You know when you learn something pleasantly unexpected? For instance, a favorite band you wrote off as finished because its principal members blame each other for stupid shit through music blogs announces their first tour in years? What's that feeling called? Oh, yeah… hope!
The Pixies return to action this summer with a series of European concert dates, including a June 14 appearance at the Isle of Wight festival with Neil Young, Billboard has confirmed. The gigs will be the first for the alternative rock standard-bearers since 2007, dispelling doubts that the group's most recent hiatus was permanent. Further details about the additional European shows will be released soon. No North American gigs are planned, according to Billboard's sources.
The full article from Billboard provides a bit more background, but barely scratches the surface of several years of tension. Statements made by Frank Black and Kim Deal towards the end of 2007 fueled my pessimism that the reunion was over.
This article appears in Mar 11-17, 2009.