Pixies
From WikiMusicGuide, the free music guide. Your music wiki.
Pixies is an alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. The group is led by the songwriter Charles Thompson IV. The group released 5 albums and was best known as the band who recorded "Monkey Gone to Heaven".
Contents |
[edit] About
In 1986, Charles Thompson with roommate Joey Santiago formed a group called The Pixies in Boston, MA. Thompson was born in California. During high school, he transfered to the East Coast and started playing music. He went to college at University of Massachusetts majoring in anthropology. While in college, Thompson left for Puerto Rico. Six months later he returned home and started a band and Santiago followed. They advertised in a music paper for a bassist, resulting to the addition of Kim Deal who was from Dayton, OH. Deal was in a band with twin sister, Kelly called the Breeders.
Boston's Fort Apache studios producer, Gary Smith heard the group play at the Muses concert and signed them in. In 1987, they recorded 18 songs in the span of three days. The demo tape circulated aroung Boston and landed in the hands of Ivo Watts, head of 4AD Records. Watts gave the contract to the Pixies and released their debut Come On Pilgrim in 1987. The following year, the band released a full-length album, Surfer Rosa. The album became a hit both in America and U.K. By the time the band went back to the studio to start recording for their new album, they were already working woth producer Gil Norton. In 1989, the Pixies released their third album, Doolittle which was more polished and a certified rock hit. The Pixies went on the Sex and Death Tour making themselves more popular. The band slowly grew tired of each other and deided to take a break in 1990.
Other member of the band had different projects when they were on break. Kim Deal performed with Tanya Donnely and Black Francis went on a solo tour. In 1990, the band returned with their fourth album, Bossanova. While on tour to promote their latest album the rivalry between Black Francis and Kim Deal grew. At Brixton Academy on their English tour, Deal decided that it would their last time to play together on stage. The announcement was followed by the cancellation of their American Tour. In 1991, the Pixies went back to the studio to record Trompe le Monde which was released later that year. Unfortunately, the following year the Pixies disbanded.
[edit] Awards & Certifications
Awards
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Boston Music Awards | Album of the Year: Surfer Rosa |
| 1988 | Boston Music Awards | Melody Maker Album of the Year Surfer Rosa |
| 1989 | Boston Music Awards | Sounds Runner up for Album of the Year Doolittle |
| 1989 | Boston Music Awards | Single of the Year "Monkey Gone To Heaven" |
| 1989 | Boston Music Award | Runner up Album of the Year Doolittle |
| 1990 | Boston Music Awards | Album of the Year Bossanova |
| 2004 | Boston Music Awards | Act of the Year award |
Certifications
| Year | Album | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Doolittle | Certified Gold in U.S. |
[edit] Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | U.S. Modern Rock | U.K. Chart | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Gigantic | 93 | Surfer Rosa | |
| 1989 | Here Comes Your Man | 3 | 54 | Doolittle |
| 1989 | Monkey Gone to Heaven | 5 | 60 | Doolittle |
| 1990 | Dig for Fire | 11 | 62 | Bossanova |
| 1990 | Velouria | 4 | 28 | Bossanova |
| 1991 | Planet of Sound | 27 | Trompe le Monde | |
| 1991 | Letter to Memphis | 6 | Trompe le Monde | |
| 1991 | Head On | 6 | Trompe le Monde |
[edit] News
[edit] Tours & Concerts
No upcoming tours and concerts for this group.
[edit] Announcements
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
 October, 1987 Elektra |
 March 21, 1988 4AD |
 April 17, 1989 Elektra |
 August 13, 1990 Elektra |
 October 08, 1991 Elektra |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Label | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Gigantic | 4AD | Surfer Rosa |
| 1989 | Here Comes Your Man | 4AD | Doolittle |
| 1989 | Monkey Gone to Heaven | 4AD | Doolittle |
| 1990 | Dig for Fire | 4AD | Bossanova |
| 1990 | Allison | 4AD | Bossanova |
| 1990 | Velouria | 4AD | Bossanova |
| 1991 | Planet of Sound | 4AD | Trompe le Monde |
| 1991 | Letter to Memphis | Elektra | Trompe le Monde |
| 1991 | Alec Eiffel | Elektra | Trompe le Monde |
| 1991 | Head On | Elektra | Trompe le Monde |
[edit] Compilations & Live Releases
 October 07, 1997 Elektra |
 July 14, 1998 4AD |
 March 05, 2001 4AD |
 July 09, 2002 Cooking Vinyl |
 May 04, 2004 4AD |
 August 17, 2004 Teichiku |
 2004 Disc Live |
[edit] Other artists
[edit] Similar artists
[edit] Influences
[edit] Contemporaries
[edit] Trivia
- Pixies was no.81 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artist of Hard Rock.
[edit] Reviews
The Pixies style is a mixture of Husker Du and Peter, Paul and Mary. From the loud guitars to the simple bass the shift of the two instruments became the band's signature style. The lyrics of their songs are broad they sing about all kind of things from alien invasions to architecture. Their songs doesn't make a point but it goes well with the beat that they make. --Mimi 01:00, 13 February 2007 (PST)
