Byrne was indeed a genius - peaked with "My life in the bush of Ghosts" - but when New Wave petered out he was high and dry. To colorize his total whitey guy image he pushed all that World Music stuff. So edgy.
It wasn't what many wanted to hear.
Sometimes real bright guys get a bit presumptuous. Like Jaco Pastorius - brilliant but he became a total tool.
God’s honest truth.... The Hispanic leader for David Byrnes salsa sessions and album was disgusted by his pooftiness and said all the musicians felt the same and only did the sessions because Byrne was paying above the usual session rates
I might have read this is in RS mag back then. The account was hilarious and got me laughing