Frank Black
Born: 1965-04-06 in Boston, Massachusetts
Known For: Acting
Biography
Black Francis (born Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV on April 6, 1965) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black. After releasing two albums with 4AD, he left the label and formed a backing band, Frank Black and the Catholics. He reformed the Pixies in 2004 and continues to release solo records and tour as a solo artist, having re-adopted his current stage name in 2007. His vocal style has varied from a screaming, yowling delivery as lead vocalist of the Pixies to a more measured and melodical style in his solo career. His cryptic lyrics mostly explore unconventional subjects, such as surrealism, incest and Biblical violence, along with science fiction and surf culture. His use of atypical meter signatures, loud-quiet dynamics and distinct preference for live-to-two-track recording in his career as a solo artist give him a distinct style within alternative rock. As frontman of the Pixies, his songs (such as "Where Is My Mind?" and "Debaser") received praise and citations from contemporaries, including Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. Cobain once said that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was his attempt at trying to "rip off the Pixies". However, in his solo work and records with the Catholics, he received fewer popular and critical accolades. Description above from the Wikipedia article Black Francis, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
2024
- Pixies - Rock en Seine 2024 as Self
2023
- Pixies - Olympia, Paris as Self
2021
- Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr. as himself
2016
2014
- Pixies - Lollapalooza Argentina 2014 as Himself
2013
2011
- Berlin Live as Self - Performer
2009
- The Magnificent Tati as Self
2008
- NPR Tiny Desk Concerts as Self
2007
- Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! as Self (voice)
- Seven Ages of Rock as Self
- Lil' Bush as Lil' Satan (voice)
2006
- Coachella as Self (with Pixies)
- loudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies as Himself
- Pixies - Acoustic : Live In Newport as himself
- Pixies Acoustic & Electric Live
- Pixies : Live At The Paradise In Boston
2005
- Pixies - Rock en Seine 2005 as Black Francis
- Pixies - Sell Out as Himself
2004
- Pixies: Gouge as Frank Black
- Pixies: Live at The Town & Country as Black Francis
2003
- Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns) as Self
- Placebo: Soulmates Never Die: Live in Paris 2003 as vocal / guitar
1997
- David Bowie: An Earthling at 50 as Self - Live on Stage with Bowie
- David Bowie & Friends: A Very Special Birthday Celebration as Self - Special Guest
1994
- Freaks, Nerds & Weirdos as Self