"MTV REALLY SUCKS!" - You said it, Brother. Charles/Frank/Francis is a hellofa nice guy, and a genuine music lover. He did a solo in-store performance at the record store I used to work at, and after signing and taking pictures with fans, he stayed in the store for at least an hour shopping for music. Who cares that he plays with his hair or gets nervous in interviews? He was born to make music, not play to the camera. A beautiful, lovely fella... Salute!
HAHAHA, funny funny "Rock N Roll is going downhill so fast, and it's going to slam into the pavement very soon." in 1989, RIGHT before a massive rock explosion of the early 1990's.
BRO THIS GUY IS SO- LIKEEEEEEEEEE... I DON'T GET IT. lmaoo. i've watched so many interviews of black and pixies and they seem like, not like a joke, but, like, just these people. BUT THEN I go and grind their catalog for an hour straight for the millionth time and they're just like something completely different. like HOWW DID they ever come up with the stuff they came up with?!? by far my fav band- BY FAR THE BAND.
this guy seems kinda like some mysterious character, like someone who you have to work at to get to know. I hope other interviews will show him open up a bit more.. i'd love to know whats behind the genius of this bands music (without! forgetting the other band members of course cuz i know they all have contributed to the band being what it is).
“His name was Bob-well, he said his name was Bob-and he was kind of a rock ‘n’ roll singer back in Thailand in the early ‘70s,” recalls Black. “He was a neighbor of ours in Los Angeles. He had a little studio in the back of his house and knew I was interested in rock music.” Apparently Bob mentored Black "bring your Beatles songbook" and gave Black a lesson in emoting. “His instructions were, ‘C’mon, man, sing it! Scream it, man! Scream it like you hate that b*tch!’ It was a little frightening for me, hearing someone talk so aggressively when I was age 13.”
I laughed at this guy 25 years ago, but it took me 25 years to recognize true genius. I bet the same thing happened to motzart and picasso. I am not by any measure comparing Black to motzart and picasso of course.
A lot of artists write thousands of songs, dating back to their teens, and within those songs, are real jewels. To be a good songwriter, you usually have to write a thousand bad songs, and then finally you get your own style and an eye for things.
It's really cool how they're talking about the death or decline of rock n roll due to MTV and such...but two years from this interview Nirvana would burst onto the scene and reform the entire scene. (and yes their heavy influence from pixies is fitting to this video)
anyone knows a link to a video where a reporter tries to make fun of a young francis black, and he plays some early pixies songs and he says he's happy his dad bought a guitar for him?
It always seemed strange to me that the Pixies didnt become massively successful in a mainstream way because theyve whipped out a good 20 odd great pop tunes, their grasp of melody is up there with the beatles and pet sounds in my opinion..... Im kinda glad they didnt tho
They were hardly an unknown cult band - when they finally announced that they'd split up, which was one of the worst-kept secrets in music at the time, it was the lead news item on european MTV, and this when it was a single channel for everything.
They didn't sell out, and too original for the mainstream. Beatles' best work was not their most mainstream after all. Pixies started with their best and kept that going. With no media cosplay
Yea, I guess you could say that. "Bigger" in the way i define it doesn't have anything to do with how good the band is. "Better" for me is a totally different category.
and just because he said it himself doesn't it make it more right. He always thought low of himself - he never had a single neutron of rockstar ego. The whole reason for him dying was because of low self-esteem and depression from his crazy past and present life. So before you call them ripoffs, just remember that every musician basically is - every musician has inspirations, and Kurt contributed with some of his own sound as well.
when he created Smells Like Teen Spirit and some other songs from Nevermind, yes. But what about Bleach, Incesticide, In Utero and what would had become their new acoustic album? Kurt had a unique style and an incredible ear for melody, Dave was (and still is) brutal on drums and Krist would make these either badass or really groovy basslines. He had lots of inspirations besides the Pixies, the Pixies was a big one yes, but what about The Melvins, Black Flag, Sex pistols etc?
@Tsuta From what I've gathered it seems like they were at their peak of popularity, or almost at their peak, when they broke up. They were getting recognition from big media sources and were appearing on television more and doing sell out tours! Then they broke up. Had they stayed together through the 90s they would have either been buried by the new Alternative Rock, or they would have soared to the top and been very successful. But things didn't work out so bad regardless I suppose.
But when he did it, it looked accidental, as if he was just rubbing his eye or nervous. I really don't want to think such a talented, intelligent guy is a devil worshipper occultist.
Pixies are infamous for not liking doing videos for their songs. Charles hated lip-syncing, so on "Here Comes Your Man" when they're supposed to be singing, they just open their mouths. To great effect.
In my personal opinion Pixies are also better, but "bigger" generally refers to success in terms of record sales/popularity, and in that category Nirvana definitely won.
Precisely. I like Nirvana, but I do prefer Pixies. Saying that, I can't state Pixies are better than Nirvana just because I like Pixies more. As you say it's a matter of taste and it's a bit infantile attacking Nirvana only because they were more popular.
jigrodrigues Kurt said he was a massive pixies fan and bit their sound. So its safe to say that Pixies are better. But nirvana has the handsome singer right ?
lenin ruiz funny you should say that. Im a fat guy so Charles is a bit of a hero to me because he is a cool heavy dude and he makes such good and diferent music... He is a legitimate rock star and legend which happens to be a big guy lol. But i see your point and I agree. Maybe if kurt had another physical appearence, despite all his talent, maybe he wasnt idolized the same way I guess
@saintwinky29 You know, I have no problem with them touring and touring, and the show I saw was awesome, but if they are going to keep this up they need to put a bunch of Bossanova songs into the set. I love that album, and it's crazy that Frank Black apparently doesn't.
bigger and better are something different. If you compose a great symphony, but only show it to a few friends, all top 40 songs would be bigger, because they would have much more exposure
"MTV REALLY SUCKS!" - You said it, Brother.
Charles/Frank/Francis is a hellofa nice guy, and a genuine music lover. He did a solo in-store performance at the record store I used to work at, and after signing and taking pictures with fans, he stayed in the store for at least an hour shopping for music. Who cares that he plays with his hair or gets nervous in interviews? He was born to make music, not play to the camera.
A beautiful, lovely fella... Salute!
“We’re you having dental work done or were you going to the bathroom”
Fucking lol
This man changed my life.
HAHAHA, funny funny "Rock N Roll is going downhill so fast, and it's going to slam into the pavement very soon." in 1989, RIGHT before a massive rock explosion of the early 1990's.
In all fairness it was as it is now, we were just lucky to have creative people start good bands and feed of one another as I intend it to be soon.
I think he's going for an 80's Dave Gilmour look.
He really loved his hair. Bless him. A gift.
BRO THIS GUY IS SO- LIKEEEEEEEEEE... I DON'T GET IT. lmaoo. i've watched so many interviews of black and pixies and they seem like, not like a joke, but, like, just these people. BUT THEN I go and grind their catalog for an hour straight for the millionth time and they're just like something completely different. like HOWW DID they ever come up with the stuff they came up with?!? by far my fav band- BY FAR THE BAND.
they're such a (for lack of a better word) wacky group as far as the personalities. Influenced so many but still nobody sounds like them
"MTV really sucks"... Best quote ever! Specially the way he says it.
Gosh, everyday I love the Pixies more and more.
That man's a genius.
Don't get musicians like him anymore.
this guy seems kinda like some mysterious character, like someone who you have to work at to get to know. I hope other interviews will show him open up a bit more.. i'd love to know whats behind the genius of this bands music (without! forgetting the other band members of course cuz i know they all have contributed to the band being what it is).
Don’t hold your breath. Pixies are notoriously awful at interviewing lol
“His name was Bob-well, he said his name was Bob-and he was kind of a rock ‘n’ roll singer back in Thailand in the early ‘70s,” recalls Black. “He was a neighbor of ours in Los Angeles. He had a little studio in the back of his house and knew I was interested in rock music.”
Apparently Bob mentored Black "bring your Beatles songbook" and gave Black a lesson in emoting. “His instructions were, ‘C’mon, man, sing it! Scream it, man! Scream it like you hate that b*tch!’ It was a little frightening for me, hearing someone talk so aggressively when I was age 13.”
he's just being asked stupid questions
I laughed at this guy 25 years ago, but it took me 25 years to recognize true genius. I bet the same thing happened to motzart and picasso. I am not by any measure comparing Black to motzart and picasso of course.
Why not?
You're right he's better than both those guys
goofy comment. youve STILL YET TO RECOGNIZE HIS TRUE GENIUS.
A lot of artists write thousands of songs, dating back to their teens, and within those songs, are real jewels. To be a good songwriter, you usually have to write a thousand bad songs, and then finally you get your own style and an eye for things.
I love when he compares Rock Music to Bread
Release the full concert 😻 🔥
i actually really like bossanova despite people slagging it off. good album
An extraordinary guitarist.
Concur, it’s almost second nature))
He looks so rad in this interview.
Bravo Black Francis: the service industry is killing the artist by killing their art by keeping them away from libraries.
Nice interview from the band's peak. Although he looks amiable on the surface, one can see the assiness that made him notorious to work with.
Such smart guy! "its all rock n roll - not about underground- not about religion..."
I can't stop watching this.
God I love this so much.
The only time I ever saw them live was when they opened up for The Cure at Dodger Stadium 89
Wow cool. I wonder if there's decent footage of that show.
Ha! Thanks for the upload.
It's really cool how they're talking about the death or decline of rock n roll due to MTV and such...but two years from this interview Nirvana would burst onto the scene and reform the entire scene. (and yes their heavy influence from pixies is fitting to this video)
2:30 "it's such staple for non-service industries" lol
That's funny one of my top three favorite song of theirs they thought was too silly to play live lol
Which song
anyone knows a link to a video where a reporter tries to make fun of a young francis black, and he plays some early pixies songs and he says he's happy his dad bought a guitar for him?
tijs s. I am also interested!!!
ua-cam.com/video/OXMxMGJGkuI/v-deo.html maybe ?
He's undressing her with his eyes... \m/
lol marha quinn?? shes vera from the tv show alice , mtv EMPTY VEE
I can't believe frank rocked that mullet the year I was born
@Ala13Kokakolo thanksss what about the one at 1:21?
Wow this is so old!!
The face touching thing is a nervous habit! I do it too when I'm in an uncomfortable situation.
Yes but also from heroin
Thanks
Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV. Haha he is amazing.
I love how canadians say the word "out"
Me too. First album I got on record. Awesome album
they already knew back then that music was going down the drain, and here we are now ...
It always seemed strange to me that the Pixies didnt become massively successful in a mainstream way because theyve whipped out a good 20 odd great pop tunes, their grasp of melody is up there with the beatles and pet sounds in my opinion..... Im kinda glad they didnt tho
They were hardly an unknown cult band - when they finally announced that they'd split up, which was one of the worst-kept secrets in music at the time, it was the lead news item on european MTV, and this when it was a single channel for everything.
They didn't sell out, and too original for the mainstream.
Beatles' best work was not their most mainstream after all. Pixies started with their best and kept that going. With no media cosplay
This guy is so cool.
@kekakukakeku hahahaaa, this is good. ty for sharing
I love frank!!!!!!!!
i love how he keeps touching his face and his hair... hahaha
They always work in the one eye salute 2:00.
He is knowledgeable about the hidden arts, but is he really a mason?
1989, you were already there while I worked to be, just be.
No.13 baby. Brilliant!!!! :)
She said as soon as rock got on tv it went downhill. We know now that most of the great bands of the 80's & 90's were never interested in TV.
Wow. Back when MuchMusic or whatever other Canadian TV channel had integrity!
Yea, I guess you could say that. "Bigger" in the way i define it doesn't have anything to do with how good the band is. "Better" for me is a totally different category.
Wow...good call at 2:45 with her "thesis".
and just because he said it himself doesn't it make it more right. He always thought low of himself - he never had a single neutron of rockstar ego. The whole reason for him dying was because of low self-esteem and depression from his crazy past and present life. So before you call them ripoffs, just remember that every musician basically is - every musician has inspirations, and Kurt contributed with some of his own sound as well.
That's why I like him
what's the name of the song that he's performing in the start of the video
"Dead" ua-cam.com/video/UgWgDWgNBzQ/v-deo.html
when he created Smells Like Teen Spirit and some other songs from Nevermind, yes. But what about Bleach, Incesticide, In Utero and what would had become their new acoustic album? Kurt had a unique style and an incredible ear for melody, Dave was (and still is) brutal on drums and Krist would make these either badass or really groovy basslines.
He had lots of inspirations besides the Pixies, the Pixies was a big one yes, but what about The Melvins, Black Flag, Sex pistols etc?
@Tsuta From what I've gathered it seems like they were at their peak of popularity, or almost at their peak, when they broke up. They were getting recognition from big media sources and were appearing on television more and doing sell out tours! Then they broke up.
Had they stayed together through the 90s they would have either been buried by the new Alternative Rock, or they would have soared to the top and been very successful. But things didn't work out so bad regardless I suppose.
I miss The New Music
I agree ..Bossonova ..is Great..
as i remember ..I was waiting tables back then...
and not writing great songs ..that stand the test of time0.
the videos shown in the interview, where are they from?
Young Black Francis looks like an adult Chucky Doll.
technically it wasnt a mullet as its not cut short on the sides ...
Whats the song name played during 1.16 min
Title pic shows his allegiance to the freemasons. (One eye gesture)
But when he did it, it looked accidental, as if he was just rubbing his eye or nervous. I really don't want to think such a talented, intelligent guy is a devil worshipper occultist.
Pixies are infamous for not liking doing videos for their songs. Charles hated lip-syncing, so on "Here Comes Your Man" when they're supposed to be singing, they just open their mouths. To great effect.
looks like he's on speed
damn he was frigity! haha
did anyone else notice frank spitting when he starts singing lawl
Good?
EPIC..ABSOLUTELY..EPIC
@MatthewS8590 yeah, and kurt was ringing MTV to complain they weren't playing his video enough.... rock n roll....
He is nice.
Never knew Phillip Seymour Hoffman had a musical career
What is it a competition or something?
In my personal opinion Pixies are also better, but "bigger" generally refers to success in terms of record sales/popularity, and in that category Nirvana definitely won.
Precisely. I like Nirvana, but I do prefer Pixies. Saying that, I can't state Pixies are better than Nirvana just because I like Pixies more. As you say it's a matter of taste and it's a bit infantile attacking Nirvana only because they were more popular.
jigrodrigues Kurt said he was a massive pixies fan and bit their sound. So its safe to say that Pixies are better. But nirvana has the handsome singer right ?
lenin ruiz funny you should say that. Im a fat guy so Charles is a bit of a hero to me because he is a cool heavy dude and he makes such good and diferent music... He is a legitimate rock star and legend which happens to be a big guy lol. But i see your point and I agree. Maybe if kurt had another physical appearence, despite all his talent, maybe he wasnt idolized the same way I guess
@DavidKS92 Nerves. When people are nervous, they touch their face a lot.
@saintwinky29 You know, I have no problem with them touring and touring, and the show I saw was awesome, but if they are going to keep this up they need to put a bunch of Bossanova songs into the set. I love that album, and it's crazy that Frank Black apparently doesn't.
bigger and better are something different. If you compose a great symphony, but only show it to a few friends, all top 40 songs would be bigger, because they would have much more exposure
You know it !
What's the song at 1:14?
Num 13...
think of it as wide or thin music
I hope not misunderstand. According to your One Direction is "bigger" than King Crimson. Right.
wow he was 15 in this??
no he wasnt 15 when he wrote here comes your man didn't you listen to the interview lmao
***** sorry dude I made a typo im not stupid I know he wasn't
ohh okay lol
Yeah he was 15 in this
SPUNL7 he was actually 14 and half. such adolescent spunk here.
what the the song from 1:15-1:23
No.13 Baby from the Doolittle album
No. 13 Baby
2:42 agreed.
@lordsalisbury1 he has such a character!
If he had Kurt Cobain's looks they would have been bigger than Nirvana.
Yeah, and what's wrong with their later work?
lol...they actually forgot how to play Here Comes Your Man...
that's pretty ironic, considering how influential that song has been
no. 13 baby, doolittle.
so obviously stoned :), keeps touching his hair and looking around, could be nervous but reminds me of a Bob Dylan interview
and also he looks at the roof a lot. let's analyze that next week when I'm not about to go out and get drunker.
I don't think that was his/her point. But of course, it's the sad reality in pop/rock music.
he’s adorable playing with his hair throughout the whole interview, sad to see he lost all of it unfortunately 😭
how do you know a band is Bigger than others ? there is no big or small in music
1:27 pointy pointy
''oot'' lol
i think he only sweated a lot. maybe the interview was after a concert or the lights in the interview were very hot.
"were you having dental work done, or were you going to the bathroom?" black rules
'MTV really sucks.' Can somebody sample that and stick it in a song.
That;s a shame cause here comes your man is an awesome song
2:16 lol