The Pixies

Pixies
Pixies in 2016. Left to right: David Lovering, Joey Santiago, Black Francis and Paz Lenchantin.
Background information
Origin	Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Genres	Alternative rock, punk rock, garage rock, surf rock
Years active	1986–93, 2004–present
Labels	4AD, Elektra, Cooking Vinyl, Spin Art, Artemis, Pixiesmusic, PIAS
Associated acts	The Amps, The Breeders, Frank Black and the Catholics, Grand Duchy, The Martinis, The Muffs, The Pandoras, A Perfect Circle
Website	pixiesmusic.com
Members	Black Francis David Lovering Joey Santiago Paz Lenchantin
Past members	Kim Deal Kim Shattuck

The Pixies are an American alternative rock band formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts. Until 2013, the band comprised Black Francis (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Joey Santiago (lead guitar), Kim Deal (bass, vocals) and David Lovering (drums). The band disbanded acrimoniously in 1993, but reunited in 2004. Deal left in 2013 and was replaced by Kim Shattuck and then Paz Lenchantin.

The Pixies' music contains elements including psychedelia, noise pop, hard rock, surf pop, and surf rock. Francis is the Pixies' primary songwriter; his often surreal lyrics cover offbeat subjects such as extraterrestrials, incest, and biblical violence.

The Pixies achieved modest popularity in their home country, but were more successful in the United Kingdom, mainland Europe and Israel. Their jarring pop sound influenced bands such as Nirvana, Radiohead, the Strokes, Blur and Weezer. Their popularity grew in the years following their break-up, leading to sold-out world tours following their reunion in 2004. In June 2013, they released their first new material in almost 10 years.

Guitarist Joey Santiago and songwriter Black Francis (born Charles Thompson IV) met when they lived next to each other in a suite while attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Although Santiago was worried about distractions, he noticed Francis played music and the pair began to jam together. Francis embarked on a student exchange trip to Puerto Rico to study Spanish. After six months, he returned to Amherst and dropped out of the university. Francis and Santiago spent 1984 working in a warehouse, with Francis composing songs on his acoustic guitar and writing lyrics on the subway train.