Pixies frontman Black Francis has said he will never tire of performing live as the band prepare to headline this summer’s Field Day festival — nearly three decades after they first formed.
In a rare interview, the singer and guitarist spoke of the “electricity” he feels performing live.
Francis, guitarist Joey Santiago, drummer David Lovering and touring bassist Paz Lenchantin are set to play their only London date this year as headliners on the second day of Field Day festival, in Victoria Park on June 8.
The festival is set to be the biggest in its eight-year history, having been expanded to two days for the first time, and is expecting up to 50,000 people over the weekend.
Francis, 49, told the Standard: “I’m standing on a stage and there’s a whole bunch of people there, I’ve got a mic. It’s always got some electricity about it, it’s an event, I’m always happy to be there.”
He added: “Why are people still interested after all these years? Well we’ve got some good songs. That’s a big part of it, I’m not saying it’s all of it but that’s the cornerstone, it’s where it all starts.
“We’ve got great players in the band but if we don’t have a good song it all falls flat. ”
Despite having played numerous festivals in his long career, Francis admitted he is “not really a festival kind of guy”.
He said the band were likely to include material from their new album Indie Cindy — their first full studio album in more than two decades, set to be released later this month.
The band reformed with original bassist Kim Deal in 2004, after splitting up in 1993, but she left last year.
Metronomy are headlining the first day of Field Day — which will have a strong focus on dance music with acts such as Erol Alkan, Lunice and Neneh Cherry — while the second day is dominated by bands such as Pixies, Drenge and The Horrors.
Field Day founder and organiser Tom Baker said: “I’ve been a big fan of the Pixies since I was 16. When they approached us, certainly it was a big, big moment.”
For more information visit: fielddayfestivals.com
2014 UK music festivals
