| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Speedy Franky |
Posted - 09/23/2004 : 07:27:34
Here's the link :
http://u.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,216~24307~2413354,00.html
Here's the article :
"Those Pixies are re-formed!
Alternative rock pioneers back together and headin' for the Greek
By Ryan Ritchie
Staff writer
Thoughts of a reunion have always been on the mind of frontman Frank Black of the Pixies, the seminal rock band that helped pave the way for the alternative rock movement of the 1990s while not receiving much acclaim from mainstream rock audiences.
"It was always something I wanted to do secretly," Black says, "but at the same time maybe I didn't want to do it. It was a mixed feeling kind of thing, but now that it's been done, I guess it (the worry) was much ado about nothing."
Black, whose real name is Charles Thompson, was born in Boston but is often mistakenly tagged as being from Long Beach. The singer spent the sixth through 11th grades in Harbor City, but eventually ended up back in Massachusetts.
"Some guy totally got it wrong in some article years ago and for whatever the reason, that's the article that gets reprinted over and over," Black says. "So now and forever, I'm known as a guy born in Long Beach."
The Pixies — whose lineup includes drummer David Lovering, bassist Kim Deal and guitarist Joey Santiago — created a unique sound in 1986 by blending punk angst with pop sensibilities. They soon became fan favorites in the post-punk movement, and their unique style of quiet verses and loud choruses formulated a sound the members of Nirvana not only praised but even went so far as to admit that their 1991 hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was a Pixies rip-off.
The Pixies' performances Wednesday and Thursday nights at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles will be the band's first shows in the area in more than a decade and their first since playing the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in the summer.
A reunion had always been in the back of everyone's minds but seemed impossible. Deal formed the Breeders in the wake of the Pixies demise in 1992 and had a hit with the 1993 song "Cannonball." Santiago began playing with his wife in the Martinis, Lovering became a magician and Black released numerous albums by himself and with a group called the Catholics, performing a few Pixies' songs at shows.
These factors, and the harshness of the band's breakup, led Black to believe getting back together would be much harder than it actually was. "I thought it was going to be more difficult for some reason," Black says. "I just didn't know where people were in terms of their connections to partying, and I thought that maybe a tour would be a nonstop party and as a result the shows would have been really 'shambolic." I subsequently found out that the desired tone from the band was an atmosphere of nonpartying."
Sobriety and experience, Black says, have made the Pixies' tour a success. Each member had stayed active in performing and, as a result, fans are getting their money's worth.
The reunion has allowed Black the opportunity to revive his fondness for the Pixies. The negative feelings attached to their breakup meant years of bad vibes when talking about the band, but playing again is giving the singer a different impression.
"I had sort of forgotten how good the Pixies were," Black says. "I probably remembered them in a much more negative light because we ended on a bad note."
The group recently released its first new song since reuniting, titled "Bam Thwok," but Black says the Pixies have no definite plans of anything other than finishing their current tour. If a new album is going to materialize, it won't be a band resting on its laurels, Black says.
"The ball's in my court to write a stack of songs," Black says. "Joey has given me the green light to not really get that neurotic about it."
— Ryan Ritchie can be reached at (562) 499-1257 or ryan.ritchie@presstelegram.com" |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Daisy Girl |
Posted - 09/23/2004 : 19:08:53
Very cool. I like it that they are so focused, centered, happy and health. CHEERS to a great second half of the reunion tour!  |
| Skatealex1 |
Posted - 09/23/2004 : 18:30:05
Good Article
The Truth Is Out There |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 09/23/2004 : 07:54:22
nice!
It are new quotes if you ask me
 "I joined the Cult of Serge/'Cause he invented indierock before Frank did" |
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