Byrne Bikes Under the Influence, Eats Pavement

Former Talking Head David Byrne had a crosseyed and painful bike ride home the other evening – and briefly ended up in the hospital. According to Byrne’s own blog, he’d spent the night drinking and dining with his special lady friend and artist David Shrigley. While cycling home, the Grammy-winning artist’s bike tire “slipped on the cobblestones of West 14th St.”

Even sober, that uneven surface can be treacherous, and the tipsy Byrne went down like a bag of dirt:

I remember lying in the street, looking at oncoming headlights and rolling towards the curb so they wouldn’t run me over. Two cops approached and looked down at me. “Have you been drinking?” they asked. Probably a typical question in that neighborhood at that time of night. “Yes, I’ve had a few drinks,” I replied. “But I’m hurt.” I managed to get up by myself and retrieve my bike (no help from the NYPD, though one of them asked if I was David Byrne) and it wasn’t until later, when I was in bed, that the pain made itself truly known. I wondered how I would ever even get out of bed.

So the Meat Packing District has just about lost its last scintilla of character, but at least the local cops are still true to form – and give them credit for not telling him to go write a song about it. During a trip to the hospital, X-rays revealed two broken ribs, “numbers 3 and 5, way up high. They're healing now, little by little, and I was told that in 3 weeks I should be OK.” During his recovery, you can do Byrne a solid by playing the building for him.

Photo of a sodden David Byrne contemplating calling a cab courtesy abreck.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in Arts and Events on May 21, 2008 5:38 PM

Comments [rss]

bklynd

Boring: a little bit.

Second fiddle: to someone like Bowie, Jagger, or even Bono, yes. He's a B-level rock star.

Environmentalist: At least a little bit. We all know he bikes a lot, anyway.

plus, he's

- interested in technology

- pontificates on trends

- is a hip nerd

The more I think about him, the more interesting he is in his unrockstarness.

navinjohnson

"the al gore of rock stars"?

does that mean boring? second fiddle? environmentalist?

how so?

bklynd

On my subway ride home tonight, listening to a live version of "I'm Not In Love", I was just thinking about how Byrne was the Al Gore of rock stars.

Sorry 'bout the broken ribs, David.

sinisterteashop

Hope he gets better but maybe karma is telling him to stop wearing that aggressively twee antique jockey's helmet he's always sporting when I spot him ride past on his bike.

babyhitler

I'm dissapointed that he's got such a shitty 300 dollar bike.

brooklynbs

I saw him walking out of McCarren Park on Sunday night. I tried to get my friend to go up to him and ask, "Hey dude, what kickball team are you on?," but he wouldn't.

pachydermfan

"went down like bag of dirt"?

don't you mean, "went down like bag dirt"?

antonius

Don't drink and ride.

LinkMan

Good thing this is New York. In some states, cycling under the influence can carry penalties similar to driving a motor vehicle under the influence.

MFer

The other day I saw David Byrne walking on Bedford Ave. I ignored him, of course. But I couldn't get it out of my mind that he is morphing slowly into Malcom McDowell. Just when I thought he was becoming less of a goofball--this!

slappy

If they want to keep that street cobblestoned, they should renovate it. Its a total disgrace. Even the cabs take it easy on that dangerous surface.

sonyactivision

Where were the cops to "lift him up,up,up,up...up,up,up,up. To lift him up"?

matukonyc

Luckily he didn't hurt anyone or get hit by a bus.

navinjohnson

did he get hit by a big, blue plymouth?

was he blind?

were the ribs a clean break?

was he on drugs?

did he almost go to heaven?

did he say "i wish you wouldn't say that" to the cop?

was he angry that the cop showed no compassion?

did he not see any kind of a warning sign?

(thank you, itunes playlists)