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“The Night the Zombies Came”

July 29, 2024 by Kevin Gomez

Since their very inception, the Pixies have been one of the most innovative and influential bands of all time. Their music was way ahead of its time during their first wave of albums; you could even argue that it’s still ahead of its time and the world is still not ready to fully embrace it. This partially explains why during the 1980s they never had the huge commercial success of some of their successors.

And yet, everyone from Nirvana (and later Foo Fighters), The Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Weezer, and The Strokes – among countless others – name the Pixies as a tremendous influence. Discussing “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Kurt Cobain was quoted as saying he was “basically trying to rip off the Pixies.”

From the prolific and genius songwriting of Frank Black (aka Black Francis), the criminally underrated guitar playing of Joey Santiago, the iconic bass lines and vocals of Kim Deal, and Dave Lovering providing the solid backbeat keeping everyone in rhythm, it’s no wonder why this band basically provided the blueprint for ‘90s alternative and grunge music.

Finally the Pixies started getting their recognition when all of these bands began name checking them as an influence, opening their catalogue to a whole new generation of fans long after they had disbanded in 1993.

The band’s popularity got another boost in 1999 as David Fincher chose “Where is My Mind” to play during the closing credits of “Fight Club” as Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter watch buildings around them implode.’

With this new found popularity, as well as a decade passing, the band decided to reform with all four original members in 2004 with shows selling out in minutes. Since then the band has released four more albums, the last being 2022’s “Doggerel.”

Deal parted ways with the band in 2013 and was soon replaced by the uber-talented Paz Lenchantin, formerly of A Perfect Circle fame. In May Lenchantin left the band, with Emma Richardson (formerly of Band of Skulls) taking up the reins.

As for the latest news, the Pixies will be releasing their 10th album, “The Night the Zombies Came” on October 25th.

This marks the first album Richardson will be part of, and only the second time Santiago has penned lyrics (having written a song for “Doggerel”), this time for “Hypnotized.”

You can check out the lyric video for their latest single, “Chicken,” which is as bizarre as you have come to expect from the Pixies.

The band is currently on a tour of Europe and the UK, with just about all shows already sold out. In November they will be heading to New Zealand and Australia with Pearl Jam, again with nearly all shows completely sold out.

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