American alternative rock band formed in Boston in 1986. Original lineup: Black Francis (vocals/guitar, born Charles Thompson), Joey Santiago (guitar), Kim Deal (bass/vocals, 1986-2013), and David Lovering (drums). Foundational to the development of alternative rock; cited as a primary influence by Kurt Cobain on Nirvana's sound.
Five studio albums in the original era between Surfer Rosa (1988) and Trompe le Monde (1991). Critical peak: Doolittle (1989, featuring "Here Comes Your Man" and "Monkey Gone to Heaven"). The band split in 1993 and reunited in 2004 with extensive touring; Deal departed again in 2013. Subsequent albums Indie Cindy (2014), Head Carrier (2016), and others have featured Paz Lenchantin on bass.
