Bassist Tina Weymouth and drummer Chris Frantz met at Rhode Island Faculty of Design within the early Seventies. After they grew to become a pair, Weymouth joined Chris’s band the Artistics, together with David Byrne. Collectively they might kind Speaking Heads, some of the influential teams of all time. Weymouth and Frantz, who’re additionally identified for his or her new wave facet challenge Tom Tom Membership, have two sons and reside in New England. They tour the UK in Might to advertise Frantz’s memoir, Remain in Love.
Chris
This {photograph} was taken in early spring, but it surely was chilly out so Tina was sporting a hat – the primary present I gave her. I’d been residence for Christmas and stated: “Mother, there’s this woman, and I’d actually wish to get her a gift.” She stated: “No matter you do, don’t give her jewelry, that’s cheesy!” So I went to a division retailer in Pittsburgh and purchased a hat by a milliner known as Adolfo. Tina actually appreciated it. It was slightly small for her head, however she wore it faithfully. Tina and I had been critical about one another. After we met she had a boyfriend and I had a girlfriend, however I had a powerful feeling that she was the one. I stated: “Tina, if you’re completed with this boyfriend, come and see me.” And that’s what finally occurred.
Within the meantime we grew to become excellent pals. We had portray courses collectively and infrequently ate at a giant desk with lots of different pals within the RISD eating corridor. I knew Tina was very good and very bodily engaging, and I quickly came upon we additionally had comparable upbringings: my father was a basic in the US military and her father was an admiral in the US navy, so we each had this army background. Her mom was French, so she had a European sensibility for tradition and the humanities, which I beloved. On high of the whole lot else, she was a extremely good dancer. There was a pupil bar promoting beer, wine and peanuts, and it had a jukebox. One of many massive hits on the time was Manu Dibango’s Soul Makossa, so I put in some quarters and requested Tina to bop. It got here on and I used to be considering: “This woman has an incredible sense of rhythm. She could be a very good musician.”
Once I first requested her to affix the Artistics, she refused very politely. She was critical about her portray, however would assist me in my efforts – she was the one individual with a automobile, so she would assist me transfer my drum package round. Unbeknown to me, she was placing cash down on a bass guitar utilizing $5 per week from her day job. In the long run, her mother and father gave her $100 and she or he was capable of get a 96 Fender Precision – the creme de la creme of rock basses. She got here strolling in holding it at some point, and I used to be like: “Hallelujah!” I knew she was going to be good, but it surely turned out she was even higher than I’d imagined.
Tina and I work and reside collectively, so a technique we maintain the romance going is to take little journeys. It doesn’t should be far. It may very well be 50 miles away to go to a theatre that has an fascinating play on. Or a mountain high. Getting away from the humdrum residence life. Then again, if we are able to’t try this, we simply attempt to make our residence life good. I do lots of cooking. As we speak I did the dishes. Tina doesn’t let me do the laundry although – I’ve messed it up too many instances.
In March final 12 months, a drunk driver got here down the highway and crashed into us. We received hit head-on and the very first thing I assumed was: “Oh my God – Tina.” I couldn’t see her as a result of there was an airbag throughout her. She received fairly banged up. I felt for her. Though I used to be driving correctly I felt accountable. It took some time to recover from it, however she takes excellent care of herself and I attempt to assist her with that.
I’m now – and at all times have been – very aware of what a lucky individual I’m to have her, and to have had the experiences that we’ve had, the nice and unhealthy, however principally actually nice. I’m so fortunate that every one my desires got here true with Tina.
Tina
I’m sporting my grandmother’s tatty fur coat and I’ve received a cigarette hanging off my lip on this photograph; I feel we’re doing a sort of a spoof of F Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. The hat was the primary current Chris had given me as his mum had stated: “Completely don’t purchase her jewelry. Which means you’re critical!” She hadn’t met me but.
The photographer, Roger Gordy, took the image behind the studio we shared in the identical place the place we wrote Psycho Killer in January 1974. I used to be reluctant to affix Chris’s group as I assumed it was very laborious for ladies to carry their very own in a band – it appeared you’d should be a cocksure man to outlive. In the long run I used to be so devoted to those guys that I received a bass guitar simply because nobody else would be part of them.
Earlier than my marriage, I felt very weak, like slightly tiny octopus floating within the ocean – on the market for grabs and never secure in any respect. The world was terribly threatening for a younger lady within the 70s, and it nonetheless is. However as soon as we tied the knot, it modified. I additionally thought of the long run: if I am going loopy, my mother and father might be good to Chris, and if Chris goes loopy, his mother and father might be very good to me, so we’ll have that assist no matter occurs to us.
after publication promotion
The important thing to a protracted marriage is to maintain some thriller. Don’t reveal the whole lot. Boyfriends earlier than Chris would comply with me into the lavatory, or say: “I don’t like that gown you’re sporting.” I felt so stifled and suffocated by them. Chris by no means did that. He stated: “I’ll by no means comply with you into the lavatory. You might have your life – I’ve mine.” That is the settlement. You must be separate people with some overlap.
Chris used to seduce me with meals. He’d make me omelettes, or peaches and cream. We’d take heed to information collectively. It was at all times about delicacies and music. Even when our youngsters got here into our lives we needed to impress upon them that they fashioned a part of the household, however they weren’t a part of the wedding. We needed to set up a daily date night time as soon as per week, and to ensure that that to work we needed to have nannies. That made for a really blissful prolonged household.
Chris is such an expensive and so romantic. He offers me flowers and goodies, and remembers issues I like. He gave me a celebration for my fortieth birthday after I was solely turning 39, as he couldn’t wait an entire 12 months. After the automobile crash, he stated: “OK, we’re taking place to the Bahamas so you may swim within the sea – swimming within the salt water is excellent for the bones.” He was proper. We had been there for 2 weeks, and after we got here again I used to be healed.
The extra I’m with Chris, the extra I like and respect him. I actually assume he’s certainly one of a form – I’m not going to get one other. Not that I’ll have to. When certainly one of us dies we’ve stated the opposite should get an house in Paris with slightly canine. I actually hope that I predecease him.