Question 1

Who writes Pixies songs?

Accepted Answer

Black Francis, almost alone. He is credited on 124 of the 126 album tracks, and the other four members hold eleven credits between them across the whole catalogue. The two tracks he is not on are covers.

Question 2

Who wrote "Where Is My Mind?"

Accepted Answer

Black Francis, alone, like everything else on Surfer Rosa apart from "Gigantic".

Question 3

Did Kim Deal write for the band?

Accepted Answer

Twice. She shares "Gigantic" on Surfer Rosa and "Silver" on Doolittle, and holds no other credit in eleven years with the band.

Question 4

Does Joey Santiago write?

Accepted Answer

On four songs, all of them on the two most recent albums: two on Doggerel and two on The Night the Zombies Came.

Question 5

How many albums have they released?

Accepted Answer

Ten, counting the 1987 mini-album Come On Pilgrim, between 1987 and 2024.

Question 6

Which songs are covers?

Accepted Answer

"Cecilia Ann" on Bossanova, originally by the Surftones, and "Head On" on Trompe le Monde, by the Jesus and Mary Chain.

Question 7

How well did they sell?

Accepted Answer

Doolittle is certified platinum, selling over 1 million copies, and Surfer Rosa is certified gold. The band found bigger audiences in Britain and Europe than at home.

Question 8

Did Pixies ever have a Hot 100 hit?

Accepted Answer

No. The discography publishes no Hot 100 column at all; the band charted on alternative and overseas charts instead.

Question 9

Who plays bass now?

Accepted Answer

Emma Richardson, formerly of Band of Skulls, who replaced Paz Lenchantin in 2024. Kim Deal left in 2012.

Question 10

Why do people call them influential?

Accepted Answer

The loud-quiet-loud shape of their songs shows up in Nirvana, Radiohead, the Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer, all of whom named them.