Chris Frantz

Charton Christopher Frantz (born May 8, 1951) is an American musician and record producer. He is the drummer for both Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, both of which he co-founded with wife and Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth.[1][2] In 2002, Frantz was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Talking Heads.[3]

Chris Frantz
Frantz standing onstage
Frantz at South by Southwest 2010
Background information
Birth nameCharton Christopher Frantz
Born (1951-05-08) May 8, 1951
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, U.S.
Occupation(s)Drummer
Member ofTom Tom Club
Formerly ofTalking Heads
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1977)​

Career

Born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Charton Christopher Frantz graduated from Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied in the early 1970s at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he met both David Byrne and Tina Weymouth. Byrne and Frantz formed a band called the Artistics, which went on to become Talking Heads, in 1973. Weymouth, then Frantz's girlfriend, joined the band in 1975 after they had moved to New York City. Frantz and Weymouth were married in 1977 and have two sons.[2][4]

Frantz and Weymouth formed Tom Tom Club in 1980, when Talking Heads went on hiatus due to Byrne's solo efforts.[2] Weymouth, Frantz, and Jerry Harrison reunited as The Heads for a one-off album called No Talking, Just Head in 1996, featuring a rotating cast of vocalists, including Debbie Harry.[5] He and Weymouth produced the Happy Mondays' 1992 album, Yes Please! and the Scottish group Angelfish's self-titled album, in addition to producing multiple albums for Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.[6] Frantz and Weymouth also contributed backing vocals and percussion for Gorillaz self-titled debut album.[7][8]

He is ranked number 12 in Stylus Magazine's list of the 50 greatest rock drummers[9] and hosts a monthly radio program, "Chris Frantz the Talking Head", on 89.5 WPKN in Bridgeport, Connecticut.[10] Frantz and Weymouth are also closely associated with the Compass Point All Stars movement.[11] After Phish covered Talking Heads' Remain in Light, Frantz become known as an influence on the modern jamband scene.[12] Frantz's memoir, Remain in Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina, was published in July 2020 (St. Martin's Press in the US and Faber and Faber in the UK).[13][14][15]

Health

On Memorial Day Weekend 2020, Frantz suffered a heart attack that required the insertion of three stents.[16] In March 2022, Frantz and Tina Weymouth were in a car collision with a drunk driver.[17]

Bibliography
  • — (21 July 2020). Remain in Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina (Illustrated ed.). ISBN 978-1250209221. LCCN 2020002700. OCLC 1137735530. OL 28244911M.

References
  1. Prato, Greg. "Biography: Chris Frantz". Allmusic. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
  2. Jacques, Adam (March 17, 2013). "How We Met: Chris Frantz & Tina Weymouth". The Independent. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  3. "Talking Heads". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  4. Jacques, Adam (March 14, 2013). "How We Met: Chris Frantz & Tina Weymouth". The Independent. Archived from the original on February 4, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  5. "How the Heads Tried to Move On Without David Byrne With 'No Talking Just Head'". Diffuser.fm.
  6. Boehm, Mike (September 10, 1992). "Ex-Heads Say They Got Byrned: Split Still Miffs Frantz, Weymouth, Even Though Tom Tom Club Keeps Them Busy". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  7. Kandell, Steve (October 16, 2009). "Chris Frantz on Talking Heads Reunion & More". Spin. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  8. Daly, Sean (May 25, 2015). "'Toon In: Gorillaz Animate the Music Scene". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  9. "Happy Birthday To Fairfield's Chris Frantz". Fairfield Daily Voice. May 8, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  10. "Chris Frantz | WPKN Radio". www.wpkn.org. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  11. Poplak, Richard (July 9, 2008). "Island dreams". CBC News. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  12. Budnick, D., "‘Love’ Stories: Chris Frantz Reflects on Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, the Dead and the Power of Live", Relix, August 3, 2020.
  13. Blais-Billie, Braudie (April 24, 2018). "Talking Heads' Chris Frantz Announces Memoir". Pitchfork.
  14. Laing, O., "Remain in Love by Chris Frantz review – the Talking Heads drummer speaks out", The Guardian, July 15, 2020.
  15. "Rock and Roll Book Club: Chris Frantz's 'Remain In Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina". thecurrent.org. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  16. Paul, A., "Chris Frantz on the Rise and Fall of Talking Heads", WSJ, July 31, 2020.
  17. "Talking Heads musicians survive serious collision with drunk driver". TheGuardian.com. March 28, 2022.
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