Black Francis (born 1965) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career. After releasing two albums with 4AD, he left the label and formed a backing band, Frank Black and the Catholics. He reformed the Pixies in 2004 and continues to release solo records and tour as a solo artist. His vocal style has varied from a screaming, yowling delivery as lead vocalist of the Pixies to a more measured and melodical style in his solo career. His cryptic lyrics mostly explore unconventional subjects, such as surrealism, incest and biblical violence, along with science fiction and surf culture. His use of atypical meter signatures, loud–quiet dynamics and distinct preference for live-to-two-track recording in his career as a solo artist give him a distinct style within alternative rock. As frontman of the Pixies, his songs (such as "Where Is My Mind?" and "Debaser") received praise and citations from contemporaries, including Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. Cobain once said that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was his attempt at trying to "rip off the Pixies". However, in his solo work and records with the Catholics, he received fewer popular and critical accolades.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Francis

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1544:

Italian War of 1542–1546: French and Spanish forces fought a massive pitched battle in the Piedmont region of Italy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ceresole

1814:

The Treaty of Fontainebleau was signed, ending the War of the Sixth Coalition, and forcing Napoleon to abdicate as ruler of France and sending him into exile on Elba. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Fontainebleau_%281814%29

1908:

SMS Blücher , the last armored cruiser to be built by the German Imperial Navy, launched. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Bl%C3%BCcher

1921:

Emir Abdullah established the first centralized government in the recently created British protectorate of Transjordan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transjordan

1996:

While attempting to set a record as the youngest person to pilot an airplane across the United States, the plane flown by seven-year-old Jessica Dubroff crashed in Cheyenne, Wyoming, killing her and two others. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Dubroff

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

covenstead (n): 1. (Wicca) A permanent circle or temple used to meet for rituals and to store religious items, often a mundane location. 2. (Wicca) A Wiccan congregation http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/covenstead

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

55px

I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong. --Leo Rosten http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Leo_Rosten