Today, the reissue of Pixies at the BBC, 1988-91 is released on 4AD, pressed for the first time on vinyl and available digitally and on double CD. The day also marks the first night of the band’s sold-out UK and European tour at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin.
+ Available to buy from the 4AD Store here +
+ Buy and stream on all formats here +
Between 1988 and 1991 – during the band’s 4AD years – Pixies recorded six sessions for the BBC, five for John Peel and one for Mark Goodier. Catching the raw energy of the band’s live performances, these sessions felt immediately noteworthy, timestamping a moment when Black Francis, Kim Deal, Joey Santiago and David Lovering were motoring out front.
Among the twenty-four tracks they recorded in this period (inc. two doubles – ‘Allison’ and ‘Wave of Mutilation’) are favourites from mini-album Come on Pilgrim and three of their four 4AD studio albums. Also recorded were three covers; reworks of The Beatles’ ‘Wild Honey Pie’, Eraserhead’s ‘(In Heaven) Lady in the Radiator Song’ and The Beach Boys’ ‘Hang On To Your Ego’, a track Black Francis covered a few years later on his debut Frank Black solo album.
Originally released on CD in 1998, this reboot now sees all tracks from the six sessions included and presented in chronological order. Something fans have been asking for. Coming as both a triple black vinyl LP and double CD, the sleeve is also new with a wonderful black and gold design by Chris Bigg now adorning it. A design that really stands out, Chris pays loving tribute to the band’s late-visual director Vaughan Oliver, using unseen archival Pixies imagery by long-time collaborator Simon Larbalestier.
Pixies kick off their sold-out Bossanova x Trompe Le Monde tour tonight in Dublin, playing both albums in full. A limited edition Bossanova apricot vinyl will also be available when the tour begins at one record store in each of the locations (listed below), with spare copies available online when the tour ends.
Record Stores for limited edition Bossanova vinyl
Tower Records – Dublin, Ireland
Piccadilly Records – Manchester, UK
Rough Trade East – London, UK
Concerto – Amsterdam, The Netherlands
FNAC – Paris, France
Pixies – Pixies at the BBC, 1988-91
4AD0635
John Peel Session 3rd May 1988
1. Levitate Me
2. Hey
3. In Heaven (Lady In The Radiator Song)
4. Wild Honey Pie
5. Caribou
John Peel Session 9th October 1988
6. Dead
7. Tame
8. There Goes My Gun
9. Manta Ray
John Peel Session 16th April 1989
10. Down To The Well
11. Into The White
12. Wave Of Mutilation
John Peel Session 11th June 1990
13. Allison
14. Velouria
15. Hang On To Your Ego
16. Is She Weird
Mark Goodier Session 18th August 1990
17. Monkey Gone To Heaven
18. Ana
19. Allison
20. Wave Of Mutilation
John Peel Session 23rd June 1991
21. Palace Of The Brine
22. Letter To Memphis
23. Motorway To Roswell
24. Subbacultcha
March 2024
8th – Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland [SOLD OUT]
9th – Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland [SOLD OUT]
10th – Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland [SOLD OUT]
12th – Albert Hall, Manchester, UK [SOLD OUT]
13th – Albert Hall, Manchester, UK [SOLD OUT]
14th – Albert Hall, Manchester, UK [SOLD OUT]
16th – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, UK [SOLD OUT]
17th – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, UK [SOLD OUT]
18th – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, UK [SOLD OUT]
20th – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands [SOLD OUT]
21st – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands [SOLD OUT]
22nd – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands [SOLD OUT]
25th – L’Olympia, Paris, France [SOLD OUT]
26th – L’Olympia, Paris, France [SOLD OUT]
27th – L’Olympia, Paris, France [SOLD OUT]
May
31st – Firefly Distillery, North Charleston SC, US *
June
1st – PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte NC, US *
2nd – Ascend Amphitheater, Nashville TN, US *
4th – Cadence Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park, Atlanta GA, US *
5th – The Andrew J Brady Music Center, Cincinnati OH, US *
8th – Budweiser Stage, Toronto, Canada*
9th – Place Bell, Laval, Canada, *
11th – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, Gilford NH, US*
12th – TD Pavilion at The Mann, Philadelphia PA, US *
12th – Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia MD, US*
15th – Forest Hills Stadium, Queens NY, US *
16th – Xfinity Center, Mansfield MA, US *
18th – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, Sterling Heights MI, US*
19th – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, Chicago IL, US *
20th – Surly Brewing Festival Field, Minneapolis MN, US *
22nd – Breese Stevens Field, Madison WI, US *
23rd – Vibrant Music Hall, Waukee IA, US *
24th – Starlight Theatre, Kansas City MO, US *
26th – Germania Insurance Amphitheater, Austin TX, US *
27th – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Irving TX, US *
28th – Walmart AMP, Rogers AR, US *
30th – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, Greenwood Village CO, US *
July
30th – Châteadu de l’Empéri, Salon-de-provence, France
August
1st – Openluchtteater de Goffert, Nijmegen, Netherlands [SOLD OUT]
2nd – Openluchtteater de Goffert, Nijmegen, Netherlands [SOLD OUT]
4th – Ronquiéres Festival, Ronquiéres. Belgium
5th – Lokerse Feesten, Lokeren, Belgium
7th – den Atelier, Luxembourg-city, Luxembourg [SOLD OUT]
8th – Schlossgarten Schwetzingen, Schwetzingen, Germany
10th – Forum Karlin, Karlin, Czechia
13th – Kulttuuritalo, Helsinki, Finland [SOLD OUT]
14th – Kulttuuritalo, Helsinki, Findland [SOLD OUT]
16th – Parkenfestivalen, Bodø, Norway
17th – Pstereo, Trondheim, Norway
21st – The Piece Hall, Halifax, UK [SOLD OUT]
23rd – All Points East, London, UK
24th – Victorious Festival, Old Portsmouth, UK
27th – Galway Summer Sessions, Carnmore East, Ireland
28th – Custom House Square, Belfast, UK [SOLD OUT]
29th – RDS Simmons Court, Dublin, Ireland
* – w/ Modest Mouse and Cat Power