Martina Michèle Weymouth ( ; born November 22, 1950) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and a founding member and bassist of the new wave group Talking Heads and its side project Tom Tom Club, which she co-founded with her husband, Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz. In 2002, Weymouth was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Talking Heads. and her father was American. Weymouth's maternal great-grandfather is Anatole Le Braz, a Breton writer. At 14, she started to teach herself the guitar. Her early inspirations came from Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul & Mary.
Other musical activities
Full members of the Compass Point All Stars, Weymouth and Frantz formed Tom Tom Club in 1980, which kept them busy during a fairly long hiatus in Talking Heads activity. She co-produced the Happy Mondays' 1992 album Yes Please!, the 1994 self-titled Angelfish album featuring Shirley Manson's vocals, and in 2001 contributed backing vocals and percussion for the alternative rock virtual band Gorillaz on their track "19-2000".
Weymouth was a judge for the second annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers. She collaborated with Chicks on Speed on their cover of the Tom Tom Club's "Wordy Rappinghood" for their album 99 Cents in 2003 along with other female musicians such as Miss Kittin, Kevin Blechdom, Le Tigre, and Adult's Nicola Kuperus. The cover became a moderate dance hit in Europe, peaking at number five on the Belgian Dance Chart.
Personal life
Weymouth and Chris Frantz married in 1977. The couple moved to Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1985, where they raised their two sons. Tina's paternal niece, Katharine Weymouth, daughter of prominent architect Yann Weymouth, was named publisher and chief executive officer of The Washington Post in 2008 until her resignation in 2014. In March 2022, Weymouth and Frantz were in a car collision with a drunk driver. Weymouth suffered a fractured sternum and three fractured ribs.
Legacy
In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked her as the 29th greatest bass player of all time. Weymouth has inspired many female bassists such as Este Haim, as well as Victoria De Angelis of Måneskin.
Equipment
- Höfner 500/2 Club Bass
- Gibson Les Paul Triumph Bass