Frank Black performs "Headache"

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Published 2015-03-18

With a music career that spans nearly 30 years, more than 25 albums with the Pixies and alone, and too many incredible riffs to count, picking just one Frank Black song to talk about was incredibly difficult. But when The A.V. Club called upon Frank—real name Charles Thompson—to ring in another batch of One Track Mind, “Headache” seemed like a natural choice. The single from 1994’s Teenager Of The Year was his biggest hit as a solo artist, solidifying his transition from leading one of the most-revered cult bands in music history into a career that’s endured decades of shifting tastes and trends. “Headache” embodies all of the off-kilter charm and undeniable catchiness that’s made Thompson’s work so timeless, even as he’s aged (gracefully) into a family man living in Amherst, Massachusetts, back where the seeds of the Pixies were first planted all those years ago. We visited Thompson in the nearby town of Easthampton—home to Eastworks, a sprawling industrial warehouse that’s been converted into artists’ spaces—to talk “Headache,” and to get a glimpse inside the head where it began.

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All Comments (21)

@terrymaca1 4 years ago

this man has made my human experience so much more enjoyable i love his soul
@tsy0704 4 years ago

The lead singer of one of the most influential bands to grace this planet...ever!
@CraigShifflet 3 years ago

Jesus, Frank. No vocal loss with age. Amazing.
@anniewoodfin77 2 years ago

Frank Black is a fucking musical genius. The best of my generation.
@patrickcrawford6392 6 years ago

Man...Charles has a way of adding so much emotion to these raw stripped down versions. A + musician. Its criminal that he is not more popular. Musicians like him deserve more success!
@christohr9957 4 years ago

“I was counting the trees ... until the day when there was one ... “
@condensermike 1 year ago

Frank has brought me so much joy in life. I love his very existence.
@Westernerd1 1 year ago

Frank still has an amazing voice, takes good care of himself. Much respect and support.
@Brokenface 1 year ago

Amazing Frank 😁😁
@oliverread1060 4 years ago

His voice sounds so much more powerful and soulful than on the records, awesome performance
@metawake 9 years ago

Such a unique voice and sense of melody!
@Dsmith551 3 days ago

I know he's done many other things and songs, but I like to think Frank Black lives entirely within the world of this song, and pops up every now and then to play it live and then retire back into the music video. It's just too perfect
@DeathBlitzkrieg666 4 months ago

The Best....ever....in his genre...musical genius❤❤❤
@gonzobtrappin1911 1 year ago

If I ever met this man I would be beyond starstruck. His music means so very much me.
@DarkForcesStudio 2 years ago

I want to cry. This is beautiful.
@spire393 4 years ago

Everything is so crisp and alive, in tune. This guy is PERFECT. chills man.
@attentiondeficitsquirrel7660 1 year ago

One of my favorite songs from the 90’s.
@LouMajors 3 years ago

Your soul is a beautiful thing, Frank! Thank you!
@ralphcramden468 3 years ago

I love Black, he has the best arrangements, lyrics, and hes a good Dad. What more could RocknRoll ask for?
@joetoe9207 5 years ago

Mint. So overlooked and ahead of his time.