Kim Deal
Encyclopedia
Kimberley Ann Deal is an American singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the bassist (and backup/lead vocalist) of the alternative rock
band
the Pixies and the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for The Breeders
. Deal first joined the Pixies in January 1986 as the band's bassist
, adopting the stage name
Mrs. John Murphy for the band's releases Come On Pilgrim
and Surfer Rosa
. Following Doolittle
and the Pixies' resulting hiatus, she formed The Breeders
with Tanya Donelly
and Josephine Wiggs
. After the Pixies reconvened in 1990, Deal felt increasingly sidelined by the band's frontman, Black Francis; this led to the Pixies' breakup in early 1993.
Deal then returned her focus to The Breeders, who released the platinum-selling album Last Splash
(1993). In 1994, the band went into hiatus after Deal's identical twin sister, Kelley
, entered drug rehabilitation
. During The Breeders' eight year break, Deal adopted the stage name Tammy Ampersand and formed The Amps
, who recorded a single album, Pacer
in 1995. She resumed her role as The Breeders' guitarist for their third album Title TK
in 2002, and reunited with the Pixies in 2004. The Breeders released their fourth studio album, Mountain Battles
, in 2008.
. Her father was a laser physicist
who worked at the nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
. Kim and her identical twin sister Kelley were introduced to music at a young age; the two sang to a "two-track, quarter-inch, tape" when they were "four or five" years old, and grew up listening to hard rock
bands such as AC/DC
and Led Zeppelin
. When Deal was 11, she learned Roger Miller
's "King of the Road
" on the acoustic guitar
. In high school, at Wayne High School
in Huber Heights, she was a cheerleader and often got into conflicts with authority. "We were popular girls", Kelley explained. "We got good grades and played sports".
As a teenager, Kim Deal formed a folk rock
band named The Breeders with her sister. She then became a prolific songwriter, as she found it easier to write songs than cover them. Deal later commented on her songwriting output: "I got like a hundred songs when I was like 16, 17. [...] The music is pretty good, but the lyrics are just like, OH MY GOD. We were just trying to figure out how blue rhymes with you. When I was writing them, they didn't have anything to do with who I was." The Deals bought microphones, an eight-track tape player, mixing boards, speakers, and amps for a bedroom studio. According to Kelley, they "had the whole thing set up by the time we were 17". They later bought a drum machine "so it would feel like we were more in a band".
Following high school, Deal went to seven different colleges, including Ohio State University
, but did not graduate from any of them. She eventually received an associate degree in biology and took several jobs in cellular biology, including working in a hospital laboratory and a biochemical
lab. Deal met John Murphy, an Air Force
defense contractor who had recently moved to Dayton, through her brother, Kevin; Murphy and Deal then started to date. Although Murphy was not a musician himself, he wrote the song "Hoverin'" with Deal. The couple married on Memorial Day
, 1985, and moved to Murphy's hometown of Boston, Massachusetts in January 1986.
and backing vocalist
for the Pixies in January 1986, after answering an advertisement in the Boston Phoenix for a bassist who was into hardcore punk
band Hüsker Dü
and folk music
icons Peter, Paul and Mary
. Deal was the only person to respond and arrived at the audition without a bass guitar
; she had never played the instrument before. She claimed her sister had a bass back in Dayton and that she had no money to get it. Frontman Charles "Black Francis" Thompson
lent her $50 for the airfare and Deal returned with the bass guitar. She joined Thompson and lead guitarist Joey Santiago
, who had formed the band a week earlier. To complete the lineup, Murphy suggested they hire David Lovering, a friend of his, as drummer
; Deal had already met Lovering at her wedding reception. For the release of the band's first recording Come On Pilgrim
(1987), Deal, whose day job was as a receptionist
at a doctor's office, adopted the stage name "Mrs. John Murphy", following Thompson's decision to name himself "Black Francis". She chose the name as an ironic feminist joke, after conversing with a lady who wished to be called by her husband's name.
For Surfer Rosa
(1988), Deal sang lead vocals on the album's only single "Gigantic
" , which she co-wrote with Thompson. Doolittle
followed a year later, with Deal contributing the song "Silver" and appearing on slide guitar
. By this time, however, tensions began to develop between her and Thompson, with bickering and standoffs between the two marring the album's recording sessions. This led to increased stress between the band members. Murphy commented that during the sessions, it "went from just all fun to work" for the Pixies. Exhaustion, from releasing three records in two years and constant touring, contributed to the friction, particularly between Thompson and Deal. During a post-Doolittle tour, Thompson threw a guitar at Deal and she was almost fired from the band. Santiago, in an interview to Mojo
, later explained:
Deal was also late to a number of shows, which annoyed the band and Thompson in particular. The tension and exhaustion culminated at the end of the US "Fuck or Fight" tour, where they were too tired to attend the end-of-tour party. The band soon announced a hiatus.
as part of the Pixies, Deal began to write new material. As both bands did not have plans for the short term, Deal discussed possible side-projects with Throwing Muses guitarist Tanya Donelly
. After rejecting the idea of creating a dance album together, the pair decided to form a new band. Deal named the band The Breeders
, after the folk band she formed with Kelley as a teenager, and they recruited Carrie Bradley
, violinist and vocalist in Ed's Redeeming Qualities
, to record a short demo tape.
The Breeders' demo was sent to 4AD head Ivo Watts-Russell
, who immediately signed them to the label. The Breeders allowed Deal to become more active in songwriting, and their debut album, Pod (1990), containing mostly Deal-written songs, was recorded in Edinburgh
, Scotland by Steve Albini
. Pod, and especially Deal's contribution, was praised by contemporaries; Nirvana
frontman Kurt Cobain
later named the album one of his favourites and remarked: "I wish Kim was allowed to write more songs for the Pixies".
without Deal. After returning from Edinburgh after recording Pod, Deal came close to being fired from the band; she flew to Los Angeles to meet the other members face-to-face, but the rest of the Pixies felt unable to tell her. The recording of the band's next album, Bossanova (1990), went ahead; however, Thompson wrote all of the album's original songs, with Deal feeling excluded from the process. A week before the recording of Trompe le Monde
(1991), the band's final studio album, Thompson fired Deal from the Pixies. After some persuasion, Deal was allowed to return. The recording sessions were fractious, as the band were hardly ever together during the process.
With Bossanova and Trompe le Monde, Deal's contribution to the band's creative output became less and less. Even the band's producer, Gil Norton
, noticed this, and later said: "There was one song, 'Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons', that I thought was perfect for her to sing. [...] Francis changed his mind and he didn't want her to sing it. [...] He was still annoyed with her so he wouldn't let her sing". She rarely sang on the band's songs during this time; a vocal contribution to "I've Been Waiting for You" , being one of her few. However, Deal did sing on Trompe le Monde, on songs such as "Alec Eiffel", but did not write any material for the album.
joined The Breeders on lead guitar
and the band released its second album, Last Splash
, to critical acclaim and considerable commercial success. The record went platinum within a year of its release.
At the height of The Breeders' popularity in the mid-1990s, they scored a number of MTV
hits, including "Cannonball
", "Divine Hammer," and "Saints". The band also released the vinyl
-only "Head to Toe" 10" EP during the summer of 1994, when they appeared on the main stage of Lollapalooza
. Although the band went into stasis in 1994 when Kelley Deal entered rehab
for heroin addiction, they never officially split up, and in 2002 released Title TK
(TK is a copy-editing expression standing for "to come" and is often used when editing drafts to indicate missing information).
.
After a few gigs where Deal went by the moniker Tammy Ampersand, The Amps released their single LP, Pacer. The record had an enthusiastic reception from reviewers, but was commercially unsuccessful.
She also produced music for other groups, most notably fellow Dayton band Guided by Voices
(one of the songs on Pacer, "I am Decided," was written by the band's lead singer, Robert Pollard
).
Deal contributed her voice to the Sonic Youth
single, "Little Trouble Girl
", from their 1995 album Washing Machine, and to the intro for The For Carnation
's "Tales." She also contributed backing vocals to the song "Sunset Strip" on Courtney Love
's solo album America's Sweetheart.
in October 2004. The Pixies also played the Coachella Festival in Indio, California
in 2004 and headlined Lollapalooza
in 2005 at Chicago's Grant Park
. The Pixies also toured the UK to massive acclaim including a headline appearance at the Reading and Leeds Festivals
.
They recorded a new song, "Bam Thwok
", which was written solely by Deal. This marked a conciliatory gesture on the part of Thompson (now going by Frank Black), who frequently would deny Deal the opportunity to write in the early Pixies days.
In 2003 Deal moved from East LA to her Dayton, Ohio hometown to care for her mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease
.
The Breeders released their fourth full-length studio album, Mountain Battles
, in early April 2008.
Kim and The Breeders released their third EP, Fate to Fatal
, in April 2009.
, particularly the "green Dunlops with the little turtle on them", although since the Pixies' reunion she has also been using custom green Dunlops with "KIM" written on them. She prefers having old strings on a bass.
, Kim Deal prefers distorting their sound through Marshall
amps, particularly liking the resulting low end. She also pointed out that it almost doesn't depend on the acoustic guitar used.
philosophy of recording. To record All Wave one must use no computers, no digital recording, no auto-tuning, or any other mainstays of contemporary production. The philosophy carries through the entire production and mastering process, including mixing, editing, sequencing, post-production and the exceptional step of an all-analog direct-metal master for the vinyl LP. This process was used on The Breeders' Title TK
, the Off You
EP, and Mountain Battles
.
Deal commissioned the All Wave
logo in an effort to identify recordings that follow this method of recording, and possibly start a movement.
Japanese rock group The Pillows
released a tribute song, "Kim Deal", on 1999's Happy Bivouac
. The line "Here Comes Your Man" appears at the end of their song "Backseat Dog", and immediately precedes "Kim Deal" in the track listing.
Boston
band Francine
released a tribute song, "Pop Warner", on their 2000 album Forty on a Fall Day. It references some of her work with the Amps
. French indie rock
er Julie Peel covered Deal's "Divine Hammer" for a split single released by indie label
American Laundromat Records
in December 2006. The label also released an entire Kim Deal Tribute in April 2008.
Jim DeRogatis
' book Staring At Sound states that The Flaming Lips
song "Kim's Watermelon Gun" is a "song that paints an impressionistic portrait of [...] Kim Deal", whom band member Steven Drozd
befriended when they met at Lollapalooza
.
's "Special One" single (1990). In the video for that song she cheerfully knocks Ultra Vivid Scene's singer Kurt Ralske
off a bar stool (near the end of the video, she slaps his face). She also appeared in the BBC
's Seven Ages of Rock documentary series and talked about the style of The Pixies' music, and its influence on other musicians.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
the Pixies and the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for The Breeders
The Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
. Deal first joined the Pixies in January 1986 as the band's bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, adopting the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Mrs. John Murphy for the band's releases Come On Pilgrim
Come on Pilgrim
Come On Pilgrim is the debut mini-LP release by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released in September 1987 by 4AD.- Background :...
and Surfer Rosa
Surfer Rosa
Like Come On Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa displays a mix of musical styles; pop guitar songs such as "Broken Face", "Break My Body", and "Brick Is Red" are featured alongside slower, more melodic tracks exemplified by "Where Is My Mind?". The album includes heavier material, and prominently features the...
. Following Doolittle
Doolittle (album)
Doolittle features an eclectic mix of musical styles. While tracks such as "Tame" and "Crackity Jones" are fast and aggressive, and incorporate the band's trademark loud–quiet dynamic, other songs such as "Silver", "I Bleed", and "Here Comes Your Man" reveal a quieter, slower and more melodic...
and the Pixies' resulting hiatus, she formed The Breeders
The Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
with Tanya Donelly
Tanya Donelly
Tanya Donelly is an American Grammy-nominated singer songwriter and guitarist based in New England who co-founded Throwing Muses with her stepsister Kristin Hersh. She then went on to work in The Breeders and Belly in the 1990s...
and Josephine Wiggs
Josephine Wiggs
Josephine Wiggs is an indie/alternative rock musician, noted for her work with the bands The Perfect Disaster, The Breeders, and Dusty Trails....
. After the Pixies reconvened in 1990, Deal felt increasingly sidelined by the band's frontman, Black Francis; this led to the Pixies' breakup in early 1993.
Deal then returned her focus to The Breeders, who released the platinum-selling album Last Splash
Last Splash
Last Splash is the second album by indie rock band The Breeders, released August 1993. Originally formed as a side project for Pixies bassist Kim Deal, The Breeders quickly became her primary recording outlet....
(1993). In 1994, the band went into hiatus after Deal's identical twin sister, Kelley
Kelley Deal
Kelley Deal is an American musician. The identical twin sister of Kim Deal, she is the lead guitarist of The Breeders, besides having a solo career.- Early days :...
, entered drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
. During The Breeders' eight year break, Deal adopted the stage name Tammy Ampersand and formed The Amps
The Amps
The Amps were an indie-rock band from Dayton, Ohio. Formed by Kim Deal in 1995 after The Breeders went on hiatus, they first began touring as "Tammy Ampersand and the Amps" but it was later shortened to "The Amps."Their album Pacer was released in 1995.Kim Deal originally intended to play all of...
, who recorded a single album, Pacer
Pacer (album)
Pacer was The Amps' only LP. It was released on October 31, 1995. The album is titled after the first track. The song "I Am Decided" was a combination of two songs written by Robert Pollard, which were given to Kim Deal as a gift after she produced some songs for Guided by Voices...
in 1995. She resumed her role as The Breeders' guitarist for their third album Title TK
Title TK
Title TK is the third album from the American alternative rock band The Breeders. The album was released on May 20, 2002 by 4AD in the United Kingdom and distributed by Elektra records in the United States. Title TK was engineered by Steve Albini, who also engineered The Breeders' debut album Pod...
in 2002, and reunited with the Pixies in 2004. The Breeders released their fourth studio album, Mountain Battles
Mountain Battles
Mountain Battles is the fourth album from the American alternative rock band The Breeders. The album was released on April 7, 2008 by 4AD in the United Kingdom and April 8, 2008 in the United States....
, in 2008.
Youth and college
Kim Deal was born in Dayton, OhioDayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. Her father was a laser physicist
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
who worked at the nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately...
. Kim and her identical twin sister Kelley were introduced to music at a young age; the two sang to a "two-track, quarter-inch, tape" when they were "four or five" years old, and grew up listening to hard rock
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands such as AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
and Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
. When Deal was 11, she learned Roger Miller
Roger Miller
Roger Dean Miller was an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs...
's "King of the Road
King of the Road (song)
"King of the Road" is a 1964 song written and originally recorded by country singer Roger Miller.The lyrics tell of a hobo who despite being poor revels in his freedom, describing himself humorously as the "king of the road"...
" on the acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
. In high school, at Wayne High School
Wayne High School (Ohio)
Wayne High School is a secondary public school with an enrollment of more than 2,300 located in Huber Heights, Ohio, north of Dayton, Ohio.In 2007 Dr. Reva Cosby became head principal, replacing John Allen.- Facilities :...
in Huber Heights, she was a cheerleader and often got into conflicts with authority. "We were popular girls", Kelley explained. "We got good grades and played sports".
As a teenager, Kim Deal formed a folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
band named The Breeders with her sister. She then became a prolific songwriter, as she found it easier to write songs than cover them. Deal later commented on her songwriting output: "I got like a hundred songs when I was like 16, 17. [...] The music is pretty good, but the lyrics are just like, OH MY GOD. We were just trying to figure out how blue rhymes with you. When I was writing them, they didn't have anything to do with who I was." The Deals bought microphones, an eight-track tape player, mixing boards, speakers, and amps for a bedroom studio. According to Kelley, they "had the whole thing set up by the time we were 17". They later bought a drum machine "so it would feel like we were more in a band".
Following high school, Deal went to seven different colleges, including Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, but did not graduate from any of them. She eventually received an associate degree in biology and took several jobs in cellular biology, including working in a hospital laboratory and a biochemical
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
lab. Deal met John Murphy, an Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
defense contractor who had recently moved to Dayton, through her brother, Kevin; Murphy and Deal then started to date. Although Murphy was not a musician himself, he wrote the song "Hoverin'" with Deal. The couple married on Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
, 1985, and moved to Murphy's hometown of Boston, Massachusetts in January 1986.
Pixies
Deal became the bassistBassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
for the Pixies in January 1986, after answering an advertisement in the Boston Phoenix for a bassist who was into hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band Hüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü was an American rock band formed in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer Grant Hart....
and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
icons Peter, Paul and Mary
Peter, Paul and Mary
Peter, Paul and Mary were an American folk-singing trio whose nearly 50-year career began with their rise to become a paradigm for 1960s folk music. The trio was composed of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers...
. Deal was the only person to respond and arrived at the audition without a bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
; she had never played the instrument before. She claimed her sister had a bass back in Dayton and that she had no money to get it. Frontman Charles "Black Francis" Thompson
Frank Black
Black Francis 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...
lent her $50 for the airfare and Deal returned with the bass guitar. She joined Thompson and lead guitarist Joey Santiago
Joey Santiago
Joey Santiago is a Filipino-American guitarist and composer. Active since 1986, Santiago is best known as the lead guitarist for the American alternative rock band Pixies. After the band's breakup in 1993, Santiago produced musical scores for film and television documentaries, and he formed The...
, who had formed the band a week earlier. To complete the lineup, Murphy suggested they hire David Lovering, a friend of his, as drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
; Deal had already met Lovering at her wedding reception. For the release of the band's first recording Come On Pilgrim
Come on Pilgrim
Come On Pilgrim is the debut mini-LP release by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released in September 1987 by 4AD.- Background :...
(1987), Deal, whose day job was as a receptionist
Receptionist
A receptionist is an employee taking an office/administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business...
at a doctor's office, adopted the stage name "Mrs. John Murphy", following Thompson's decision to name himself "Black Francis". She chose the name as an ironic feminist joke, after conversing with a lady who wished to be called by her husband's name.
For Surfer Rosa
Surfer Rosa
Like Come On Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa displays a mix of musical styles; pop guitar songs such as "Broken Face", "Break My Body", and "Brick Is Red" are featured alongside slower, more melodic tracks exemplified by "Where Is My Mind?". The album includes heavier material, and prominently features the...
(1988), Deal sang lead vocals on the album's only single "Gigantic
Gigantic (song)
"Gigantic" is a song by the American alternative rock band Pixies, co-written by bassist Kim Deal and lead vocalist/guitarist Black Francis . The song appeared on the band's first studio album, Surfer Rosa, released in 1988...
" , which she co-wrote with Thompson. Doolittle
Doolittle (album)
Doolittle features an eclectic mix of musical styles. While tracks such as "Tame" and "Crackity Jones" are fast and aggressive, and incorporate the band's trademark loud–quiet dynamic, other songs such as "Silver", "I Bleed", and "Here Comes Your Man" reveal a quieter, slower and more melodic...
followed a year later, with Deal contributing the song "Silver" and appearing on slide guitar
Slide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
. By this time, however, tensions began to develop between her and Thompson, with bickering and standoffs between the two marring the album's recording sessions. This led to increased stress between the band members. Murphy commented that during the sessions, it "went from just all fun to work" for the Pixies. Exhaustion, from releasing three records in two years and constant touring, contributed to the friction, particularly between Thompson and Deal. During a post-Doolittle tour, Thompson threw a guitar at Deal and she was almost fired from the band. Santiago, in an interview to Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
, later explained:
Deal was also late to a number of shows, which annoyed the band and Thompson in particular. The tension and exhaustion culminated at the end of the US "Fuck or Fight" tour, where they were too tired to attend the end-of-tour party. The band soon announced a hiatus.
The Breeders and Pod
During a 1988 post-Surfer Rosa tour of Europe with Throwing MusesThrowing Muses
Throwing Muses is an alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island, that toured and recorded extensively until 1997, when its members began concentrating more on other projects. The group was originally fronted by two lead singers, Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly, who both wrote the...
as part of the Pixies, Deal began to write new material. As both bands did not have plans for the short term, Deal discussed possible side-projects with Throwing Muses guitarist Tanya Donelly
Tanya Donelly
Tanya Donelly is an American Grammy-nominated singer songwriter and guitarist based in New England who co-founded Throwing Muses with her stepsister Kristin Hersh. She then went on to work in The Breeders and Belly in the 1990s...
. After rejecting the idea of creating a dance album together, the pair decided to form a new band. Deal named the band The Breeders
The Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
, after the folk band she formed with Kelley as a teenager, and they recruited Carrie Bradley
Carrie Bradley
Carrie Bradley is an American violinist and vocalist. She was a founding member of the alternative folk band Ed's Redeeming Qualities, and has played in The Breeders and 100 Watt Smile. More recently, Bradley has appeared as half of the San Francisco-based musical duo The Great Auk.-External links:*...
, violinist and vocalist in Ed's Redeeming Qualities
Ed's Redeeming Qualities
Ed's Redeeming Qualities was an alternative folk group that was founded in 1988 and originally consisted of Dan Leone, Dom Leone, Carrie Bradley , and Neno Perrotta. Jonah Winter joined the band for the albums "Big Grapefruit Cleanup Job" and "At The Fish And Game Club"...
, to record a short demo tape.
The Breeders' demo was sent to 4AD head Ivo Watts-Russell
Ivo Watts-Russell
Ivo Watts-Russell was joint-founder with Peter Kent of the English indie record label 4AD. He has also produced several records, himself preferring to use the term "musical director" to explain his role in the creation....
, who immediately signed them to the label. The Breeders allowed Deal to become more active in songwriting, and their debut album, Pod (1990), containing mostly Deal-written songs, was recorded in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland by Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
. Pod, and especially Deal's contribution, was praised by contemporaries; Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
frontman Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
later named the album one of his favourites and remarked: "I wish Kim was allowed to write more songs for the Pixies".
Bossanova and Trompe le Monde
The Pixies reconvened in July 1990, with Francis, Santiago and Lovering moving to Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
without Deal. After returning from Edinburgh after recording Pod, Deal came close to being fired from the band; she flew to Los Angeles to meet the other members face-to-face, but the rest of the Pixies felt unable to tell her. The recording of the band's next album, Bossanova (1990), went ahead; however, Thompson wrote all of the album's original songs, with Deal feeling excluded from the process. A week before the recording of Trompe le Monde
Trompe le Monde
Trompe le Monde is the fourth and final album by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released in 1991 on the English independent record label 4AD in the United Kingdom and by Elektra Records in the United States...
(1991), the band's final studio album, Thompson fired Deal from the Pixies. After some persuasion, Deal was allowed to return. The recording sessions were fractious, as the band were hardly ever together during the process.
With Bossanova and Trompe le Monde, Deal's contribution to the band's creative output became less and less. Even the band's producer, Gil Norton
Gil Norton
Gil Norton is a British record producer known for his work with such bands as Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Tribe, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Feeder, The Distillers, Maxïmo Park, Counting Crows, Terrorvision, The Triffids, Del Amitri, James, The Feelers, The Beekeepers,...
, noticed this, and later said: "There was one song, 'Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons', that I thought was perfect for her to sing. [...] Francis changed his mind and he didn't want her to sing it. [...] He was still annoyed with her so he wouldn't let her sing". She rarely sang on the band's songs during this time; a vocal contribution to "I've Been Waiting for You" , being one of her few. However, Deal did sing on Trompe le Monde, on songs such as "Alec Eiffel", but did not write any material for the album.
Last Splash and The Breeders
A year after the Pixies breakup, Deal's identical twin sister KelleyKelley Deal
Kelley Deal is an American musician. The identical twin sister of Kim Deal, she is the lead guitarist of The Breeders, besides having a solo career.- Early days :...
joined The Breeders on lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
and the band released its second album, Last Splash
Last Splash
Last Splash is the second album by indie rock band The Breeders, released August 1993. Originally formed as a side project for Pixies bassist Kim Deal, The Breeders quickly became her primary recording outlet....
, to critical acclaim and considerable commercial success. The record went platinum within a year of its release.
At the height of The Breeders' popularity in the mid-1990s, they scored a number of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
hits, including "Cannonball
Cannonball (The Breeders song)
"Cannonball" is a song by The Breeders from their 1993 album Last Splash. It was released as a single on August 9, 1993 on 4AD/Elektra Records, reaching #44 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and #40 in the UK Singles Chart...
", "Divine Hammer," and "Saints". The band also released the vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
-only "Head to Toe" 10" EP during the summer of 1994, when they appeared on the main stage of Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
. Although the band went into stasis in 1994 when Kelley Deal entered rehab
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
for heroin addiction, they never officially split up, and in 2002 released Title TK
Title TK
Title TK is the third album from the American alternative rock band The Breeders. The album was released on May 20, 2002 by 4AD in the United Kingdom and distributed by Elektra records in the United States. Title TK was engineered by Steve Albini, who also engineered The Breeders' debut album Pod...
(TK is a copy-editing expression standing for "to come" and is often used when editing drafts to indicate missing information).
The Amps and other projects
During this eight-year hiatus, Kim Deal kept busy by forming, recording, and touring with The AmpsThe Amps
The Amps were an indie-rock band from Dayton, Ohio. Formed by Kim Deal in 1995 after The Breeders went on hiatus, they first began touring as "Tammy Ampersand and the Amps" but it was later shortened to "The Amps."Their album Pacer was released in 1995.Kim Deal originally intended to play all of...
.
After a few gigs where Deal went by the moniker Tammy Ampersand, The Amps released their single LP, Pacer. The record had an enthusiastic reception from reviewers, but was commercially unsuccessful.
She also produced music for other groups, most notably fellow Dayton band Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices is an American indie rock band originating from Dayton, Ohio. Beginning with the band's formation in 1983, it made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard...
(one of the songs on Pacer, "I am Decided," was written by the band's lead singer, Robert Pollard
Robert Pollard
Robert Pollard is an American rock musician and singer-songwriter who is the leader and creative force behind indie rock group Guided by Voices, who disbanded in 2004, only to reform in 2010...
).
Deal contributed her voice to the Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
single, "Little Trouble Girl
Little Trouble Girl
"Little Trouble Girl" is a song by Sonic Youth, released as the second and final single from their 1995 album Washing Machine. Guest vocals for the song were provided by Kim Deal.-CD single:# "Little Trouble Girl" - 4:29...
", from their 1995 album Washing Machine, and to the intro for The For Carnation
The For Carnation
The For Carnation are a post-rock band from Louisville, Kentucky who formed in 1994. The band was formed by Brian McMahan, who is the only constant group member. McMahan's previous band Slint hinted at the distinctive sound and sombre aesthetic he would create in The For Carnation...
's "Tales." She also contributed backing vocals to the song "Sunset Strip" on Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
's solo album America's Sweetheart.
Pixies reunion and beyond
In 2004, Kim Deal returned to a newly-reunited Pixies and toured North America with them. One notable performance included a live taping for the public television program Austin City LimitsAustin City Limits
Austin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
in October 2004. The Pixies also played the Coachella Festival in Indio, California
Indio, California
Indio is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California's Colorado Desert region. It lies east of Palm Springs, east of Riverside, and east of Los Angeles. It is about north of Mexicali, Baja California on the U.S.-Mexican border...
in 2004 and headlined Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
in 2005 at Chicago's Grant Park
Grant Park (Chicago)
Grant Park, with between the downtown Chicago Loop and Lake Michigan, offers many different attractions in its large open space. The park is generally flat. It is also crossed by large boulevards and even a bed of sunken railroad tracks...
. The Pixies also toured the UK to massive acclaim including a headline appearance at the Reading and Leeds Festivals
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
.
They recorded a new song, "Bam Thwok
Bam Thwok
"Bam Thwok" is a 2004 download-only single by the American alternative rock band Pixies. The song was written and sung by bassist Kim Deal, and released exclusively through the iTunes Store on June 15, 2004. Upon its release, "Bam Thwok" was a commercial success, debuting at number one on the very...
", which was written solely by Deal. This marked a conciliatory gesture on the part of Thompson (now going by Frank Black), who frequently would deny Deal the opportunity to write in the early Pixies days.
In 2003 Deal moved from East LA to her Dayton, Ohio hometown to care for her mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
.
The Breeders released their fourth full-length studio album, Mountain Battles
Mountain Battles
Mountain Battles is the fourth album from the American alternative rock band The Breeders. The album was released on April 7, 2008 by 4AD in the United Kingdom and April 8, 2008 in the United States....
, in early April 2008.
Kim and The Breeders released their third EP, Fate to Fatal
Fate to Fatal (EP)
Fate to Fatal is an extended play by the American alternative rock band The Breeders, released in April 2009 on Period Music. It was recorded in three different locations by multiple engineers; the title track was recorded at The Fortress Studios, London with producer Gareth Parton ; "The Last...
, in April 2009.
Bass guitars
Kim Deal generally plays four-string solid-body bass guitars and always uses a pickPlectrum
A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick, and is a separate tool held in the player's hand...
, particularly the "green Dunlops with the little turtle on them", although since the Pixies' reunion she has also been using custom green Dunlops with "KIM" written on them. She prefers having old strings on a bass.
- AriaAria (guitar company)Aria is a Japanese manufacturer of acoustic and electric guitars and basses.- History :Aria was formed in Japan in 1953 by Shiro Arai as Arai and Company. They began retailing acoustic guitars in 1960, although the company didn't actually start manufacturing their own until 1964. Aria arranged for...
Pro II Cardinal Series — The Pixies' first bass belonged to Kelley, and is heard on Come On Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa and seen on the Town & Country live video. It later reappeared in the Kelley Deal 6000. - 1962 Fender PrecisionFender Precision BassThe Fender Precision Bass is an electric bass.Designed by Leo Fender as a prototype in 1950 and brought to market in 1951, the Precision was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use. A revolutionary instrument for the time, the Precision Bass has made an immeasurable impact on...
Reissue — Acquired for use on Doolittle on Gil Norton's insistence. It appears in the video for "Here Comes Your Man". On the Bossanova album, the Precision was used on "Dig for Fire" for its "lazier, growlier sound" that was "not as boingy-boingy-sproingy". - Music ManMusic Man (company)Music Man is an American guitar, and bass guitar manufacturer. It is a division of the Ernie Ball corporation.-Early years:The Music Man story began in 1971 when Forrest White and Tom Walker talked with Leo Fender about starting a company they would call Tri-Sonic, Inc...
StingrayMusic Man StingRayMusic Man StingRay is an electric bass guitar by Music Man, introduced in 1976.- History :In 1971, Fender employees Forrest White and Tom Walker, unhappy with the way CBS was managing the company, left their positions with Fender to start their own venture. First known as Tri-Sonic and then later...
— Added in time for Bossanova "because it was active and had a different sound" and became her main live bass "because it was a little less countryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
-sounding than the Fender". The instrument was afterwards played by Josephine WiggsJosephine WiggsJosephine Wiggs is an indie/alternative rock musician, noted for her work with the bands The Perfect Disaster, The Breeders, and Dusty Trails....
in The Breeders and Luis Lerma in The Amps. - SteinbergerSteinbergerSteinberger refers to a series of distinctive electric guitars and bass guitars, designed and originally manufactured by Ned Steinberger. The word Steinberger can be used to refer to either the instruments themselves or the company that produced them...
headless (but full-bodied, two-cutaway) bass — Bought during the recording of Trompe Le Monde because the other basses were out of tune on the higher frets. Deal described it as having a "weird, organ-y sound". - Gibson ThunderbirdGibson ThunderbirdThe Gibson Thunderbird is an electric bass guitar made by Gibson.-Background and introduction:The Gibson Thunderbird was introduced in 1963. At the time, Fender had been the leader in the electric bass market since their introduction of the Precision Bass twelve years earlier.The Thunderbird was...
— more recently, her favorite bass that she did not use on the Pixies reunion, feeling she had to "sound like the records". It is seen played upside-down (left-handed) by Mando Lopez in The Breeders.
Guitars
When playing acoustic guitars for rhythmRhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, Kim Deal prefers distorting their sound through Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
amps, particularly liking the resulting low end. She also pointed out that it almost doesn't depend on the acoustic guitar used.
- Seagull acoustic
- 1958 GibsonGibson Guitar CorporationThe Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
Les Paul Goldtop Reissue — Also played by Joey Santiago up through Surfer Rosa (before he acquired his own) and then by Kelley Deal in The Breeders. - Fender StratocasterFender StratocasterThe Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
— The particular model Deal plays is a 1991 Strat Ultra. Kelley Deal also has the same model, which she received as a Christmas present from her sister in 1991. - Fender TelecasterFender TelecasterThe Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
has occasionally been played by Kim in The Breeders' live performances since at least the Last Splash era. She was also shown using the guitar on the tourbus in the Pixies' documentary film loudQUIETloud (2006). - Gibson hollowbody — Borrowed for use on Last Splash.
Amplification
- Peavey 300 Combo, 1x15" speaker
- Trace ElliotTrace ElliotTrace Elliot is a United Kingdom-based bass amplification manufacturer, and has a sub-brand, Trace Acoustic, for acoustic instruments.-History:...
bass head — Deal said of the amp: "It's the new series and I don't know what the number is or if there even is a number on there." - Trace Elliot 1048H bass cabinet, 4x10" speakers
- SWR heads
- Marshall JCM 900 head
- Marshall cabinets
- Gallien-KruegerGallien-KruegerGallien-Krueger, also referred to as 'GK' , is an instrument amplifier manufacturer. The company is based in Stockton, California, and was founded in 1968....
cabinet, 4x10" speakers - "Joe's Light" cabinet, 1x18" speaker — Of this and the Gallien-Krueger she commented: "I hate my cabinets."
- Sears Tremolo amp with the word 'Marshall' pasted on it.
Effects
- dbxDbx, Inc.dbx, Inc. is an American producer of professional audio recording equipment. It was founded by David E. Blackmer in 1971. The original company goal was: "To get closer to the realism of a live performance." Its early products were based on the concept of using decibel expansion which gave the...
160X Compressor — "I use a compressor live, but only because sound guys seem to like it when I have one onstage, even if it's on bypass." - Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion pedals — Used by both Kim and Kelley.
Recording
Kim Deal uses the All WaveAll Wave
In music production, the All Wave method, developed by The Breeders guitarist and Pixies bassist Kim Deal, states no computers, digital recording or "auto-tuning" should be used during production....
philosophy of recording. To record All Wave one must use no computers, no digital recording, no auto-tuning, or any other mainstays of contemporary production. The philosophy carries through the entire production and mastering process, including mixing, editing, sequencing, post-production and the exceptional step of an all-analog direct-metal master for the vinyl LP. This process was used on The Breeders' Title TK
Title TK
Title TK is the third album from the American alternative rock band The Breeders. The album was released on May 20, 2002 by 4AD in the United Kingdom and distributed by Elektra records in the United States. Title TK was engineered by Steve Albini, who also engineered The Breeders' debut album Pod...
, the Off You
Off You
"Off You" is a song by The Breeders, which was the first single released from their 2002 album Title TK. It was released in March 2002 on 4AD.-Charts:...
EP, and Mountain Battles
Mountain Battles
Mountain Battles is the fourth album from the American alternative rock band The Breeders. The album was released on April 7, 2008 by 4AD in the United Kingdom and April 8, 2008 in the United States....
.
Deal commissioned the All Wave
All Wave
In music production, the All Wave method, developed by The Breeders guitarist and Pixies bassist Kim Deal, states no computers, digital recording or "auto-tuning" should be used during production....
logo in an effort to identify recordings that follow this method of recording, and possibly start a movement.
Musical tributes
Dandy Warhols' released a tribute song, "Cool As Kim Deal", on their 1997 album …The Dandy Warhols Come Down.Japanese rock group The Pillows
The Pillows
The Pillows are a Japanese rock band. The group has released more than a dozen original studio albums, along with several EPs, singles and compilations...
released a tribute song, "Kim Deal", on 1999's Happy Bivouac
Happy Bivouac
Happy Bivouac is an album released by The Pillows on December 2, 1999. It marks the band's first record with Jun Suzuki on bass and contains several references to the United States band Pixies. Track eight is named after Pixies bassist Kim Deal and at the end of "Back Seat Dog", The Pillows can be...
. The line "Here Comes Your Man" appears at the end of their song "Backseat Dog", and immediately precedes "Kim Deal" in the track listing.
Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
band Francine
Francine (band)
-History:Francine was founded by Clayton Scoble, who previously performed with Til Tuesday and Aimee Mann, and was a member of Poundcake. He assembled the group toward the end of 1997 and soon after self-released a few solo demo tapes. The newly formed band then released an EP and a full-length on...
released a tribute song, "Pop Warner", on their 2000 album Forty on a Fall Day. It references some of her work with the Amps
The Amps
The Amps were an indie-rock band from Dayton, Ohio. Formed by Kim Deal in 1995 after The Breeders went on hiatus, they first began touring as "Tammy Ampersand and the Amps" but it was later shortened to "The Amps."Their album Pacer was released in 1995.Kim Deal originally intended to play all of...
. French indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
er Julie Peel covered Deal's "Divine Hammer" for a split single released by indie label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
American Laundromat Records
American Laundromat Records
American Laundromat Records is an indie label based in Mystic, CT.The label has produced several tribute albums, including Dig For Fire - a tribute to PIXIES, Cinnamon Girl - Women Artists Cover Neil Young, and High School Reunion - A Tribute to Those Great 80's Films...
in December 2006. The label also released an entire Kim Deal Tribute in April 2008.
Jim DeRogatis
Jim DeRogatis
James "Jim" DeRogatis is an American music critic and co-host of Sound Opinions. DeRogatis has written articles for magazines such as Spin, Guitar World and Modern Drummer, and for fifteen years was the pop music critic for the Chicago Sun-Times.He joined Columbia College Chicago as a full-time...
' book Staring At Sound states that The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
song "Kim's Watermelon Gun" is a "song that paints an impressionistic portrait of [...] Kim Deal", whom band member Steven Drozd
Steven Drozd
Steven Gregory Drozd is an American musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist and lead guitarist for The Flaming Lips.-Early life:...
befriended when they met at Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
.
Television appearances and videos
She also contributed to Ultra Vivid SceneUltra Vivid Scene
Ultra Vivid Scene was an American alternative rock band, started by Kurt Ralske.Former Nothing But Happiness and Crash guitarist Ralske started Ultra Vivid Scene in 1987, was signed to 4AD Records in 1988, and released his first UVS EP, She Screamed, in 1988...
's "Special One" single (1990). In the video for that song she cheerfully knocks Ultra Vivid Scene's singer Kurt Ralske
Kurt Ralske
Kurt Ralske is an American visual artist and musician. He is the former singer and guitarist in alternative rock band Ultra Vivid Scene.-Biography:During the mid-eighties, Ralske was a guitarist in the bands Nothing But Happiness and Crash....
off a bar stool (near the end of the video, she slaps his face). She also appeared in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Seven Ages of Rock documentary series and talked about the style of The Pixies' music, and its influence on other musicians.
External links
- [ Kim Deal] at Allmusic