Pixies: 'The more you try to recapture youth, the sillier it sounds'

Pixies is a band that has had a significant influence on alternative rock music since their formation in 1986. The band consists of Black Francis, Joey Santiago, Emma Richardson, and Dave Lovering. Recently, Black Francis made an unexpected appearance on a children's television show called CBeebies, where he read a bedtime story. This was surprising because his songs often explore dark themes such as violence and death. However, he chose a light-hearted book titled 'There Was A Young Zombie Who Swallowed A Worm' for the occasion. Black Francis remarked, 'I usually don't do things like that, but I enjoyed it. ' With five children of his own, he is quite experienced at telling bedtime stories. It is hard to picture Pixies on a children's show, given their loud and edgy music. Their songs, like 'Debaser' and 'Where Is My Mind', played a crucial role in shaping the alternative rock scene in the late 1980s. Many well-known bands, including Nirvana and Radiohead, have cited Pixies as an inspiration. Even James Blunt humorously acknowledged their influence, which made Black Francis chuckle. After a period of separation, the band's reputation continued to grow. In 2003, the music magazine NME declared their 1989 album 'Doolittle' as one of the best records of all time. It took many years, but in 2015, they achieved their first platinum record after selling 300,000 copies in the UK. Now, they are gearing up for a major tour in Australia alongside Pearl Jam. Black Francis stated, 'Our audience just seems to get bigger all the time,' which is part of the reason he decided to read a story on CBeebies. The origins of Pixies trace back to 1986 when Black Francis, whose real name is Charles Thompson IV, dropped out of college and convinced his roommate Joey Santiago to join him. They later recruited bassist Kim Deal and drummer Dave Lovering through a local newspaper advertisement. Their demo tape quickly garnered attention, leading to a record deal with the British label 4AD. The indie music press embraced them, with one writer describing their sound as 'a wild new shock'. Black Francis attributes their success to simplicity. He recalls their first performance as headliners at the Reading festival in 1990, where another band had an extravagant show filled with lights and confetti. When the other band's tour manager asked Pixies' manager what they had planned, he confidently replied, '25 good songs. ' Black Francis felt a sense of pride in that response, as they had no elaborate stage tricks, just their music. He began his musical journey at the age of eight and has always had a passion for it. The music of Pixies blends elements of punk and folk, creating a unique sound. Lovering mentioned that their new album is more traditional compared to their earlier works. Black Francis explained that he began to explore different musical styles during the band's hiatus. He recorded some albums in Nashville and wanted to incorporate those influences when they reunited. He noted, 'I think everyone around me has, consciously or unconsciously, relaxed and allowed me to do it. ' He also acknowledged the challenge of recapturing the youthful energy that characterized their earlier music. He stated, 'It gets harder to do those kind of things, because when you're young, there's so much naïvete driving the bus. ' As they age, they become more skilled musicians, but that youthful exuberance can be elusive. Black Francis candidly admitted, 'I can't be 19 years old again. And the harder you try, the sillier it sounds. ' One of their new songs, 'Oyster Beds', features intriguing lyrics that Black Francis wrote while painting. He explained, 'I just need some words here,' and the song turned out to be quite punky. He enjoys painting because it allows him to express his creativity without the constraints of collaboration. He described his painting process as a lively debate in his mind about the direction of the artwork. He said, 'It's crazy, even insane, what's going on in my head, but I do it for hours. ' This creative chaos is what continues to make Pixies an exciting and relevant band even after all these years.