Pixies

The Pixies are an American alternative rock band formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1986. The group currently consists of founders Black Francis (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Joey Santiago (lead guitar) and David Lovering(drums). Co-founder Kim Deal (bass, backing vocals) left in 2013, being replaced by Kim Shattuck as a live bass player for some months; in December she was replaced by Paz Lenchantin, for their 2014 world tour. The Pixies achieved relatively modest commercial success in their home country, but were significantly more successful in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. The group disbanded in 1993 under acrimonious circumstances, but reunited in 2004. Despite their limited commercial success, their jarring pop sound subsequently influenced bands and genres as diverse as Nirvana, Radiohead and The Strokes.

The band's style of music contains a range of elements, including indie rock, psychedelia, noise rock, and surf rock. Black Francis is the Pixies' primary songwriter and singer. He has written about a number of offbeat subjects in the band's songs, such as extraterrestrials, surrealism, incest, and biblical violence.

The group is credited as having significant influence on the alternative rock boom of the 1990s. The Pixies' legacy and popularity grew in the years following their break-up, leading to sold-out world tours following their reunion in 2004.

In June 2013, bassist Kim Deal officially left the band, and shortly after the band released a new track, "Bagboy"—their first new material in almost ten years.