Fool the World: The Oral History of a Band Called Pixies
Cover illustration of the UK edition. | |
Author |
Josh Frank Caryn Ganz |
---|---|
Cover artist | Steven Appleby |
Country |
United States United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Publisher |
Virgin Books (UK) St. Martin's Griffin (US) |
Publication date | 2005, 2006 |
Media type | Print (Paperback) |
Pages | 336 |
ISBN | 0-7535-1023-5 |
OCLC | 60741140 |
Fool the World: The Oral History of a Band Called Pixies is a 2005 book by Josh Frank and Caryn Ganz about the American alternative rock band Pixies. The book, written as an oral history, covers the career of the band from their inception, to their breakup in 1993 and eventual reunion in 2004. Fool the World features interviews and recollections from a range of characters involved with the band, including Surfer Rosa producer Steve Albini, Kim Deal's twin sister Kelley Deal and 4AD co-founder Ivo Watts-Russell, as well as each member of the band.
The book's name, Fool the World, is the English translation of the title of Pixies' 1991 album, Trompe le Monde. It is published by Virgin Books in the United Kingdom and St. Martin's Griffin in the United States. The book's foreword is written by Chas Banks, Pixies' European tour manager. The book includes a selected discography, along with a "Fun Facts" chapter, which includes information about references to Pixies in popular culture and released Pixies covers.
Chapters
Fool the World was originally written as a musical by Frank, until it was suggested that he compile all his material into "one big, fat book".[1] As a result, sections of the book are named after musical terms, such as "Cast of Characters", "Acts" and "Encore". The book is split into three acts, "Boston", "U.S. vs. UK" and "Le Monde", with an encore.
Le Monde
The act is named after Pixies' 1991 album Trompe le Monde, and covers the album, along with their 1992 supporting tour with U2. There are chapters on the breakup of the band and the reunion, as well as the intervening years.
Encore
The book finishes with a chapter on "Pixies lasting impact" named "Planet of Sound," and "Where They Are Now," an update on the people interviewed in the book. A selected discography and "fun facts" appendix is also included.
Cast of characters
This is a selection of the people interviewed for the book:[2]
- Steve Albini: recording engineer for Surfer Rosa
- Beck: musicians
- Kelley Deal: Deal's twin sister, member of the Breeders
- Tanya Donelly: former Throwing Muses guitarist/vocalist; former Breeders guitarist/vocalist
- Bono: disputed
References
- Frank, Josh; Ganz, Caryn. "Fool the World: The Oral History of a Band Called Pixies." Virgin Books, 2005. ISBN 0-312-34007-9.