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Biography:
This highly influential alternative rock band was formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, by university students Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV (born 6 April 1965, Long Beach, California, USA; vocals/guitar) and Joey Santiago (b. Joseph Alberto Santiago, 11 June 1965, Manila, the Philippines; guitar).
A newspaper advertisement, requiring applicants for a "Hüsker Dü/Peter, Paul And Mary band', solicited bass player and occasional vocalist Kim Deal (b. Kimberly Ann Deal, 10 June 1961, Dayton, Ohio, USA) who in turn introduced drummer David Lovering (b.
Boston, Massachusetts, USA). Originally known as Pixies In Panoply, the quartet secured a recording contract with the UK independent label 4AD Records on the strength of a series of superior demo tapes recorded with local producer Gary Smith.
Before the release of their debut album, Thompson changed his stage name to Black Francis and Deal became Mrs John Murphy (the name of her husband). Released in 1987, Come On Pilgrim used eight unchanged songs from the demo sessions and served as a perfect introduction to the quartet's abrasive, powerful sound and Thompson's oblique lyrics and shrieking vocals.
The result was quite unlike anything else on either the independent or mainstream rock scene and drew a bemused response from the majority of critics, although an important minority began championing the Pixies with an almost religious zeal. The album also boasted memorable cover art designed by 4AD's Vaughn Oliver (who would continue to work with the band throughout their career).
The following year's Surfer Rosa was recorded over a two-week stretch with Big Black's Steve Albini in charge of production. Exaggerating the savage fury of its predecessor, the set was acclaimed Album Of The Year in much of the UK rock press and was later cited by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana as the prime influence on his band's songwriting technique.
Indeed, the Pixies' juxtaposition of quiet verses and loud choruses would become the template for a new generation of alternative rock bands in the following decade, with Nirvana's era-defining hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in particular paying explicit homage to their sound.
A new partnership with English producer Gil Norton, begun on the Kim Deal-voiced single "Gigantic', resulted in 1989's superlative Doolittle, which emphasized the Pixies" grasp of melody, yet retained their drive. This thrilling collection scaled the UK Top 10, aided and abetted by the band's most enduring single, "Monkey Gone To Heaven".
The quartet was now a highly popular attraction and their exciting live performances enhanced a growing reputation, establishing clear stage favourites in "Bone Machine", "Where Is My Mind?", "Cactus", "Debaser", and "Wave Of Mutilation". Kim Deal, meanwhile, attracted glowing reviews for her offshoot project, the Breeders, who released their debut album Pod in early 1990.
Later in the year the Pixies released their fourth album, Bossanova, which reached number 3 on the UK album chart yet only number 70 in their homeland. The album revealed an undiminished fire with a blend of pure pop ("Allison") and sheer ferocity ("Rock Music"), and introduced Thompson's unlikely love of surf music.
It also featured the UK Top 30 single, "Velouria". In retrospect a less vital work than its predecessors, at the time the album was highly praised and the Pixies remained the darlings of the rock press. By now the cracks were beginning to show in the band's personal relationships, with Deal and Thompson barely on speaking terms.
The former was almost ousted from the band prior to the recording of 1991's Trompe Le Monde. The cracks were papered over in time for her to join the rest of the Pixies in Los Angeles, but the recording sessions were fraught and disjointed.
The album was, if anything, an even harsher collection than those that had preceded it, prompting some critics to describe it as the "Pixies' heavy metal album'. A disastrous support slot on U2"s American tour hastened the demise of the Pixies, and the plug was finally pulled in January 1993 while Thompson (now renamed Frank Black) was promoting his debut solo album.
The Pixies' reputation continued to outshine any of the membership's subsequent projects. Black's career as a roots-orientated singer-songwriter achieved cult status at best, while Santiago formed the low-key Martinis with his wife. Deal enjoyed some success with the Breeders but struggled to overcome personal problems, while Lovering reinvented himself as a magician.
Released in 1997, the excellent CD compilation Death To The Pixies confirmed the Pixies' enduring influence, one that is greater in the UK and Europe than the USA. It was a great surprise when the quartet patched up their differences and reunited in 2004 for a series of live dates in Europe and North America.
The ecstatic reception the band received was a timely reminder of the importance of their music. They also recorded a new song "Bam Thwock", released as a download only single at the end of 2004. The quartet continued touring throughout 2005.
