Pixies: Whatever Happened To The Band Behind 'Doolittle' & 'Surfer Rosa' - Black Francis, Kim Deal 

Longest video I've done to date...Here's the Breeders story I reference in the video. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YWYP3Mplh-M.html

Pixies are legendary at this point that's what happened to them

My favorite band in high school. I graduated in 91, and me and all my friends listened to bands like the Pixies, Jesus and Mary Chain, Jane's Addiction, They Might Be Giants, the Cure, bands like that. U2 and REM, too. We didn't listen to top 40 radio because it was so played out and fabricated and cheesy. In a way, that generation was part of a musical revolution.

I can say with relative confidence that The Pixies are a group you have either heard of but own no albums, or a band where you own every sound they ever committed to tape.

A coworker loaned Trompe Le Monde on cassette back in the 90s. Wow, it sounded so pure, original, loud & fun! Been a fan ever since.

I'm a staunch metal fan, but there's been bands in the past who have blew me away like the Cure, INXS, Enya, etc. The Pixies song Wave of Mutilation drew me to the band. Before I knew it I went from Doolittle to Surfer Rosa and in that same year Trompe Le Mond. I was in love. As a guitarist I found their music a challenge and something new to learn. 1992 was a turning point for me musically. The Pixies and the Grunge bands that were super popular changed me in a good way.

The first time I heard them was when the Doolittle album came out. If you weren't tuning to alt stations at the time, you wouldn't have known they existed, because major US stations didn't give airtime to any alternative acts. I still think it was one of the most exciting times in music. There was all of this original, interesting music going on that wasn't getting any attention at all. All of it was overshadowed by hair bands and really tired top 40 acts who were, essentially, phoning it in. But to hear songs from the Pixies, the Cure, Love and Rockets, the Church, the Sugarcubes, Throwing Muses, REM, Wire, P.I.L., Jesus and Mary Chain, New Order, XTC while everyone else was still hanging onto Guns and Roses, Michel Jackson, Bruce Springsteen... it felt like you were in on a secret. You could sense things shifting, but wondered when it would all break and you'd be free of the emotionless guitar solo, the soul-less predictable songs, the same faces from decades prior. The real break came with Nirvana (sorry, Pixies), but anyone alive at the time and aware of alt knew that the Pixies really had a big hand in laying the foundation. The Pixies elevated pop songs to art by not being so completely focused on the typical love themes (boy meets girl, boy looses girl, boy's heart aches). People often cite Cobain's quote about ripping off their dynamics, but I think real listeners also get incredible chord sequences and that unmistakable sharp contrast between sweetness (Deal) and rawness (Black Francis). There's no doubt, Black Francis/Frank Black/Charles Thompson's ego killed the golden goose. He couldn't share the spotlight. Anyone will admit, he was a powerful songwriter, but he didn't appreciate the talent Deal AND Lovering brought the band. La La Love You, Into the White and (of course), Gigantic- come on!!!! I always felt Lovering's voice was underused, and Deal had no difficulty proving she could write songs with massive appeal. Why feel so threatened by it? No one was going to replace Black Francis. I think he's an awesome songwriter, but I so wish he could have been more mature at the time and realized he had a kick ass thing going that could have been even more kick ass. But hey- we're all young at some point. I loved the Pixies. I know this, because they truly broke my heart.

Love this one man. One of your best to date... if not the best band bios. This band doesn’t get nearly enough credit for their massive influence on USA 90s grunge and the alternative movement/rock-era. My nerd-punk gang of friends in high school discovered Pixies mid 90s with Surfer Rosa and bought up every album by them immediately afterwards. Brings back all the memories. Thanks man!

My band, Brahman Caste, which I was the drummer, opened up for the then unknown band, The Pixies, at The Channel, in Boston back in 1987. Fun times. I'm now a realtor in Bend Oregon and saw The Pixies perform here live a few years ago. So many feelings of "what if". Great show.

Surfer Rosa CD has been in my truck for several months. Been listening since a friend gave me a cassette tape in 1988.

Frank Black to me is one of the greatest songwriters of our time. I'm actually a far bigger fan of his first three solo records over anything else he's done before or since. Teenager of the Year is a desert island album in my book. But although I never saw them in the late 80s, I absolutely love watching videos of young Black Francis screaming his head off in their live shows. Must have been absolutely magical seeing them around then. Also kinda love the fact that he also accidentally wrote Cactus for David Bowie, who recorded the definitive version of the song (at least in my world).

Being from a small town in the south, I didn’t actually discover the Pixies’ music until the late ‘90s. Since then, I’ve caught them live a couple of times and have been fortunate enough to have met both Charles and Joey. Some of their newer stuff is just as good as their original albums. In all these years, they’ve never gotten stale to me.

Saw them in 88 in Quebec in a club with about 25 people. Stood like 10 feet away from Kim while she smoked, played bass, and sang backup at the same time. I fell in love

Frank Black's body of work as a solo artist is pretty incredible in its own right. Easily one of the greats from the mid-90s to the present.

I saw them twice before Kim left the band once in D.C. then a few months later in Baltimore. Trom La Monde is one of my favorite albums.

Great video. Thanks for putting this out. Joey Santiago is a completely underrated guitarist, while I'm at it.

They are more popular than ever. And they deserve it and much more.

1995….Freshman year at College…my gf at the time played Surfer Rosa for me…Still love it to this day

I grew up near DC and listened to WHFS. They were a 50,000 watt commercial station that played 80's alternative when it was current and new. WHFS was the first to play REM, New Order and more. Usually you heard The Pixies and more only on 500 watt college station. When I first heard Nirvana, I thought, "Beatles meets The Pixies."

One of the first concerts I’ve ever seen was Pixies, Love And Rockets and The Cure at Giants Stadium 1989. Absolutely amazing! Last concert I saw was Pixies in a small club in CT in 2019. What great bookends. As they say, “I may be old, but I saw all the cool bands”

Pixies and Faith No More are both legendary bands that influence countless bands. Both are underrated but super important in rock/metal music.

Thank you for giving the video length the pixies story actually deserves. Great work man!

I fondly remember discovering the early Pixies in the late 1980s. Bone Machine was the first song of theirs I heard, and when Kim Deal's vocals hit on the refrain it was so cooly authentic. The band was so refreshing when compared to mainstream hair "metal" that was so popular and promoted at the time.

So many great bands on 4AD, The Pixies arguably being the jewel in the crown. Throwing Muses would be another band worth looking at - such an important band and super talented.

Got to see them live a few years ago, incredible show!

You killed it on this one. Obviously there are other videos about the Pixies I've watched over the years but this crushes them. The vintage photos, insider information and the history lesson is much appreciated.

i've been listening to The Pixies for the past 6 months, amazing band and music.

Years back, my band covered Caribou at a club, and someone in the crowd got a video of it and tagged us. I had found Frank's real facebook, under his real name, prior to, and sent him a friend request which he had for whatever reason accepted. Upon reviewing the video and thinking we had actually kinda killed it, I (half-jokingly) tagged him to the post and said something to the effect of "Frank Black, please sign my band." He untagged himself and blocked me. Lol. True story.

I think it was the movie "Pump Up The Volume" that introduced me to the Pixies. That movie had an insanely good soundtrack.

Literally the most under rated band of all time. It makes me sad that theres nirvana fans that havent even heard of Pixies

Watched them live in South Africa in 2017, they were brilliant!

Saw them at the Albany Egg, 2005. They were unplugged acoustic going to Newport Folk Festival the next day like some kind of "backward Bob Dylan" as Black said. He said he was happy to be playing in a building that looked like a UFO and Kim Deal kind of went "oh, here we go again". They were effing awesome.

The Pixies had, I think, the kind of career that Kurt Cobain had wished that Nirvana would have, before Nirvana’s fame massively eclipsed that of the Pixies’, if that makes any sense. The Pixies were able to earn an acceptable living doing things their own way, musically and artistically, were respected by many of their peers for their musical output and had a loyal “underground” fanbase, and could still go out in public without being mobbed and didn’t have international media speculating about their personal lives, or dozens of record industry leeches pressuring them to do this or that for their own financial gain. I think that’s the kind of “fame” that the very naïve, idealistic 23 year old Kurt Cobain envisioned for his band before “Nevermind” blew up. And if that’s “all” that Nirvana had achieved, would their music be any less great? I think that the Pixies had the kind of career that many artists dream of having.

One of my favourite bands of all time. Thanks for the upload.

Doolittle is a top 5 desert island album for me.

I love the pixies! However, I believe Black Francis' best material, is his solo stuff under the name Frank Black esp. w/ the Catholics! Dude might be the most prolific songwriter of all time

Saw them in Chicago, absolutely great show 👍

Pixies were in good space, pre-Covid. Saw them a couple years ago, epic show. And their 2019 album was a surprise return to form: "On Graveyard Hill" is one of their career best tracks.

One of the best alternatives rock bands of the 90's.

This is the one I've been waiting for. I love the Pixies! They are my favorite band ever. I am a 42 year old man from Houston and had the pleasure of seeing them live on the Death to the Pixies tour. Kim was still with them and what an epic show it was. Awesome vid bro! I would love to see a whatever happened to Portishead too.

The Pixies first two albums are true Rock Masterpieces! PLAY LOUD

To close out their reunion tour in 2004, they played a run of shows here in New York at the Hammerstein. On the final night they played an early and a late show which I was able to somehow get a ticket to. It was a great show. I was lucky enough to see them there again during the Doolittle 20 anniversary tour in 2009. I worked across the street from the Hammerstein at the time and started talking to some of the roadies when they began loading in during the afternoon. Turned out the band gives them extra passes to hand out to fans that didn’t get tickets and I was given a couple. That’s a band that’s dedicated to their fans.

My favorite musican in my entire life time is Frank Black. I adore the pixies, but his early solo work is my favorite.

Pixies recorded a John Peel session which was broadcast prior to Surfer Rosa’s release and which had a significant and positive impact on their popularity here in the UK. I remember hearing their version of “Honey Pie” in that session and I was totally blown away by it.

Love Pixies. Their new stuff is still good. Been into them since the 90s. Enjoy Deal's stuff with Breeders too.

Great vid. Glad you mentioned Mr. Albini, would love to see a history of Big Black and Shellac

Damn, this band rocks, they are just so good

I think they, along with Sonic Youth, are the definitive 80's alternative rock bands (if there could ever be such a thing).

Great video as always. But....its pronounced "HOO-sker Du" not "HUS-ker Du". Those darn Minnesota bands and their Scandinavian board game names!!

This was a great unintended doc for the Pixies. Nice work man!

Beneath The Eyrie is amazing. Can stand up with the bands best imo.

I never really heard of them until I got XM satellite radio in 2003 and realized they had a song in Fight Club. Then I bought their Greatest Hits and tracked down all I could of them. Very under rated. I had no idea Kim formed the Breeders and the girl from the Muffs took Kim's place in the Pixies. Muffs is another favorite. Thanks for the video.

I saw them live in 2020 right before covid and they were amazing I was standing right in front of paz

Nothing out-of-the-ordinary happened to them, as far as I know. They had a great run and the music in their prime still stands, shining brightly to those who are into it. Rare is the band that burns hotly forever.

My introduction to Pixies was the fantastic show NIGHT MUSIC, and NBC Sunday late night show that introduced me to a ton of great new music that I'd never had heard elsewhere at the time. Fell in love with Pixies and still enjoy them.

You either love them or hate them, I love them!

Long Live The PIXIES! They are still alive an well, with awesome albums and songs, an REAllY AmAzinG ConcertS!

I was lucky enough to see them at Coachella and it was their 1st show back together and I don't remember how many years many years. It was freaking amazing! Scene 2 more times since then 2

Saw them live in 2005 Molson Amphitheater (now called Budwieser stage) in Toronto.... Weezer was their opening act....

A greatest hits album from the Pixies would have to include every album, and every damn live performance. They are the definition of grunge/alternative music, right there with the Melvins. And I love both Kim and Frank, long may they reign!

They are an amazing and powerhouse of a live band now, and they're still going strong. Funny how Francis rejected playing in big venues, just to find out that after all these years he and the band could only play big venues at their return.

Still big on my playlist. Thanks! Dave J

I had tickets to see them on the Doolittle tour in 2011, on the 29th of October with the original line-up. I live in Connecticut. That year we got hit with a major blizzard on that date, so the show was postponed... until two days later. That was the single greatest Halloween of my life.

A cool video for nerds would be the story of Kim Deal's 1958 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, which Joey Santiago played on the first two Pixies albums, then Tanya Donelly from Throwing Muses on their 2nd album and the first Breeders album, then Kim's sister Kelly on the 2nd Breeders album, and occasionally a certain Kurt C. on the Nirvana/Breeders tour in 1993.

Letter to Memphis is one of the most beautiful songs that exist

I only watched them a few year's ago. Had a great live set ✊

Pixies are still my all time favorite band. I love that they were together for only about 5 or 6 years the first time, and now they are pushing 20 years after reuniting. Good music has staying power.

So cool to have a Filipino in one of the most influential alternative rock acts of all time, me being a filipino myself

Best show I ever saw was the pixies and sonic youth opened for them. I’ll never forget that show.

Awesome band,great bio...thank you!

One of the true original bands their tunes really stand in their own area lyrically musically etc

Surfer Rosa was the album that got me listening to something that wasn't metal. They're fun... and awesome ;)

Wow thanks for filling in all those blanks I was lucky enough to see Nirvana with the Breeders opening up for them.

I love that the breeders were huge played in so many bands with ppl like Francis.

This is why I sub to this channel. Two names that popped up that are worth checking out. Husker Du and Kristin Hersh.

Whatever happened? If you don’t know then you have been living under a rock

Steve Albini was already a legend when he produced the pixies.

First heard them on a local college Station. Started recording onto cassette about 20 seconds in. Took me over a year to figure out the song was hey by the pixies.

Well done mate, very enjoyable.

I've loved the Pixies since I 1st heard them in the early 80's...& I will continue to love Pixies til I take my last breath.

I found the pixies when I watched a Nirvana interview when I was 12 they were the first bands I would completely love all their songs, well tbh still haven't listened to much of their new stuff yet.

I found them by accident and have loved them since. In 1988 my friend handed me a copy of East Coast Rocker magazine. It had the address of the club his hair metal band was playing at. The magazine had a 3 or 4 page spread on the Pixies and their Surfer Rosa album. I didn't get a change see them until 1990 and again 1992. Both times at The Ritz NYC. I still have that magazine. Iggy Pop is on the cover. I've always split the four original members up this way, Charles and Joey are Pixies founders and Kim and David are original members. Pixies will always be Charles' baby.

Your one of the best music related channels on here , brilliant mate hope your channel explodes like it definitely deserves to , you got me watching stories about bands I'm not even into 👍

Kim Deal & Kelly Deal were badass and awesomely adorable. Tough Rock Babes!

Steve Albini - what a crack up, I love him!

Very interesting. That being said, your ending of the vid felt rushed. Like ya had to suddenly pee and you just were trying to end a phone call. Lol

Cool that Captain Beefheart kinda influenced the new wave and alternative scene back then.

You can't understand most of the 80s and 90s music without the Pixies. They invented sounds, rithms and themes that influenced thousands of bands

Great video keep up the great work. One thing I think Kurt Cobain did that's awesome is he always sung the praises of his influences to the point that lots of people discovered bands like the Melvins the pixies and vaselines etc that otherwise wouldn't have.

Haha, that random footage of a girl learning how to play a guitar did it for me lol. Great band, heard them a lot at the beginning of the 90´s ( I got frequently called Pixie back then) and just last weekend I got back to them, making myself the ultimate Pixies playlist.

Back in the late 80s the Pixies didn't have a lot of fans or followers, I could never find 1 out of 100 people that was a fan of the Pixies back then it was until Dolittle that they got a lot more college radio play and started making a small dent into the mainstream by then that was the peak of the Pixies by 1989 because by the next few albums you knew there was something wrong cuz Kim wasn't singing ,which I noticed right off the bat but didn't know at the time how bad their relationship was until way later and it changed their sound and the vibe of the band. I'm glad I was able to see the Pixies in their Hay Day and Frank Black in his hay day after the breakup. The best way I can explain to Pixies to people back then was the best transition band from hardcore punk into something a little softer but still packed a punch with their music and lyrics! Frank Black had Joey and Dave play with him all the time on tour, so it was like having the Pixies after the Pixies broke up in the early 90s. I like how these videos have a lot of details but nothing was ever close to the reality of what was going on back at that time that's rock and roll for you!

Nothing happen, they still are one of the great rock bands ever.

Trompe le Monde is one of my favorite albums ever. Friction can create great results.

This deserve a long video. This was my favorite band from 8th grade to 10th grade. Then I discovered soundgarden.

They was also a huge inspiration to Thom Yorke, from another great band I'd love to see you do a video on, Radiohead.

Great stuff…was at Umass in the 80’s..”Here comes your man “was a party mix tape staple…..Buffalo Tom would be a great one to do….

Gotta admit, I do put on Breeders more than Pixies these days, but Pixies will always be special in my memories.

Francis actually went to my high-school! If you line up the years it looks like he wrote "Here Comes Your Man" right in my little farm town. No placket or anything, sadly, but that's why it's one of my favorite songs.

Great video man Great band

Got to see the original lineup on their first reunion tour and it was amazing. They hadn’t written anything new yet so it was a greatest hits of my favorite Pixies songs. I felt like I was in college again. Then I saw the new lineup without Kim when they opened for Weezer. They sounded good but decided to focus on their new material. It just wasn’t the same. No hate for Kim’s replacement but you could tell the difference.