Pixies

04/05/23 • 41 min

In this episode of Influenced, we dive into the careers of the incredible Pixies. Formed by Joey Santiago and Black Francis (Charles Thompson) in Boston as Students at UMass, Pixies initially grew out of a love for the demented guitar sounds of Hüsker Dü combined with the melodic sensibilities of '60s pop like Peter, Paul and Mary. Once bassist Kim Deal and drummer Dave Lovering were on board, the band was quickly signed to iconic indie label 4AD and got into the studio to release their first work spawning songs like Gigantic and Where is My Mind? The band status as indie superstars quickly grew and the band's success was only rivaled by the tension between Francis and Deal. The band released dozens of fantastic tracks through the '80s and early '90s and were an immediate influence on the music scene striking a chord with bands like Nirvana, Blur and Radiohead who would go on to shape the future of guitar music. Even almost 40 years later, the band is still inspiring groups like the 2023 Grammy winners Wet Leg with their fantastic ear for melody and the iconic dynamics in their music. Listen to this episode of Influenced to go deep on one of the most influential groups in Alternative music.
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Fleetwood Mac

In this episode of Influenced, we take a look at the career of one of the most iconic bands in pop music history, Fleetwood Mac. Formed in late '60s London by Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer and most importantly the iconic rhythm section (and band namesakes) Mick Fleetwood and John Mcvie. The group was initially formed as a hard rocking Blues group inspired by Hendrix and the Yardbirds. With the addition of Christine Mcvie on Vocals and Keyboards, the band began to inch toward a pop rock sound as they began a rotating list of band members (15 musicians have past through the banks ranks) after the departure of Green. In the early '70s the band struck gold with the addition of Lindsey Buckinham and Stevie Nicks to the band. They would begin a string of hit songs (Rhiannon, Landslide, The Chain, Don't Stop and Songbird to name a few) and quicckly rose to the top of the industry with the release of the Rumours album. Constantly plagued by inter-personal drama within the band, they defy the odds and continued to put out albums across the next decades even with continued shuffling of the iconic lineup of the group. Listen to our deep dive into this iconic group wherever you get your podcasts!
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Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

In this episode of Influenced, we take a look at the career of the iconic Bruce Springsteen and especially his work in the 70's and 80's with his group the E Street Band. Bruce has been an indebted part of the Jersey Music scene since he got a guitar in the mid '60s inspired by Elvis and the Beatles. Joining with musicians like his friend Steve Van Zandt and Clarence Clemons on Saxophone, Bruce was able to to craft some of the most iconic songs of the decade with his albums Born to Run, Darkness of the Edge of Town, and The River. Each more successful then the previous album, he also struck gold as a songwriting making chart-topping music with acts like the Pointer Sisters and Patti Smith. His success continued into the eighties as he embraced the music technology of the decade with hit albums like Born in the USA. One of the most iconic songwriters ever, he has influenced countless artists from The Killers and War on Drugs to pop superstars like Lady Gaga. Check out this episode of Influenced to dive into his incredible career