The Pixies are an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1986. The original lineup of the band consisted of Black Francis (vocals, rhythm guitar), Joey Santiago (lead guitar), Kim Deal (bass, vocals) and David Lovering (drums). The Pixies are associated with the 1990s alternative rock boom, and draw on elements including punk rock and surf rock. Their music is known for dynamic "loud-quiet-loud" shifts and song structures. Francis is the primary songwriter; his often surreal lyrics cover offbeat subjects such as extraterrestrials, incest, and biblical violence.
Their debut release was the mini-LP Come On Pilgrim in 1987, followed by the album Surfer Rosa and released in early 1988. They followed those up with the next two albums Doolittle and Bossanova. They followed it up with Trompe le Monde in 1991 before breaking up in 1993. Pixies found only modest success in their home country, but were significantly more successful in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe, although in their initial run the band did not find mainstream success with their studio albums.
Their popularity grew after their breakup, leading to a 2004 reunion and sold-out world tours. Deal left in 2012, and was replaced with Kim Shattuck for their 2013 tour. She was later replaced with Paz Lenchantin, who became a full member in 2016. With Lenchantin, the Pixies recorded the albums Head Carrier (2016), Beneath the Eyrie (2019) and Doggerel (2022). In 2024, Lenchantin was replaced by Emma Richardson, formerly of Band of Skulls. The ninth Pixies album, The Night the Zombies Came, was released that year.
Their alternative rock sound influenced acts such as Nirvana, Radiohead, Modest Mouse, the Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer.
