Bicycle Diaries

Since the early 1980s, David Byrne has been riding a bicycle as his principal means of transportation in New York City. A few years later he discovered folding bikes, and starting taking them with him on music tour overseas, and experienced a sense of liberation as he pedalled around many of the world's principal cities. The view from his bike seat has given Byrne a panoramic window on urban life over the last thirty years as he has cycled round cities such as London, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Manila, New York, Detroit and San Francisco. From music and the visual arts, to globalisation, politics, the nature of creative work, fashion and art, this book gives the reader an incredible insight into what Byrne is seeing and thinking as he pedals around these cities.

Filled with intimate photographs, incredible musical stories and a powerful ecological message, this is an enchanting celebration of bike riding and of the rewards of seeing the world at bike level.

David Byrne is a co-founding member of the musical group Talking Heads. He has produced many solo albums and collaborated with such noted artists as Twyla Tharp, Robert Wilson and Brian Eno. He has received Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

Auteur
David Byrne was born in Dumbarton, Scotland, in 1952. He is primarily known as the musician who co-founded the group Talking Heads (1976-88), and has also been involved in an array of music, theatre, art and film projects - including work with Brian Eno, Thwyla Tharp, Robert Wilson, Jonathan Demme and Bernardo Bertolucci - as well as Stop Making Sense (1984) and the theatre piece about Imelda Marcos, Here Lies Love, presented at the National Theatre. He has received Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe awards and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He currently lives in New York.

Résumé
'Byrne comes across like a post-punk Michael Palin.' Sephen Dalton, The Times 'An engaging book; part-diary, part-manifesto.' Observer David Byrne, co-founder of the group Talking Heads, has been riding a bicycle as his principal means of transportation since the 1980's. When he tours, Byrne travels with a folding bicycle, bringing it to cities like London, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Manila, New York, Detroit and San Francisco. The view from his bike seat has given Byrne a panoramic window on urban life all over the world. An enchanting celebration of bike riding and of the rewards of seeing the world at bike level, this book gives the reader an incredible insight into what Byrne is seeing and thinking as he pedals around these cities.