In 1986 the Boston Times published an ad in which Charles Thompson (alias Black Francis) and Joey Santiago were looking for a bassist and a drummer who would like both Hüsker Dü and Peter, Paul & Mary. Kim Deal (on the first two records still as Mrs. John Murphey) and David Lovering answered the ad, and the Pixies were complete. With their impetuous rock, the brute tempo changes and the sawing guitar riffs they became the indie rock band. Kurt Cobain admitted that he could not have written a song like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" without the inspiration of the Pixies: "I was trying to write the ultimate pop songs, I was trying to rip off the Pixies". It remains to be seen whether he succeeded. It's a fact that the Pixies are using Debaser, Here Comes Your Man, Monkey Gone To Heaven and Where Is My Mind? Indie classics.

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