Interview - Joey Santiago

While not quite hitting the same prolific heights as in their first phase (an album a year from 1988-1991), in their second act Pixies are in something of a purple patch, with three efforts since 2019. Tenth album The Night The Zombies Came may not a traditional concept album – despite the title – but Charles Thompson IV has described it as a ‘movie in song form’, with certain reoccurring themes including druidism and apocalyptic settings, fittingly for an album which lands just before Halloween.

It also lifts the curtain on the new iteration of the band. Bassist Paz Lenchantin has moved on, to be replaced by Emma Richardson, formerly of Band Of Skulls, who steps immediately into the limelight, harmonising with Thompson on tracks such as ‘Mercy Me’ and ‘Primrose’, both of which capture the classic Pixies sound. Yet that’s just one element of a diverse album which fuses surf-rock, punk and 12th century poetry all put together in a melting pot which may be their most unique yet.

As well as their tenth album, 2024 marks 35 years of PIXIES activity and also 20 years since their reformation. Recently CLASH spoke with guitarist and co-founder of the band Joey Santiago to talk about the new album, the milestones and his own songwriting. 

https://www.clashmusic.com/features/ignorance-is-bliss-sometimes-clash-meets-pixies/