 The Pixies' 6 years of existence blew a breath of fresh air through both the independent and national charts. From the backwoods of Boston to headlining festivals worldwide, the Pixies combined blistering guitar work with a unique approach to songwriting and became one of the most acclaimed acts in independent music.
Sun-kissed Long Beach, California proved too hot for Beatle-loving Charles Micheal Kitridge Thompson IV to handle. Uncomfortable at the ten schools he was to attend whilst his publican father was to move from bar to bar, Charles took inspiration from the likes of Iggy Pop, re-christened himself "Black Francis", and began to master the guitar, bass, piano and drums. All that was needed to complete the process from beach bum to rock musician was the voice. And Charles took advice from the most unlikely sources. He befriended a Thai rock star (cousin to the manager of the flower shop where he worked) who told him to "scream it like you hate that bitch!", in the style of the Beatles' "Oh Darling". More contemporary music soon filtered through Charles' collection when he began a three year course, boarding with Filipino Joey Santiago, who introduced him to the '70s sounds of punk and space age David Bowie. The rest of term was spent writing songs, playing guitar and smoking dope.
He resumed his friendship with Joey, and the pair became the Pixies, because of their liking for the dictionary definition, "mischievous little elf". An advertisement asking for a "bassist into Husker Du and Peter, Paul and Mary" introduced Kim Deal, who'd previously been in a folk ensemble, the Breeders, with her twin sister, Kelly. They'd met up with sixties veterans Steppenwolf, and ended up supporting them in their hometown of Dayton, Ohio. But with Kelly gradually moving into catering, and Kim marrying Bostonian John Murphy (whom she divorced in 1988), the Breeders fround to a temporary halt.
Kim also brought along drummer David Lovering, a guest at her wedding reception. He'd been living in Massachusetts and had played in local bands Iz Wizard and Riff Raff. Now that the Pixies had settled upon a stable line-up, they began rehearsing in David's father's garage in the summer of 1986. "Possible the worst gig in the history of rock" followed at the aptly named Rat Club in Boston where they performed early versions of "Build High", "Here Comes Your Man" and "Dig for Fire".
Further dates, and nights staying in "roach-infested hotels in unknown places like Kansas", followed, before a chance to support fellow Bostonians Throwing Muses at the Rathskeller alerted the group to several managers and agents. Out stepped Gary Smith, manager and producer at Boston's Fort Apache studios in Roxbury, who'd recently sent the Muses packing to the U.K. for a lucrative deal with 4AD records. Smith heard the band and felt he "could not sleep until you guys are world famous".
Work began on the Pixies first mini album, "Come On Pilgrim", for three consecutive days during March 1987. The band got through eighteen songs, including a far from celestial cover of "In Heaven (Lady in The Radiator Song)" from David Lynch's "Eraserhead" film (often cited as an influence on Black Francis), an almost acoustic "Here Comes Your Man", "Down To The Well" and "Rock A My Soul". These last two recordings eventually turned up on a "Sound Waves" EP alongside the Pogues, the Sugarcubes and the Wedding Present. The sessions were mixed over a further three days (the 1000 costs were funded by Francis's father), to create "The Purple Tape". Copies were sent to interested parties, including local promoter Ken Goes (who immediately became their manager) and supremo behind "the coolest record company to pay on time", 4AD creator Ivo Watts-Russell.
Ivo was so impressed with the recordings that he signed the band and released eight of the tracks from the original demos as "Come On Pilgrim", housed in a distinctive sleeve by resident design company, 23 envelope.
While "Surfer Rosa" rested at the top of the U.K. independent charts, the British rock press fell over backwards competing to praise the band.
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