Kurt Cobain often spoke about the influence The Pixies had on his music, admitting that their sound played a significant role in shaping his own. He even confessed to Rolling Stone in 1994 that he connected so deeply with the band that he felt he should have been in The Pixies or at least in a cover band performing their music. Cobain particularly admired their dynamic of shifting between soft, quiet moments and loud, hard ones, which he later used in Nirvana’s iconic hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
Despite Cobain’s admiration for The Pixies, the band’s response to Nirvana’s success has been less discussed. Francis Black, also known as Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV, has shown respect for Cobain and Nirvana’s music, though he expressed his discontent with the commercialization of “grunge,” a term he believed was overhyped. A year ago, Joey Santiago, The Pixies’ guitarist, shared his thoughts on Nirvana, what makes a perfect guitar solo, and why he prefers Gibson guitars. This interview, which had remained unpublished until now, provides insight into Santiago’s perspective.
When asked about Nirvana, Santiago admitted that he didn’t initially listen to Nirvana’s breakout album Nevermind when it was first released, as it didn’t align with the type of music he was listening to at the time. However, after finally giving it a listen, he praised it as a great record. Santiago remarked that, by the time he got around to hearing the album, Nirvana’s songs were everywhere — on the radio, in malls, and even in cafes — making it unnecessary for him to go out of his way to listen to the full album.
Santiago acknowledged the influence The Pixies had on Nirvana, saying, “Yeah, I can hear it,” but he also pointed out that much of the music Cobain created was influenced by other artists as well. He noted that music is a chain of influences, where each band hands down its influence to the next.
The conversation also touched on guitar solos, an area where Santiago has always felt a unique connection. He mentioned that his favorite solos tend to be the “silly” ones, like the one from Donovan’s Sunshine Superman. He fondly remembered learning the solo, describing it as funny and unique in its playing style. Santiago believes it to be a perfect solo, though he left it up to others to decide. He also expressed his admiration for Steely Dan’s solos, particularly those in My Old School, calling them “fucking perfect.”
When asked about the solo he’s most proud of, Santiago singled out the one in The Pixies’ song Hey. He explained that the song started with the opening line, and everything else seemed to fall into place naturally. According to him, once that line was set, the solo wrote itself, and it had to be played in a particular way to match the song.
Looking back, Santiago mentioned that after playing certain songs many times, he sometimes wishes he could change the solo. He cited Monkey as a track that could have benefited from a different solo. He also speculated about altering the ending of Here Comes Your Man, though he wasn’t sure if fans would miss it if it were different. He clarified that while he sometimes thinks about changing aspects of songs for live performances, the studio recordings are final and cannot be altered.
The topic of guitar preferences also came up. Santiago confirmed that he is, indeed, a “Gibson guy.” While his bandmate Charles prefers the Fender Telecaster and its distinctive sound, Santiago prefers Gibsons because they offer different textures, which he feels adds a unique dynamic to the band’s overall sound.
Despite his reflections on past work, Santiago and The Pixies continue to thrive. The band’s latest album, The Night the Zombies Came, was released in October 2024 and has been met with critical acclaim. Looking ahead to 2025, The Pixies are set to tour the UK, the United States, Australia, and Japan, continuing their legacy of crafting memorable music.
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