Most Influential Band of All Time
Most people would argue that title for the Beatles. And they would have a good case. The most painful rock review I ever read was about Matchbox 20. The reviewer's money line: "This is what popular music would have sounded like had the Beatles never existed." Ouch.
But I propose for your consideration a modest band of troubadours led by Frank Black, the Pixies.
Generally considered "alternative rock," whatever that means, the Pixies disbanded in 1993 and reunited last year for a momentous tour.
No one had heard anything like them before they hit the scene in 1985, but plenty of bands sounded like them after they appeared. I would argue that grunge, emo, post-punk, prog rock and even alt country all owe a big, largely unacknowledged debt to the Pixies.
Here's "Where Is My Mind." Listen and see if you can hear echoes of everything from Nirvana to System of a Down to Wilco in there. Just incredible work.
But I propose for your consideration a modest band of troubadours led by Frank Black, the Pixies.
Generally considered "alternative rock," whatever that means, the Pixies disbanded in 1993 and reunited last year for a momentous tour.
No one had heard anything like them before they hit the scene in 1985, but plenty of bands sounded like them after they appeared. I would argue that grunge, emo, post-punk, prog rock and even alt country all owe a big, largely unacknowledged debt to the Pixies.
Here's "Where Is My Mind." Listen and see if you can hear echoes of everything from Nirvana to System of a Down to Wilco in there. Just incredible work.
posted by Bret Bradigan at 3:49 PM
5 Comments:
I agree 100%. The Pixies are/were the most amazing band - smart, forward thinking, gifted. The Beatles brought the music to the masses; the Pixies influenced masses of musicians.
I agree as well. My husband got me hooked on the pixies years ago. My favorite was always "Tony's Thing"..supper hero! They may be maverick but they are terrific. LuLu
The Pixies were influential, but not nearly as influential as Dusseldorf's finest band... KRAFTWERK.
The Beatles may have opened the door, but Led Zeppelin was the band who stepped through it. Far more musicians have been influenced by Led Zeppelin than the Beatles. Where the Beatles now sound cliched, Led Zep's songs have aged better than any other.
while the beatles were doing standard Buddy Holly rock and roll there was another band tearing up the alternative rock scene in new york.... The Velvet Underground. the most influential band of all time. as much as i love the Pixies thier quiet/loud sound was nothing "new" to the scene. it had been done a few years before by the legendary Husker Du.
the_pixie@mail.com
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