Kim Deal Quits The Pixies

In a piece of rock news that’s certain to leave longtime fans devastated, the Pixies announced on Friday that bassist Kim Deal has chosen to leave the band. The remaining members shared the news in a Facebook post, although they did not offer an explanation of why Deal had left.

“We are sad to say that Kim Deal has decided to leave the Pixies. We are very proud to have worked with her on and off over the last 25 years. Despite her decision to move on, we will always consider her a member of the Pixies, and her place will always be here for her,” the post read. “We wish her all the best. Black Francis, Joey Santiago and David Lovering.”

The original post, which was shared more than 3,600 times on Facebook, was met by an outpouring of sadness from fans. “We will miss you dearly Kim,” one Facebook user wrote. “No Kim. No Pixies,” wrote another.

Although Deal’s decision to leave the Pixies leaves some unanswered questions about whether they’ll attempt to replace her or permanently stop touring, it may not come as a huge surprise for many fans. Despite reuniting for a tour, the band hasn’t performed any new material in years, or expressed a desire to record another album together.

In a 2007 interview with Rolling Stone, Deal said that some of her hesitation to go back into the studio was because as a listener, she wouldn’t want to hear a new album from a band long past its heyday. "I heard the last Rolling Stones record was good," Deal said. "The thing is, I don't even care if it's the best thing they've ever done, I just wouldn't listen to it. And it's not anything that they're doing wrong. As a listener, I don't want to hear about it. I like the Stones at this period of time that I like them, and that's why I like them.”

But Deal also expressed enthusiasm about touring with the band again back in 2004.

"[The reunion tour] worked for us because we didn't have to fit into the black leather pants and do the high kicks. Because we never had black leather pants and we never did high kicks,” she said. “We were overweight and ugly then, and we're overweight and ugly now, so it really wasn't a stretch. Nobody looked at us and thought, 'Oh, their youthy dew has gone.' Other than their hair, that's about it."

Despite her departure from the Pixies, Deal hasn’t announced any intentions of stepping down from her dual role as lead vocalist and guitarist for the Breeders, the alt-rock band she currently fronts with her twin sister, Kelley. Deal formed The Breeders in 1990 after writing a slew of new material during the Pixies tour for their album “Surfer Rosa.” Two years later, the Breeders opened for Nirvana. They are currently touring in Europe.