Duran Duran brilliantly cover Talking Heads' 1977 new wave classic 'Psycho Killer'

25 October 2023, 13:24 | Updated: 25 October 2023, 14:54

"Psycho Killer. Qu'est-ce que c'est?"

Talking Heads' groundbreaking 1977 new wave classic 'Psycho Killer' is one of the most off-kilter but admired songs in the history of punk rock music.

Not to mention the macabre lyrics about a menacing presence simmering within someone who can't control it.

Talking of macabre, Duran Duran's forthcoming Halloween-inspired album is in fact titled, Danse Macabre.

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Following in the footsteps of the poem, the Stephen King novel, and French composer Camille Saint-Saëns' iconic piece of music, the new romantic legends are the latest in a long list of cultural figures to use the well-known allegory about Death awaiting everyone of us.

'Psycho Killer' features one of Talking Heads' bassist Tina Weymouth's most iconic bass-lines, and the band have welcomed guest artist Victoria De Angelis from Eurovision winners Måneskin to perform it on their cover.

Listen to their version of the classic song below:

PSYCHO KILLER (feat. Victoria De Angelis)

Set for release on 27th October 2023, Danse Macabre will see Duran Duran harness the malignant, eerie moments in popular music ahead of Halloween.

The album will also feature cover versions from the likes of The Rolling Stones, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Rick James, The Specials, and more.

Talking about their decision to cover the Talking Heads song with De Angelis on bass, Duran Duran's own bassist John Taylor revealed in a press statement that she is "probably the most important electric bassist out there right now".

"I met a couple of the guys from Måneskin at a party and they said, 'you’ve got to meet our bass player.’ She's such a dynamo!", he continued.

"I was like 'what inspired you?' and Vic said, 'Tina Weymouth'. So when 'Psycho Killer' made the cut for the album, I thought, 'I’m gonna ask her if she’d like to have a bass-off!'"

De Angelis was similarly gushing about the opportunity to perform with the legendary new romantic band, saying it was "such a wild honour".

"I met John at a party, and we immediately bonded talking about music and bass. I told him Tina Weymouth was my absolute pinnacle of cool, attitude and incredible musicianship all rolled into one, and he told me he also started playing bass inspired by her and she was one of his music idols," she revealed.

"I then got a call from John months later saying he was working on a cover of 'Psycho Killer', and he wanted to ask me first about playing on it."

"It was insane being asked by one of the greatest bass players ever to play one of my favourite songs with Duran Duran. Absolutely insane.

"I’m so grateful and honoured, it was so much fun recording together with John and he was so sweet to me and encouraged me to express myself and play it my own way. I’ll always remember that day," she added.

'Psycho Killer' is the last single from Duran Duran's new disco-inspired album to be released before the entire album hits record shelves, following 'Black Moonlight' which featured Chic icon Nile Rodgers.

The band's former guitarists Andy Taylor and Warren Cuccurullo also appear on the album, their first appearances on a Duran Duran record since 2004 and 2000, respectively.

The idea for Danse Macabre came from last year when Duran Duran played at a Halloween party in Las Vegas.

Singer Simon Le Bon said the record is "supposed to be fun" whilst keyboardist Nick Rhodes stated that they've made an album to make "the soundtrack to their ultimate Halloween party".