Talking Heads inducted in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame

Rehearsals in New York

Photos by Ted Kulczycky. Story originally posted on the talking-heads.net bulletin board.

Hi all,

I'm writing to you from an internet cafe in Times Square. I came to NYC from Montreal a few days ago, because of the possibility of a Letterman, or other appearance by the band. A VERY long shot, I know, but IF it did happen and I wasn't here to see it, I would kick myself for the rest of my life. Besides, I love NY and haven't been here in too long.

Anyway, having figured out where the band was rehearsing (the SECRET wasn't that great, it was mentioned in one of the articles), I staked out the studio. The place was crawling with very creepy professional autograph-hounds who I'm sure will be selling their wares on e-bay soon. They are scum!! The whole time we were waiting for the band to come out, they were complaining that this year's HOF ceremony was a joke and that "if Talking Heads are getting in, the next thing you know Duran Duran will get in." And then, when the band comes out, they're all "OOooh Oooh can I get an autograph" and getting in my (the real fan's) way. One of these f**kers got a guitar autographed by the whole band. DO NOT BUY IT! He was the rudest prick of all; he tried to tell me the band had left already, and when I didn't believe him he told ME not to get in his way!

Enough of the bad stuff. I have met Tina, Chris, Jerry, David, Bernie and Steve before, most of them twice, and am happy with my autograph collection. However, I've never gotten photos. So, unlike the mercenary scum, I *asked* each of them if I could get a photo and they were all very nice about it. I also asked if I could send the photos to Frank for the Website, and they all said "Sure."

Bernie Worrell seemed to sense that these guys were a--holes, and walked away quite quickly, but I metioned "Insurance Man for the Funk" (My favourite solo record of his) and he turned around and smiled and told me to go ahead with my photos. One of the mercanaries asked me "was that guy important?" I sternley replied that I wasn't going to give him any info. Steve Scales chatted with me for quite a while, as he did the previous time I met him. This guy is the best percussionist and one of the greatest performers in the world. He should be inducted into the hall just for being him. Jerry was on his cell-phone as he came out and the scumbags kept snapping photos the whole time. I waited 'till he was done and asked nicely. It got a bit chaotic when David came out, but I managed to get two photos of him with permission. Most of the f**kers left after David left, but two of them hung around. Chris and Tina, as always, were very generous with their time and Chris seemed to perk up immensely when I mentioned Frank It's really cold tonight in New York, so I didn't want to take up too much of their time.

Anyway, that's my little New York Story.
Thanks for listening
Ted