Pixies Information

While the Pixies may not be a household name, they are a staple in the music collection of some of the most successful acts of the ‘90s including Nirvana, U2, and Radiohead. As one of the most acclaimed acts in independent music, the Pixies were breaking up as other alternative rock groups they influenced were breaking through to a mainstream market. Elements of punk are found in the music of the Pixies and they are known for their lyrics and dark, offbeat song topics. Many different musical styles have influenced the Pixies including surfer music.

The Pixies started when Charles Michael Kitridge Thompson IV renamed himself Black Francis and began to master the guitar, bass, piano, and drums. He and college roommate guitarist Joey Santiago placed an ad in the classified section and Kim Deal came knocking. She brought in drummer David Lovering and in the summer of 1986 the Pixies were born. The Pixies picked their mischievous little elves name at random from the dictionary.

Soon local gigs turned to bookings in dives from a wider geographical area. After seeing the Pixies perform at a concert with Throwing Muses, Gary Smith, manager and producer at Boston's Fort Apache Studios helped the Pixies. The band recorded a series of songs for a mini-album. The songs were sent to key players in music world and the Pixies gained a British record company and a manager. Eight of the tracks from the original demos were released as Come On Pilgrim.

Though the Pixies formed in Boston, they established a following in the UK. The next Pixies album, Surfer Rosa, topped the independent charts, and was named Album Of The Year by both Melody Maker and Sounds. And it caught the attention of many successful British musicians.

The Pixies' third album, Doolittle, hit Top 10 in the UK and reached the Top 100 in the U.S. Constant touring and three albums in two years led to exhaustion and the Pixies took a break. When the Pixies came back to record their fourth album a European tour followed. However, they cancelled the U.S. tour and opted for another break.

Trompe Le Monde, the Pixies' fifth and final studio album before the break up, was released in September 1991. It hit the Top 10 in the UK but stalled at 92 in the U.S. The Pixies played a sold out tour in the U.S. then toured as the opener for U2. The band took a break again and in 1993 Pixies frontman Black Francis confirmed rumors that the Pixies had split up. Many of the grunge and alternative bands of the ‘90s, including Nirvana, cite the influence of the Pixies.

In 2004 the Pixies reunited to play a series of live dates including Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Reading and Leeds. In the spring of 2004, the Pixies studio, 4AD, released Wave of Mutilation: The Best of the Pixies and a companion DVD. In late 2005, the Pixies released a DVD entitled Pixies: Sell Out DVD and a Live Album which is only available via the Internet. A new studio album is expected but no details are confirmed.

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