Essay by Luke Foster
“People go back to the stuff that doesn’t cost a lot of money and the stuff that you don’t have to hand money to over and over again. Stuff that you get for free, stuff that your older brother gives you, stuff that you can get out of the local library”. Frank Black
My first memory of the American band the Pixies was while I was at my friends: Brendan Thomas’s house in Mona Vale in Sydney and he called up JJJ the government youth radio network and requested their song debaser probably in 1988 between surfing sessions at the local beach.
Got me a movie
I want you to know
Slicing up eyeballs
I want you to know
Girlie so groovy
I want you to know
Don’t know about you
But I am un chien andalusia
I am un chien andalusia
I am un chien andalusia
I am un chien andalusia
Wanna grow up to be
Be a debaser (debaser)
Debaser (debaser)
Debaser (debaser)
Debaser (debaser)
Debaser (debaser)
Debaser (debaser)
Lyrics to the amazing pixies song debaser by the Pixies.
I remember reading in a Rolling Stone interview that Kurt Cobain wanted to join the Pixies when he grew up or at least be in a Pixies covering band. There are parallels including the soft/ load construction of the songs.
I love Kurt and still feel sad sometimes that he has gone committing suicide at the age of 27.
I often listen to his record: Nirvana MTV unplugged, and my favourite song is dumb.
I’m not like them, but I can pretend
The sun is gone, but I have a light
The day is done, but I’m having fun
I think I’m dumb
Or maybe I’m just happy
Think I’m just happy
Think I’m just happy
Think I’m just happy
My heart is broke, but I have some glue
Help me inhale and mend it with you
We’ll float around and hang out on clouds
Then we’ll come down
And have a hangover
Have a hangover
Have a hangover
Have a hangover
I really loved Kurt’s music, but I am not a fan of his heroin addiction and I have written essays before about how I admire people who are straight edge.
Kurt’s partner Courtney Love who he had a child with Francis Bean is also a very talented musician and my favourite album of hers is Live Through This.
“Punk is musical freedom. It’s saying, doing and playing what you want. In Webster’s terms, ‘nirvana’ means freedom from pain, suffering and the external world, and that’s pretty close to my definition of Punk Rock. “Kurt Cobain
Nirvana Rolling Stone Magazine Cover
Early photo of the Pixies