Charton Christopher Frantz (born May 8, 1951) is an American musician and record producer. He is the drummer for both Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, which he co-founded with wife and Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth. In 2002, Frantz was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Talking Heads.
Born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Charton Christopher Frantz graduated from Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied in the early 1970s at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he met both David Byrne and Weymouth. Byrne and Frantz formed a band called the Artistics, which went on to become Talking Heads, in the winter of 1974. Tina Weymouth, then Frantz's girlfriend, also joined the band while the three were at RISD. Frantz and Weymouth were married in 1977.
As the drummer for Talking Heads, Frantz never utilizes a ride cymbal; instead choosing to keep the beat on the hi-hat. Cymbals are used only as accent or crashes.
Frantz and Weymouth formed Tom Tom Club in 1980 when the Talking Heads went on hiatus due to Byrne's solo efforts. Weymouth, Frantz, and Jerry Harrison reunited as The Heads for a one-off album called No Talking, Just Head in 1996, featuring a rotating cast of vocalists, including Debbie Harry.
He and Weymouth produced the Happy Mondays' 1992 album, Yes Please! and the Scottish group Angelfish's self-titled album, in addition to producing multiple albums for Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.[4] Frantz and Weymouth also contributed backing vocals and percussion for Gorillaz, the debut album of the band of the same name.
He is ranked number 12 in Stylus Magazine's list of the 50 greatest rock drummers and hosts a monthly radio program, "Chris Frantz the Talking Head," on 89.5 WPKN in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Frantz and Weymouth are also closely associated with the Compass Point All Stars movement.
Frantz lived in Maysville, Kentucky, before going to Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Frantz has two sons with Weymouth, named Egan and Robin. He and Weymouth reside in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Frantz' brother Roddy Frantz is the lead singer for the Urban Verbs.