongoing.
David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison shared the news in a joint video posted by the publisher, discussing their collaboration on what is being billed as the first authorized book created by the entire band.
Book Details
Spanning 400 pages, Talking Heads: New Feeling brings together hundreds of photographs, handwritten lyrics, early album artwork, and original essays from each member. Among its contents are handwritten lyrics for “Psycho Killer” and “Life During Wartime,” alongside photographs and other memorabilia that have remained in the band’s archives for decades.
“For this book, we pulled out handwritten lyrics, original album sketches, and private photos, some of which haven’t left our archive in over 40 years,” Harrison explained in the announcement.
Band History
The book traces Talking Heads’ beginnings at the Rhode Island School of Design, their emergence in New York City’s downtown music scene at CBGB, and their subsequent rise to international success. It also revisits the band’s groundbreaking 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense, which returned to theaters in 2023 in a newly restored 4K version.
Book Editions
Designed by Eric Skillman, New Feeling will be available in a standard hardcover edition priced at $65, a collector’s edition for $150, and a limited edition for $350. The latter two feature a 19-piece wooden puzzle built into the cover of a deluxe box, while the limited edition also includes a reproduction of a Mick Rock photograph signed by all four members.
Although Talking Heads have not resumed making music together, the quartet have increasingly appeared together since the 2023 restoration and theatrical re-release of Stop Making Sense. In September, they reunited for a conversation moderated by Este Haim ahead of the October launch of their dedicated SiriusXM channel, Talking Heads Radio.
The group also recently announced a super deluxe reissue of their 1979 album Fear of Music, arriving November 13th with previously unreleased recordings and live material.
Meanwhile, Byrne recently released his own book in early October titled Sleeping Beauties: Why Good Ideas Go Dormant and How They Wake Up, exploring how overlooked ideas and discoveries eventually gain recognition.
In conclusion, the upcoming release of New Feeling is a significant event for Talking Heads fans, offering a unique glimpse into the band’s history and creative process. With its wealth of archival material and personal reflections, this book is sure to be a must-have for anyone interested in the band’s legacy and influence.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
⚖️ ENTER THE LEGALIZER
Think the government has no idea what it's doing? Put your case before the Federal Case Terminal and find out.
