The Pixies formed in Boston in 1986 when Charles Thompson dropped out of college and convinced his friend and roommate, Joey Santiago, to do the same. The two recruited bassist Kim Deal who suggested drummer David Lovering join the group, and the lineup was made official. Thompson adopted the stage name Black Francis and the group named themselves The Pixies after flipping through a dictionary. The Pixies quickly gained a cult following as well as critical acclaim for their signature blend of screaming punk noise, indie guitar rock, classic pop, and surf rock riffs mixed with impossible-to-ignore melodic hooks and Francis' bizarre lyrics about religion, UFOs and metaphysics - their own unique sound.
During their six years together, The Pixies released five albums on the 4AD label - "Come on Pilgrim" (1987); "Surfer Rosa" (1988); “Doolittle” (1989); "Bossanova" (1990) and "Trompe Le Monde" (1991). Experiencing particular success in the U.K. and Europe, The Pixies played sold-out festivals and received a multitude of fan, peer and critical acclaim - the U.K.'s NME named "Doolittle" the "Second Best Album Ever." The band's influence was far-reaching; U2's Bono referred to The Pixies as "one of America's greatest bands ever;" David Bowie called their work "just about the most compelling music of the entire '80s," and Kurt Cobain, who identified "Surfer Rosa" as his favorite album of that entire decade, confessed, when writing "Smells Like Teen Spirit," that, "Basically, I was ripping off The Pixies."
Tour dates for The Pixies' reunion tour will be announced shortly.
This may be perhaps even more significant than the recent appearance of a certain right breast. I wonder if Kim is going to feel compelled to flash hers.
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Article comments
1 - shannon
Oh BLESSED, blessed day! All my dreams have come true. Search "Kim Deal" or "Pixies" on my site if you don't believe me. I've got an utter Pixies fetish.
2 - Eric Olsen
I'm pretty charged myself Shannon!
3 - Jim Carruthers
Wow, this is great news. I spent some time with Charles on the roller coaster at La Ronde, and several times had cocktails with the Deal sisters. And I had a thing for field hockey players.
And the next thing you know ...
4 - BRICKLAYER
As Gov. Dean says: "Yeeeeeeahhhhhhh!!!!"
5 - Eric Olsen
Another interesting angle is that despite the intensity of their fans, their stellar critical standing and influence on so many, they have never really been super popular with the masses. This could be one reunion that actually transcends original popularity.
6 - Craig Lyndall
Bigger than a breast on National Television? Eric, have you lost your mind? ;-)
7 - Eric Olsen
Perhaps not bigger in the mass media sense, but I am guessing more artistic import.
8 - Mark Saleski
this is pretty danged cool.
i knew nothing about the Pixies back in the day...my first exposure being the acoustic (sort of) verions of "Wave Of Mutilation" in the movie Pump Up The Volume.
...went to the store, couldn't find that tune...so i got Tromp Le Monde.
yow! it blew my head off.
9 - Eric Olsen
I was hooked when I heard "Bone Machine" in '88.
10 - Jim Carruthers
I can trump you all because I first heard the Pixies via a tape of "Hello Pilgrim" via 4AD after reading a short clip in the NME,. I made copies of the tape and everybody I gave a copy to thought it was brilliant.
Then I saw the band at Foufounes Electric with 20 other people. Then they released "Surfer Rosa" and it had the tits in Canada.
11 - Eric Olsen
Smug
12 - Mark Saleski
I can trump you all...
i went down on kim deal.
13 - Jim Carruthers
You kiss your mother with that mouth?
14 - Mark Saleski
i will now step aside so as to avoid the lightening bolt...
15 - Robert Brandt
"Monkey's Gone To Heaven" is HUGE on the open mic circuit nowadays. Really!
16 - Carl
The Pixies will be a 'special guest stars' for 5 David Bowie concerts in the US in late May/June - after the Sterophonics have done their bit (they finish 27th May).