| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| jediroller |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 02:51:12
Here it is:
Les Pixies se reforment pour le fun et la thune
Le quatuor rock indé repart en tournée. Etape parisienne mi-juin.
Par Emmanuelle RICHARD
vendredi 13 février 2004
Los Angeles correspondance
Qui des Pixies a besoin d'un rein ? Frank Black, chanteur-leader-guitariste du groupe alternatif un peu mythique des années 80, déclarait encore récemment que le quatuor ne se reformerait pour rien au monde... Sauf si l'un d'eux avait un besoin vital de cash pour une greffe d'organe. Onze ans après leur implosion, et autant d'années passées à démentir les rumeurs de réunion, The Pixies viennent d'officialiser leur retour sur scène au printemps - notamment le15 juin à Paris, en première partie de Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Se renflouer. Pour l'occasion, Frank Black et la bassiste Kim Deal semblent déterminés à mettre leurs légendaires engueulades en veilleuse, avec la complicité de Joey Santiago (guitare) et de David Lovering (batterie.) «La motivation est d'abord financière, mais on est aussi décidés à se décrisper. Pourquoi ne pas prendre du bon temps ?», goguenardait Frank Black samedi à Hollywood. Ayant tourné le dos aux majors, le replet tyran fut l'un des premiers à proposer des téléchargements payants de sa musique, il y a cinq ans. Las ! sa carrière solo ne fut globalement qu'une succession d'échecs.
Avec sa chemise à carreaux verts, il ressemble «de plus en plus à Oncle Fester de la Famille Addams», comme le remarquait un fan, en référence au chauve tonton grassouillet de la série. L'aïeul des rockers indés souligne que les Pixies sont devenus célèbres (toutes proportions gardées) aux Etats-Unis après leur rupture. Les cinq albums continuent à se vendre pas trop mal, mais avec une telle irrégularité qu'il a songé brièvement se lancer dans l'immobilier: «Je ne fais pas la pute, mais si on utilise ma musique pour une pub, je me dis : un chèque devrait bientôt tomber et je n'aurai pas besoin de retourner à l'usine pour pouvoir faire de la musique.»
Après une tournée «d'échauffement» dans des petites salles au Canada et aux Etats-Unis fin avril, les Pixies II se produiront au Festival de Coachella Valley, dans le désert non loin de Los Angeles le 1er mai. Egalement à l'affiche : Kraftwerk, Radiohead et... The Cure, groupe mythique de quadras qui, à l'instar de Pixies, attire une nouvelle génération de fans ados, entre autres, des cohortes de jeunes Latinos.
Ce concert-test sera suivi par six semaines de tournée en Europe. Pour le moment, Frank Black décrit des répétitions singulièrement idylliques. Il a sorti plus de disques avec son groupe suivant, The Catholics, qu'en six ans de Pixies, et dit avoir oublié la trentaine de morceaux, tous anciens, prévus pour la tournée : «Je dois demander aux autres comment jouer des chansons dont je suis l'auteur. C'est embarrassant.»
Compil et DVD. La reformation du groupe coïncidera avec la sortie d'une énième compilation et d'un disque de vieilles maquettes pré-Pixies, que Black qualifie lui-même de «bouillie sonore réservée aux fans», sans oublier l'inévitable DVD de service.
Quand on rappelle à Frank Black, alias Black Francis (jusqu'à la mort des Pixies), de son nom Charles Thompson, que les come-back sont rarement réussis, il rétorque avec un étrange sourire : «Depuis dix ans, je faisais ce cauchemar que le groupe se reformait et qu'une fois sur scène, on bloquait. C'était l'horreur. Jusqu'au jour où je me suis dit : ce n'est qu'un rêve !»
I'll try to translate:
The Pixies reform for fun and money
Which Pixie needs a kidney? Frank Black, singer-leader of the almost mythical 80's alt-rock band, recently said that the quartet wouldn't ever reform... except if one of the members desperately needed cash for an organ transplant. Eleven years after their implosion, et as many years spent debunking the rumours of reunion, The Pixies officially announced their return on stage in the Spring, notably on June 15th in Paris, opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers.
For the occasion, Frank Black and bass player Kim Deal seem decided to keep their legendary shouting matches quiet, with the complicity of Joey Santiago (guitar) and David Lovering (drums). "The first motivation is financial, but we're also decided to let loose. Why not have a good time?" said Frank Black, last Saturday in Hollywood. Having given up on major companies, the chubby tyrant was one of the first to offer paid downloads of his music, five years ago. Alas! His solo career was, on the whole, a succession of failures.
With his green check shirt, he looks "more and more like The Addams Family's Uncle Fester", a fan remarked, referring to the fat, bald uncle in the series. The great-grandfather of all indie rockers points that the Pixies attained a certain level of celebrity in the US after their breakup. The five albums still sell well enough, but so irregularly that he thought briefly about starting a career in real estate: "I'm not whoring, but if my music is used in a commercial, I think: 'A check should arrive soon and I won't have to go back to the factory to be able to make music'."
After a "warm-up" tour in small venues in Canada and the USA, at the end of April, the Pixies II will appear at the Coachella Valley Festival, in the desert near Los Angeles, on May 1st. Also on the bill: Kraftwerk, Radiohead and... The Cure, a mythical band of fortysomethings who, like the Pixies, are drawing a new generation of teenage fans, and in particular, heaps of young Latinos.
This test concert will be followed by a six week European tour. For the time being, Frank Black describes surprisingly idyllic rehearsals. He made more records with his new band, The Catholics, than he did in six years with the Pixies, and he says he's forgotten the 30 songs, all old numbers, that will be played on the tour. "I must ask the others how to play songs I have written. It's embarrassing."
The band's reunion will happen at the same time as the release of an umpteenth compilation and a CD of old pre-Pixies demos, qualified by Black himself as "sonic dirge for fans only", not to mention the unavoidable DVD.
When you remind Frank Black, aka Black Francis (until the death of the Pixies), real name Charles Thompson, that comebacks are hardly ever a success, he replies with a strange smile: "I've been having this nightmare for ten years, in which the band reformed and once onstage, we froze. It was horrible. And then one day, I told myself: It's only a dream!"
The End
--
'Great, now you don't have stupid skin on your body…' |
| 27 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| two reelers |
Posted - 03/18/2004 : 07:28:24
hey, there is nothing wrong with this article. and the more comments i read from frank, the more i like the picture i have from him.
i don't care much about the reunion, whether it will fail or it will be a success. what frank has created (with a little help from his friends) since 1986 and until today, can't be undone. the songs and the man will always be here, no matter how much the reunion is about money or not. just screw all this chatter...
Death to the Pixies / Here comes Frank Black |
| vilainde |
Posted - 03/15/2004 : 07:16:59
This is very cool. The rest of the thread is interesting too.
Denis
|
| Cult_Of_Frank |
Posted - 03/15/2004 : 06:49:01
Frank Black posted his response to this article here:
http://emmanuelle.buzznet.com/user/?id=79620
Thanks to The Unsomnambulist for bringing this to our attention.
Text of the post:
frank black: 02/17/2004 10:22:49 AM
Richard. I don't usually comment on articles about me to the journalist directly, but these days the internet has made it so easy, no?
I thought I should clarify a few things to you. The reason I briefly considered real estate investment was because I had so much EXTRA MONEY, not because my career was failing, as you have implied in your article. Also, it is NOT suprising that Kim Deal and I should get along during our reunion rehearsals. We get along just fine and we always have; it is only because rock journalists like yourself have spread this particualr rumor so constantly over the years that she and and will forever be labeled as a feuding creative couple. Also, for the record, the compilation that 4AD is putting out is The Pixies' second compilation to be released; the first one has been deleted from their catalogue. While I am quite happy about the fact that 4AD finds the band marketable in this way, I do not have any control over the compilations that they release.
 "Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
| PsychicTwin |
Posted - 03/11/2004 : 07:15:00
quote:
Originally posted by ramona
Chubby tyrant? Sheesh.
**************************************************
"Music does not drag me down. Music lifts me up." - Frank Black
My reaction exactly. That is uncalled for! I mean, we're not talking a fat Napoleon here, are we?? 
------------------------
The blue pill opens your eyes
Is there a better way?
A new religion prescribed to those without the faith
http://www.psychictwin.com |
| begeegs |
Posted - 03/11/2004 : 04:40:19
I reckon that it's pretty funny. I agree with the posters comments, it isn't written by a die-hard Pixies/FB fan, but so what...
Bad/indifferent press is better than no press.
Let's hope that Mr. Thompson earns a bit more coin now! ;-) |
| Adnan_le_Terrible |
Posted - 03/05/2004 : 11:21:56
"a fan remarked" :
Every time I read this kind of sentence (quoting an anonymous person) I know it's a bad article.
As some guy out there said one day, "...".
Oh, and just for the people who say the French newspapers are rude and unpolite, imagine a French newspaper (Liberation, if you want) given to the tourists on Piccadilly Street with a grotesque picture of Tony Blair as a worm and a title "Tony Blair est un ver de terre". Because that's what we received on the Champs Elysées, the Sun with a pisture of Jacques Chirac.
Have some wine, please, don't run away. |
| Adnan_le_Terrible |
Posted - 03/05/2004 : 11:19:13
"the Cure, groupe mythique de quadras qui, à l'instar de Pixies, attire une nouvelle génération de fans ados, entre autres, des cohortes de jeunes Latinos"
=
The Cure, a mythical band of fortysomethings who, like the Pixies, are drawing a new generation of teenage fans, and among others, heaps of young Latinos.
This remark is racist. Does that mean that Latinos only have the right to listen to Jennifer Lopez?
Every single line of this article is stupid and inaccurate.
Have some wine, please, don't run away. |
| Picapiedra |
Posted - 02/15/2004 : 20:35:35
quote:
Originally posted by jediroller
... well they can go fuck themselves anyway, pardon my French.
French cursing in English and referring to it as French. I love it! ;-)
-roger.
"Drug run'n on this Panamanian schooner." |
| Picapiedra |
Posted - 02/15/2004 : 20:31:34
quote:
Originally posted by jediroller
... he says he's forgotten the 30 songs, all old numbers, that will be played on the tour. "I must ask the others how to play songs I have written. It's embarrassing."
I thought that the whole article was great since I'm always one to pull for the underdog anyways. But that line about forgetting so many songs took the cake. Frigg'n hilarious! He seemed to have no problem rocking the hell out of the Pixies songs that I heard him play with the Catholics. Glad to hear that he's geared up to have fun with the tour.
-roger.
"Drug run'n on this Panamanian schooner." |
| worries have worries |
Posted - 02/14/2004 : 14:04:05
well i take this as a compliment, so thanks.
AWOL for everything |
| GoddessTheory |
Posted - 02/14/2004 : 08:08:45
quote:
Originally posted by worries have worries
quote:
Originally posted by vilainde
Could you please slap her in the face for me?
Denis
Well I did im some way denis. i send an email to libe calling the writer "coprophage" and warning her that the total abscence of competence in the field she chose to work deserves a good spitting in the face. How about that ?
G.
That sounds so French. Thanks. If there's any people that know how to be rude and snooty back at someone, it's the french. |
| worries have worries |
Posted - 02/14/2004 : 04:49:17
quote:
Originally posted by vilainde
Could you please slap her in the face for me?
Denis
Well I did im some way denis. i send an email to libe calling the writer "coprophage" and warning her that the total abscence of competence in the field she chose to work deserves a good spitting in the face. How about that ?
G. |
| Jefrey |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 15:24:42
I thought the article was pretty funny! Chubby Tyrant! I love it! Frank often refers to himself as a bald fat man, so why not have fun with it? Maybe that's why they are more successful in Europe...they have a better sende of humor about some things and don't take everything so personally.
It was more interesting than the same old crap published this side of the Atlantic. Has a few new qutoes, too.
And who knew that The Cure was appealing to a new generation of young Latinos? Too weird! |
| jediroller |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 10:03:25
Honestly, chill guys, it's only journalism. Sadly, this is more about showing off how witty and clever you are (especially if you write about culture in Liberation!) than about being accurate or willing to enlighten your sleepy reader on his morning Métro ride to work. It's wrong, I know, it's not the way it should be, I realise that, but it's not worth bitching and moaning about. It's only journa-fucking-lism.
The young woman who wrote this doesn't particularly want people to learn to know and appreciate FB for what he truly is; tomorrow she'll be writing about Mel Gibson and the Jews, or that motherfucking Nipplegate, or whatever. What she wants, basically, is to come up with an article that will make someone remember her byline.
Will this article influence people, and how? Those who don't know how truly talented and artistically successful Frank has been during all these years will probably get this sad image of him as a loser and a passeist, but that's nothing new. But at least he gets exposure and the Catholics are mentioned. Curious readers may want to check them out; the others, those who think something is good if it's been shown on TV and who won't ever buy a record if it's not been certified Platinum, well they can go fuck themselves anyway, pardon my French.
You certainly noticed that once or twice, the journalist mentions Frank's enigmatic smile and general attitude of irony. I think he knows what to expect from that crowd now. His smile says, "I know you're probably going to write the same old tired crap about me, but look at me, I don't give a shit as long as you give your readers the time and date of my fucking concert."
Okay, maybe I'm reading too much in there :)
--
'Great, now you don't have stupid skin on your body…' |
| The Shape |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 08:12:32
I don't care about the bad things on this article.
I read this every new album of Frank Black from the critics.
Fuck them, is music is about being fat, bald and unsuccessful, i let them talk 'cause me i listen and enjoy 
I'm very happy to read that Frank wants to have some fun because i think that's the reason why the lastest albums of the c's are better than the first ones. |
| Frog in the Sand |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 08:12:17
I agree with Jedi. This article is not so bad, it just recycles some old clichés of various kinds, in a rather 'classical' way.
And yes, it's nice - and rare - to see some recent quotes from the King himself.
 "Welcome back to the 10th grade!" |
| ramona |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 07:47:28
Chubby tyrant? Sheesh.
**************************************************
"Music does not drag me down. Music lifts me up." - Frank Black |
| prozacrat |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 07:32:42
I don't agree with said comments either. However, at the risk of sounding elitest (which I try not to be) perhaps the article will ward off some of those who only like to see "pretty" bands play. Keep more music-lovers in the audience. I dunno. It was nice to see some quotes from the man, though.
"And her head has no room." |
| GoddessTheory |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 07:24:32
quote:
Originally posted by jediroller
Well, I admit that this article contains a few things that are, to say the least, uncalled for - the usual crap about Frank being "fat", the extra-stupid "Uncle Fester" joke, and the gross exaggeration that his solo career was "a succession of failures" - but other than that, I don't think this article deserves so much bashing.
Damn, I'd hate to read the article that you determine DOES need bashing.
Fuck this stupid french bullshit article. |
| vilainde |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 06:52:33
I agree about the money thing. What annoys me are the constant references to Frank being fat, old (he's 39, for god's sake), bald, and unsuccessful as a solo artist. Sorry, but that ruins the whole article for me.
Denis
|
| benji |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 06:33:15
quote:
Originally posted by jediroller
Yes, he's doing it for the money, so what? Why would everybody cash in on the Pixies' "indie rock legend" status, except the artists themselves? THAT would be shocking. I say go Frank, make a lot of money while you can, as I trust you'll use it to make more good music.
i have to say i completely concur with jedi about the money.
and i am quite excited about what frank might do music-wise with all this money....
 "I joined the Cult of Frank / I think that man deserves a DB!" |
| jediroller |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 06:28:06
Well, I admit that this article contains a few things that are, to say the least, uncalled for - the usual crap about Frank being "fat", the extra-stupid "Uncle Fester" joke, and the gross exaggeration that his solo career was "a succession of failures" - but other than that, I don't think this article deserves so much bashing. At least she went to ask The Man, didn't make up reasons for the reunion or speculate wildly.
Yes, he's doing it for the money, so what? Why would everybody cash in on the Pixies' "indie rock legend" status, except the artists themselves? THAT would be shocking. I say go Frank, make a lot of money while you can, as I trust you'll use it to make more good music.
--
'Great, now you don't have stupid skin on your body…' |
| mun chien andalusia |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 05:42:26
she should be turlutting instead of writing.thanks jedi
 join the cult of errol\and you can have a beer\without having to quit smoking
|
| fumanbru |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 05:33:49
some rude remarks, but isn't that expected in france. :)
sounds like frank is looking forward to the tour and having some fun with it.
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ and I got a free t-shirt with this dude on it." |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 04:39:39
yes
and say she isn't that pretty either
 "I joined the Cult of Frank/Nobody wanted to join my Culf" |
| vilainde |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 04:18:12
Could you please slap her in the face for me?
Denis
|
| Frog in the Sand |
Posted - 02/13/2004 : 04:07:08
Wow. Thanks and congrats, Jedi.
Btw, I know (a little) the author of this article, we have a friend in common. I think she'll get an email from me soon...
"Welcome back to the 10th grade!" |
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