Veteran alternative rock band Pixies will draw on some classic material when it tours Europe later this year. The influential rock band will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album “Doolittle,” hitting the international circuit with an October 1-2 opening stand at Olympia Theatre in Dublin, IRE.
Touring with all four original members, the group will perform 11 shows in seven cities during the two-week jaunt, which ends October 15 at Zenith in Paris, FRA. A four-night run anchors the itinerary on October 6-9 at O2 Academy Brixton in London, ENG.
Appropriately enough, the dubbed “Doolittle Tour” will feature all songs off the 1989 album, as well as B-sides from its singles. A statement from the band also explains that the quartet is exploring other ways to bring the record to life during its concerts.
Public onsales for the trek begin July 3.
Since its mid-’80s founding in Boston, the Pixies have been led by principle songwriter and frontman Frank Black, now recording and performing under the name Black Francis, and bassist Kim Deal, who also co-founded and remains an active member of The Breeders. Drummer David Lovering and guitarist Joey Santiago complete the original line-up.
“We wanted to do something special for Doolittle’s 20th anniversary, and we thought this was a good opportunity to play all of the songs from that album, something we don’t normally do at a regular gig,” Francis commented in a statement.
“Doolittle” was the third release from the Pixies and also the band’s first to chart on the Billboard 200, earning a respectable spot at No. 98. From 1987 up to the Pixies’ acrimonious split in 1993, the group released five records, ending with “Trompe le Monde” in 1991. The quartet reformed in 2004 for touring purposes, but only compilations and live albums have been released since then, including the recently released box set “Minotaur.”
Pixies itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)
| October 1 – 2 | Dublin, IRE | Olympia Theatre |
| October 4 | Glasgow, SCO | S.E.C.C. |
| October 6 – 9 | London, ENG | O2 Academy Brixton |
| October 11 | Frankfurt, GER | Jahrhunderthalle Frankfurt |
| October 13 | Amsterdam, NET | Heineken Music Hall |
| October 14 | Brussels, BEL | Forest National |
| October 15 | Paris, FRA | Zenith Paris |
