Frank Black

Acting

Frank Black

Born 1965-04-06 · Boston, Massachusetts

Black Francis (born Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV on April 6, 1965) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black. 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, having re-adopted his current stage name in 2007. 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Black Francis, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.​

Acting credits

Pixies - Rock en Seine 2024 poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Pixies - Rock en Seine 2024

2024

Coachella poster
6.5

Filmmaker Drew Thomas brings California's popular Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival to the screen with a different kind of musical documentary that not only showcases performances by some of the hottest acts to take the stage, but offers interviews with such musical icons as Beck, Joshua Homme, Mos Def, and Perry Farrell as well. From English icon Morrissey's performance at the inaugural Coachella Festival back in 1999 to Canadian indie rockers the Arcade Fire's electric 2005 set, the musical acts featured here run the gamut from hip-hop to alternative and virtually everything in between. Other artists featured include the Pixies, the Flaming Lips, Kool Keith, Radiohead, Saul Williams, and Squarepusher.

Coachella

2006

Unknown Brood poster
6.4

“When I do my suicide for you, I hope you’ll miss me too,” Herman Brood sang in “Rock ‘n’ Roll Junkie” – just one of many announcements of his own death Brood worked into his songs. It’s a subject Brood, who jumped off the roof of the Amsterdam Hilton 15 years ago, often sang about. In Unknown Brood, a whole range of people look back on the rock and roller’s turbulent life, including fellow musicians, his manager, a former girlfriend, photographer Anton Corbijn, Brood’s wife and their daughter. Video footage shot by Brood himself and never seen before is intercut with a rich collection of archive material, including a humorous clip of Brood barking the Dutch national anthem. His sister Beppie Brood stresses her brother’s split personality: on the one hand the shy, vulnerable man wary of other people, and on the other the one who played Herman Brood – an extravagant, hedonistic junkie and rock and roll star.

Unknown Brood

2016

Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns) poster
8.4

John Flansburgh & John Linnell met in the 1970s as junior high students in Lincoln, Massachusetts. A decade later, their band—They Might Be Giants—would stand at the forefront of a burgeoning East Village NYC performance art scene as well as the college music revolution of the late 1980s. Filmed in 2001, ‘Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns)’ is the acclaimed true story, tracing their independent and sometimes hilarious path through two decades in the pop music wilderness. From their legendary Dial-a-Song answering machine, to their Grammy Award-winning theme song for ‘Malcolm in the Middle’, fans and friends gather to tell the oral history of Brooklyn's finest alternative rock band.

Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns)

2003

Sound City poster
7.4

The history of Sound City and their huge recording device; exploring how digital change has allowed 'people that have no place' in music to become stars. It follows former Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighter David Grohl as he attempts to resurrect the studio back to former glories.

Sound City

2013

Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr. poster
7.8

The American indie rock band “Dinosaur Jr.” is a radical group with an unmistakeable sound. The film tells the story the three charismatic guys in the band: J. Mascis (vocals, guitar), Lou Barlow (bass) and Murph (drums).

Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.

2021

Freaks, Nerds & Weirdos poster
7.5

Documentary that gives a voice to the percentage of youth that were outcasts/non-conformists in the 90's. Interviews many famous musicians and other celebrity personalities, who talk about their being outcasts as youths, in school etc., leading up to their successes in adult life, and how being an outcast/non-conformist played a role in their artistic expression.. Also touches upon the topic of teen suicide & depression.

Freaks, Nerds & Weirdos

1994

The Magnificent Tati poster
7.0

This documentary traces Jacques Tati's rise from the Parisian Music-Hall stage to his Oscar winning films of the 1950s, the documentary then explains how Tati bet all he had on his fourth film 'PlayTime' and how this mammoth film ended prematurely the career of a genius while also giving the world one of the most beautiful films ever made.

The Magnificent Tati

2009

David Bowie & Friends: A Very Special Birthday Celebration poster
NR

TV Special live at Madison Square Garden on January 9, 1997 in celebration of David Bowie's 50th birthday.

David Bowie & Friends: A Very Special Birthday Celebration

1997

Pixies: Gouge poster
8.0

Gouge - a documentary tracing The Pixies' story featuring interviews with Bono, David Bowie, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead), Graham Coxon and Alex James (Blur), Fran Healy and Andy Dunlop (Travis), P J Harvey, Tim Wheeler (Ash), Gavin Rossdale (Bush) and Badly Drawn Boy.

Pixies: Gouge

2004

loudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies poster
6.8

When college rock darlings the Pixies broke up in 1992, their fans were shocked and dismayed. When they reunited in 2004, those same fans and legions of new listeners were ecstatic and filled with high hopes. loudQUIETloud follows the rehearsals and live shows of the band as they struggle through the reunion tour "Sell Out"

loudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies

2006

David Bowie: An Earthling at 50 poster
8.5

Interview with David Bowie, in an original format of non-linear edition, cut-and-paste style.

David Bowie: An Earthling at 50

1997

Pixies: 6Music In Concert poster
NR

Pixies are a band who shaped the sound of Alternative Rock. Having sold just under 2 million albums worldwide, they are among rock music's greatest pioneers. Single-handedly spawning the grunge movement of the 1990s, their unique mix of punk, pop and surf rock inspired an entire generation of musicians, and embodied 90's alternative Rock. After splitting acrimoniously in 1992, they reformed in 2004 to wide acclaim. They're captured here from BBC's Maida Vale studios in London.

Pixies: 6Music In Concert

2013

Pixies - Acoustic : Live In Newport poster
8.0

One of the most influential American bands of all time, The Pixies created the blueprint for alternative rock. Beginning their musical career in the late 80's until the early 90's, the band took an extended break, until reforming once again in 2004. This recording captures their first ever all acoustic performance filmed at the famous Newport Folk Festival.

Pixies - Acoustic : Live In Newport

2006

Placebo: Soulmates Never Die: Live in Paris 2003 poster
7.3

Track list : 1. Bulletproof Cupid, 2. Allergic (To Thoughts Of Mother Earth), 3. Every You Every Me, 4. Bionic, 5. Protégé Moi, 6. , 7. Bitter End, 8. Soul Mates, 9. Black-Eyed, 10. I'll Be Yours, 11. Special Needs, 12. English Summer Rain, 13. Without You I'm Nothing, 14. This Picture, 15. Special K, 16. Taste In Men, 17. Slave To The Wage, 18. Peeping Tom, 19. Pure Morning, 20. Centrefolds, 21. Where Is My Mind?

Placebo: Soulmates Never Die: Live in Paris 2003

2003

Pixies - Rock en Seine 2005 poster
8.0

No synopsis available yet.

Pixies - Rock en Seine 2005

2005

Pixies - Sell Out poster
NR

1. Bone Machine 2. Wave Of Mutilation (UK Surf) 3. In Heaven 4. Something Against You 5. River Euphrates 6. U-Mass 7. Bone Machine 8. Cactus 9. Ed Is Dead 10. I Bleed 11. Monkey Gone To Heaven 12. Hey 13. Levitate Me 14. Subbacultcha 15. Dead 16. Gouge Away 17. Velouria 18. Mr. Grieves 19. Crackity Jones 20. Broken Face 21. Isla De Encanta 22. Tame 23. Here Comes Your Man 24. The Holiday Song 25. Where Is My Mind? 26. Vamos 27. Wave Of Mutilation 28. Gigantic The band's legacy and reputation has only grown stronger in the 12 years since they broke up, see her as the play in front of enthusiastic audiences, far larger than they had drawn in their heyday.

Pixies - Sell Out

2005

Pixies: Live at Rock Werchter 2026 poster
NR

Pixies live at Rock Werchter on July 4, 2026.

Pixies: Live at Rock Werchter 2026

2026

Pixies - Live at iTunes Festival poster
8.0

The Pixies on iTunes Festival 2013

Pixies - Live at iTunes Festival

2013

Pixies: Live at The Town & Country poster
8.0

Live complete set filmed in 1988 when the band supported Throwing Muses at London's Town and Country Club + 8 Promo videos.

Pixies: Live at The Town & Country

1988

Pixies : Live At The Paradise In Boston poster
8.0

The Pixies are one of the most influential American acts of all time. Initially spanning the late eighties and early nineties they created the blueprint for alternative rock that would be followed and embellished upon by everyone from grunge to Britpop. After 10 years apart the Pixies reformed in 2004. This program is the second release in our Club Date series and features the Pixies in the intimate Paradise Club in Boston.

Pixies : Live At The Paradise In Boston

2006

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Pixies - BBC 6 Music Festival 2022

Pixies Acoustic & Electric Live poster
9.0

After 10 years apart, the influential alternative rock band, the Pixies, reunite for an all acoustic set at the Newport Folk Festival.

Pixies Acoustic & Electric Live

2006

Pixies: Live at Brixton Academy 1991 poster
NR

The Pixies live set at Brixton Academy in London on June 26, 1991.

Pixies: Live at Brixton Academy 1991

1991