iSound

The Pixies centred around vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Black Francis. Born Charles Thompson, he was often an outsider at school as his father moved between pub jobs. Contrary to the themes of some of their songs, he was never much into the actual beach-surf-sun lifestyle of California. As Charles grew up, he learned how to play rock ‘n’ roll - learning piano, drums and guitar, and finally taking bass lessons from an uncle. He learned to sing from the cousin of his employer at the time - a rock star in his native Thailand, who told him, “Scream it,” Charles recalled in a Sounds interview, “scream it like you hate that bitch!” Charles and Joey had both gone to college with the intention of joining bands, and were fortunate enough to be roommates together at University of Massachusetts, the U-Mass from Trompe Le Monde. Prior to this, Charles listened mainly to Beatles and Doors records. Joey introduced him to punk, Iggy Pop and Spiders-era Bowie. Much of their first year wa...