Seymour Stein Remembered by Talking Heads Drummer Chris Frantz: ‘He Understood Us and Believed in Us’
variety.comChris Frantz Sire Records co-founder Seymour Stein was indisputably one of the greatest music executives of all time, with a career that spanned six decades and a rare ear for talent that led Madonna, Talking Heads, Lou Reed, Ice-T, Depeche Mode, the Pretenders, the Smiths, and many others to his label.
Stein, who died on April 2 at the age of 80, is remembered here by Chris Frantz, drummer of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, who, with Tina Weymouth (now his wife), Jerry Harrison and of course David Byrne, signed with the label late in 1976.
Seymour told this story many times. His first visit to CBGB’s on the Bowery was to see the Ramones. His wife Linda insisted that he see them because they were something new and fabulous and she thought he should sign them, which he did.
He was standing outside the club on the sidewalk speaking with [Patti Smith’s longtime guitarist] Lenny Kaye, waiting for Ramones to go on when he heard the support band begin to play. “When my love stands next to your love….” Something clicked in Seymour’s head and he said to Lenny, “Who’s that?” “Oh, that’s Talking Heads.” To hear Seymour tell it, the music attracted him like a snake charmer and he felt a surge of excitement and hurried inside and rushed down the length of the club to stand in front of the stage.
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