What is happening?  On the heels of The Pixies announcing a new European tour beginning in September, Kim Deal has parted ways with her band mates.  On the band’s official Facebook page the band said, “We are sad to say that Kim Deal has decided to leave the Pixies.  We are very proud to have worked with her on and off over the last 25 years.  Despite her decision to move on, we will always consider her a member of the Pixies, and her place will always be here for her.  We wish her all the best.”

Black Francis, Joey Santiago and David Lovering

As big of a Pixies fan as I am, and I am indeed fanatical about this band, I don’t know that band founder, songwriter, guitarist and vocalist, Charles Thompson IV (Black Francis) can pull this one off.  Although the written music he creates, backed by lead guitarist extraordinaire, Joey Santiago, is second to none, I think Charles underestimates the value that Kim brought to the band.  She is far too talented to just be replaced.  A killer bass player with a voice that sounds like it was sent to us from heaven, Kim was the most approachable member of the band and had, and still has, a rabid following that would crawl on broken glass to hear her sing Where is my Mind, Hey, Gigantic or Bone Machine. She gave the band a human feel that would not have been possible for Charles to accomplish without her.  His reclusivity is not the stuff that endears pop fans to an artist, no matter how accomplished they may be.  Kim brought an everyman’s feel to the band that invited fans and listeners into the group’s sounds, textures and emotion. This ambitious quartet created five studio albums in five years of always listenable, sometimes hypnotizing, and never, ever, ever disappointing music.  It is simply music that makes you happy to be alive.

Although we have not heard a word from Kim herself, that leaves us to speculate as to what is going on.  Kim has been busy touring the twentieth anniversary of the Breeders album, ‘Last Splash’, with her sister and best friend, Kelley, so scheduling issues may have been at play.  Perhaps Deal realized that the Pixies may have run their course and it was time to walk away with some sense of dignity and accomplishment.  Maybe the tensions that exist between her and Charles were just too insurmountable to spend lengths of time exposed to one another, especially stuck across the pond for two months.  Perhaps it is something as unexciting as she simply didn’t want to.  She had previously expressed absolutely no interest in going back into the studio to record a new album.  Maybe the
other three band mates have this in mind and she took her leave because of that.  No matter the reason, taking her leave at this time was probably a good move.

I found the Pixies later in life after watching their documentary, loud QUIET loud, and
fell instantly and hopelessly in love with them.  So much so, that never a week goes by in my house when at least two or three of their albums are not played at maximum volume.  There has never been a band before, and I’m thinking there won’t be in the future, that sounded so fresh, so new, so fun.  Between Charles’ broken Spanglish lyrics, Joey’s precise
and incomparable guitar work, Dave’s steady hands and Kim’s more than adequate bass accompanied with the voice of an angel, they were fresh and exciting, something to look forward to.

I have had the pleasure of seeing a lot of the bigger names in rock and roll in concert and had always hoped that a Pixies’ concert would someday be in my future.  Sadly, I will not be attending their show if and when they come to my area.  The band cannot be the same without Kim Deal.  Her presence among them was more than integral, it was essential.  Without her, there is no Pixies.  They are merely three members of what was once a great pop band that have, for whatever reason, decided to embark on a tour all the while hoping that no one will notice Kim’s absence.  People will.  We do.

I am going to drag myself off now and listen to some Pixies as they were meant to be heard.  With Charles’ determined, driving, mostly undissectable words, Joey’s second to none lead guitar, Dave’s understated back beat, and Kim’s wondrous and haunting voice that takes us to places we seldom visit.  Places we would inhabit forever, if given the opportunity to do so.

In the words of the Dandy Warhols, ‘Cool as Kim Deal’.  They knew of what they sang and I defy you to disagree with them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl1xgsC3UOM

Keith