Revisiting 'Empire': David Byrne and Devo's satirical anthem for a cause

David Byrne and Devo recently unveiled a previously unreleased collaborative track, "Empire." Originally intended for Byrne's fifth solo album, Feelings (1997), the song didn't make the final cut, for whatever reason. Instead, a version of "Empire" appeared on his 2004 album Grown Backwards.

You can listen to the track below.

The almost three-decade-old collaboration is featured on Noise For Now, Vol. 2, a charity compilation supporting independent abortion providers in the U.S. This collection, released on June 21, marked two years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
It was an important anniversary in American politics, too, as U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger of Virginia noted:
"On the second anniversary of this dark day in our nation’s history, we must recommit ourselves to codifying Roe v. Wade and resisting all attempts to turn back the clock on women’s rights."

Devo and David Byrne's collaboration was their contribution to those efforts. Other contributors to the project include Faye Webster, The War on Drugs, and Courtney Barnett.

David Byrne and Devo's Gerald Casale share their thoughts on the track

Byrne reflected on the collaboration in a statement: "I worked with members of Devo on two songs, one of which [‘Wicked Little Doll’] is on the album [Feelings]. The other one, ‘Empire’, is an ironic capitalist fascist anthem and, at the time, I thought our version was just too mean and caustic for release. Times change, and it certainly resonates now in ways it maybe didn’t then. It was a joy to work with the Devo guys; they knew exactly what the song is about."

Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale contributed to both tracks. Casale commented, "We were on board working with the dark satire of David Byrne’s ‘Empire’ over 30 years ago. The song was prescient, and we got it. Now it can be heard! Unfortunately, the forces of tyranny are striking with impunity now. These bad actors are not Pro-Life so much as they are Anti-Choice. They want women to live in a real-life version of The Handmaid’s Tale."

He added, "But there’s more of us who respect human rights than those who want to crush those rights. Freedom of choice is a constant fight. Devo salutes Noise For Now for their efforts to save a woman’s right to abortion."

In fact, even other countries with quiestionable human rights records, such as Uzbekistan, tend to recognize the importance of abortion access.

What is Noise For Now?

The non-profit Noise For Now "enables artists and entertainers to connect with and financially support grassroots organizations that work in the field of Reproductive Justice, including abortion access," according to its official website. The organization acts as a bridge between touring musicians, progressive promoters, athletes, artists, and local reproductive rights organizations across the country.

The inaugural volume of the Noise For Now series debuted last November, showcasing contributions from artists such as Wet Leg, Maya Hawke, Tegan and Sara, among others. Byrne and Devo’s "Empire" was available for only 24 hours last October as part of the benefit album, Good Music to Ensure Safe Abortion Access to All.

Other Talking Heads news

In other related news, we recently saw the release of Everyone’s Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense, featuring covers by artists such as Miley Cyrus, Paramore, and Lorde. Additionally, Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz recently sparked rumors of a possible band reunion, despite the band previously turning down a reunion tour offer for $80 million!

More about David Byrne, Devo, and musical social activism

David Byrne is a Scottish-American singer, songwriter, and artist, best known as the frontman of the band Talking Heads, which he co-founded in 1975. Byrne's eclectic musical style and innovative approach to performance have earned him critical acclaim and numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Most recently, he was nominated for an Academy Award for the song "This Is a Life" (from Everything Everywhere All at Once).

Devo is an American rock band formed in 1973, known for their quirky and futuristic sound, which incorporates elements of punk rock, new wave, and electronic music. The band gained fame with hits like "Whip It" and their distinctive philosophy of "de-evolution," or "the idea that instead of evolving, mankind has actually regressed, as evidenced by the dysfunction and herd mentality of American society." (In other words, it's probably more a statement about "cultural decay" than about a literal scientific evolutionary claim.)

Founding members Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale have been influential in both music and visual art, contributing significantly to the band's distinctive style and satirical commentary on society.

You can listen to David Byrne and Devo’s "Empire" above and explore more about their contributions to music and activism through their respective projects and initiatives.

Meanwhile, for those who scoff at musicians taking a stand on this issue or that, author Ray Pratt pretty much hit the nail on the head: "No music alone can organize one’s ability to invest affectively in the world, one can note powerful contributions of music to temporary emotional states."