23 Facts About Black Francis

1.

Black Francis is best known as the frontman of the alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis.

2.

Black Francis's father was a bar owner, and Thompson lived in Los Angeles, California, as a baby because his father wanted to "learn more about the restaurant and bar business".

3.

Black Francis discovered the music of Christian rock singer-songwriter Larry Norman at 13 when Norman played at a religious summer camp that Thompson attended.

4.

Black Francis spent six months in an apartment with a "weird, psycho roommate" who later served as a direct inspiration for the Pixies song "Crackity Jones"; many of the band's early songs refer to Thompson's experiences in Puerto Rico.

5.

Black Francis wrote a letter urging Santiago, with the words "we gotta do it, now is the time, Joe", to join him in a band upon his return to Boston.

6.

Black Francis spent 1985 working in a warehouse, "managing buttons on teddy bears", composing songs on his acoustic guitar, and writing lyrics on the subway.

7.

Black Francis told Norton he was keen to record again, even though he had no new material; as a result, the two decided on a cover album.

8.

Black Francis collaborated with Feldman to record new material; they began by trimming down the number of covers to one, The Beach Boys' "Hang On to Your Ego".

9.

Black Francis recorded the album during the hiatus and breakup of Pixies in late 1992 and early 1993.

10.

Black Francis then adopted the stage name "Frank Black" and released the results as Frank Black in March 1993.

11.

Frank Black Francis was characterized by a focus on UFOs and science fiction, although he explored other subjects, such as in "I Heard Ramona Sing", a song about the Ramones.

12.

Since leaving American Recordings, Black Francis has avoided long-term contracts with labels, and has maintained ownership of his album masters, licensing each album individually for release.

13.

Black Francis would continue to eschew multi-track recording for the live-to-two-track technique for all subsequent releases under the group name.

14.

Devil's Workshop included the song "Velvety", a version of the Pixies song "Velvety Instrumental Version" that Black Francis wrote as a teenager, with lyrics.

15.

Black Francis released a new "mini-album" entitled Svn Fngrs as Black Francis in March 2008.

16.

Black Francis was later released and performed that night in Vicar Street as planned.

17.

In 2008, Black Francis produced Art Brut's third album, Art Brut vs Satan, which was released the following year.

18.

Black Francis gave several joint interviews with frontman Eddie Argos about the album, and Art Brut supported the Pixies at their 2009 Brixton Academy show.

19.

Black Francis released NonStopErotik in March 2010 and contributed the song "I Heard Ramona Sing" to the soundtrack for the film Scott Pilgrim vs the World released in August 2010.

20.

Black Francis contributed, in 2011, to the Ray Davies album of collaborations, "See My Friends", with his cover of the Kinks tune "This Is Where I Belong".

21.

Black Francis performed at The Coach House Concert Hall in San Juan Capistrano, California, on March 22,2013.

22.

Black Francis cited surrealist films Eraserhead and Un Chien Andalou as major influences on his work with the Pixies; however, surrealism was less of an influence in his solo career.

23.

Black Francis commented on these influences, saying he "didn't have the patience to sit around reading Surrealist novels", but found it easier to watch 20-minute films.