The video, starring Saoirse Ronan, arrives as the band marks its 50th anniversary
Talking Heads premiere the first ever music video for their classic song Psycho Killer, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mike Mills (C’mon C’mon, Beginners) and starring Saoirse Ronan (Little Women, Lady Bird).
Prior to the premiere, there was much speculation and hope for a possible anniversary reunion tour or concert, as today (5 June) marks the 50th anniversary of Talking Heads’ live debut at New York’s CBGB, supporting the Ramones.
The music video follows a young woman (Ronan) unraveling while stuck in her daily routine. She moves through the same unchanging settings – bedroom, kitchen, office, car – while becoming a different version of herself each day. Her outfits loop across the days in a steady visual rhythm, as her emotions veer wildly from content to furious to numb and spiral into sudden outbursts or haunted silences. Mills’ disquieting portrait of isolation echoes the tension at the heart of the song.
Ronan said: “To simply be mentioned in the same breath as Talking Heads is hands down one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me, let alone making a video with the singular Mike Mills to accompany one of their most iconic songs – Psycho Killer. I have grown up listening to their music, so this truly is a childhood/teenage/lifelong dream come true. Mike, myself and the rest of the creative team had so much fun making this, and I can’t wait for Talking Heads fans to see it!”
Watch below:
“This Video Makes The Song Better”
In a statement, the band said: “This video makes the song better – We LOVE what this video is NOT – it’s not literal, creepy, bloody, physically violent or obvious.”
“This album literally changed what was possible in life for me,” adds Mills. “So to get to play with the subversive, uncategorisable beauty of Talking Heads, and to play with Saoirse who brought so much surprise, power, vulnerability and mischief to the party, it’s one of the best things I ever got to be a part of – still can’t believe it actually happened.”
First released in 1977, Psycho Killer remains a cornerstone of their legacy and is featured in countless films and playlists. Lifted from debut album Talking Heads: 77, Psycho Killer originally reached No.92 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since been included in The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll.
The video arrives amid the quartet’s year-long 50th anniversary celebration. Formed in 1975, Talking Heads became one of the most influential bands to emerge from New York’s CBGB scene.
A run of groundbreaking albums charted their evolution – from art-school minimalism into bold sonic and rhythmic experimentation – making them unlikely pop stars along the way. Critically and commercially successful, the band – David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison – helped shape the language of modern music and expanded the creative possibilities of the music video.
More Songs About Buildings And Food
The video follows the announcement that the band’s groundbreaking second album, More Songs About Buildings And Food, is being reissued as a Super Deluxe Edition.
The collection captures a pivotal moment in their evolution and marks the first of three albums produced with Brian Eno.
The 3CD/1Blu-ray Super Deluxe reissue features the remastered album alongside 11 rarities, including four previously unreleased alternate versions of album tracks.
The set also includes a live recording of the band’s August 1978 show at New York’s Entermedia Theatre. Footage from that show and another at Sproul Plaza at the University of California, Berkeley, both appear on the Blu-ray.
Additionally, there are Dolby ATMOS and 5.1 surround sound mixes by E.T. Thorngren and group member Jerry Harrison, plus a high-resolution stereo version of the album. A 60-page hardcover book rounds out the package, with previously unseen photos and new liner notes with recollections from the band.
More Songs About Buildings Super Deluxe Edition is released via Rhino on 25 July. Pre-order here.
Featured image credit: Echoes/Redferns/Getty
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