Joey Santiago facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joey Santiago
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Santiago performing in 2017
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Alberto Santiago |
| Born | June 10, 1965 Manila, Philippines |
| Origin | Longmeadow, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative rock, noise pop, punk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1986–present |
Joseph Alberto "Joey" Santiago (born June 10, 1965) is a Filipino-American guitarist and composer. He is most famous for being the lead guitarist and a founder of the alternative rock band Pixies.
After the Pixies first broke up in 1993, Santiago wrote music for movies and TV shows. He also started a new band called The Martinis with his ex-wife, Linda Mallari. When the Pixies reunited in 2004, he returned as their lead guitarist.
Santiago is known for his unique "angular and bent" guitar style. He was influenced by famous guitarists like Les Paul, George Harrison, and Jimi Hendrix. Critics have praised his playing, saying it was a key part of the Pixies' powerful sound.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Joey Santiago was born in Manila, Philippines, on June 10, 1965. He was one of six sons. His father was a doctor. In 1972, his family moved to the United States. This was because the government in the Philippines under President Marcos had declared martial law, a time of strict government control.
The family lived in New York for two years before moving to Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Santiago's first instrument was an organ, but he didn't play it much. At age nine, he started playing a classical guitar that belonged to his older brother. The first song he learned was "Rock and Roll" by The Velvet Underground.
As a teenager, Santiago was also interested in computer programming. He even named his first two programs after the punk rock singer Iggy Pop.
After high school, Santiago went to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He chose to study economics. There, he met Charles Thompson, who would later be known as Frank Black. Santiago heard Thompson playing guitar and quickly became friends with him. They started playing music together.
Santiago and Thompson became roommates. Santiago introduced Thompson to punk rock music and artists like David Bowie. Thompson later went to Puerto Rico for a school program. After six months, he sent a letter to Santiago that said, "We gotta do it, now is the time, Joe, we gotta chase our dreams." Santiago agreed, and Thompson returned to Massachusetts so they could start a band.
Music Career
Forming the Pixies
After Thompson returned, he and Santiago dropped out of college. They moved to Boston and worked in warehouses to support themselves. In January 1986, they officially formed the Pixies. Santiago chose to be the lead guitarist.
To find a name for their band, Santiago picked a word from a dictionary at random. He chose "pixie" because he liked its definition: "mischievous little elves." They found a bass player, Kim Deal, by placing an ad in a newspaper. Drummer David Lovering joined later.
The Pixies practiced all year and started playing shows in Boston. In 1987, they signed with the record label 4AD. Their first album, Come On Pilgrim, showed off Santiago's unique, sharp guitar playing on songs like "The Holiday Song" and "Vamos."
The band became very successful with their next two albums, Surfer Rosa (1988) and Doolittle (1989). However, being in the band became stressful. They were always touring and had made three albums in just two years. After a concert in Boston, the band decided to take a break. The Pixies got back together in 1990 and released two more albums, Bossanova and Trompe le Monde. The band broke up again in 1993.
Working on Other Projects
After the Pixies split up, Santiago remained friends with his bandmate Frank Black. He played lead guitar on several of Black's solo albums, including Frank Black (1993) and Teenager of the Year (1994).
A year later, Santiago formed a new band called The Martinis with his then-wife, Linda Mallari. They released their first album, Smitten, in 2004. Santiago described the album's music as "poppier and quirkier" than their older songs.
In the mid-1990s, Santiago also started writing music for movies and TV shows. He worked on the film Crime and Punishment in Suburbia and the TV series Undeclared. He also wrote songs for the show Weeds.
Pixies Reunion
In the summer of 2003, Frank Black decided to get the Pixies back together. The first person he called was Santiago. Santiago then called the other band members, and by 2004, the Pixies had reunited.
The band was asked to write a song for the movie Shrek 2. They recorded a song, but the movie studio decided not to use it. So, the band released it as a single called "Bam Thwok".
Since reuniting, the Pixies have continued to tour and release new music. Santiago has also continued to work on other projects, including writing music for TV commercials.
Guitar Playing Style
Santiago calls his guitar style "angular and bent." He was inspired by the unique sounds he heard in songs he liked. For example, he loved a "bent note" played by George Harrison in The Beatles' song "Savoy Truffle". He used this technique a lot in his own music.
When he was young, Santiago didn't listen to the radio much. Instead, he borrowed rock and roll records from the library. He discovered guitar legends like Les Paul and Jimi Hendrix. He also learned about jazz and country guitarists like Joe Pass and Chet Atkins by reading album notes.
On stage, Santiago was known for his energetic performances. He would sometimes move his amplifier around or even use his teeth to play the guitar strings. This was a big contrast to his usually quiet personality.
Personal Life
Santiago has two children and lives in Los Angeles. In 2016, he took time off to focus on his health and well-being. He has been doing well since then. In March 2022, Santiago announced he was engaged to producer Erin Whitaker.
Discography
Here are some of the key albums Joey Santiago has played on.
- With the Pixies
- Surfer Rosa (1988)
- Doolittle (1989)
- Bossanova (1990)
- Trompe le Monde (1991)
- Indie Cindy (2014)
- Head Carrier (2016)
- Beneath the Eyrie (2019)
- Doggerel (2022)
- The Night the Zombies Came (2024)
- With Frank Black
- Frank Black (1993)
- Teenager of the Year (1994)
- With The Martinis
- Smitten (2004)
See also
In Spanish: Joey Santiago para niños
