Kim Deal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kim Deal
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Deal performing with the Breeders in 2018
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Kimberley Ann Deal
June 10, 1961 Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Kettering College |
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| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse(s) | John Murphy (1985–1988) |
| Relatives | Kelley Deal (twin sister) |
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Kimberley Ann Deal (born June 10, 1961) is an American musician. She is known for her work as the bassist and singer in the rock band Pixies. She was also the main singer and leader of the Breeders, a band she started in 1989.
Kim Deal joined the Pixies in 1986. For some early albums, she used the stage name Mrs. John Murphy. After the Pixies took a break, she formed the Breeders. Her twin sister, Kelley Deal, later joined the Breeders.
The Pixies broke up in 1993, and Kim focused on the Breeders. Their album Last Splash became very popular in 1993. It included the hit song "Cannonball". The Breeders later took a break. During this time, Kim formed another band called the Amps. She used the stage name Tammy Ampersand for this project.
Kim Deal later brought the Breeders back together with new members. They released albums like Title TK (2002) and Mountain Battles (2008). She also rejoined the Pixies when they reunited in 2004. In 2013, Kim left the Pixies again to focus on the Breeders. The original members of the Breeders reunited for tours to celebrate Last Splash. In 2018, the Breeders released their fifth album, All Nerve. Kim Deal released her first solo album, Nobody Loves You More, in 2024.
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Kim Deal was born in Dayton, Ohio, in the United States. Her parents came from coal mining areas in West Virginia. Her father was a laser physicist. Kim and her identical twin sister, Kelley Deal, started learning music when they were very young. They sang into a tape recorder when they were just four or five years old. They grew up listening to rock bands like AC/DC and Led Zeppelin.
When Kim was 11, she learned to play "King of the Road" on the acoustic guitar. She went to Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio. Kim was a cheerleader and sometimes had disagreements with teachers. Her sister Kelley said they were "popular girls" who got good grades and played sports.
As a teenager, Kim and Kelley formed a folk rock band. Kim found it easier to write her own songs than to learn covers. She wrote many songs when she was 16 or 17. The sisters bought recording equipment for a home studio. They had microphones, a tape recorder, and speakers by the time they were 17. They later added a drum machine to make their music sound more like a full band.
After high school, Kim attended several colleges but did not finish a degree. She later earned an associate degree in medical technology from Kettering College. She worked in hospital labs and biochemical labs before focusing on music.
Musical Journey
Joining the Pixies
Kim Deal became the bassist and backing singer for the Pixies in January 1986. She responded to an advertisement that asked for a bassist who liked certain bands. Kim's main instrument was guitar, but she borrowed her sister Kelley's bass. She suggested her friend David Lovering become the drummer.
For the band's first recording, Come on Pilgrim (1987), Kim used the name "Mrs. John Murphy." She chose this name as a playful idea. On Surfer Rosa (1988), Kim sang the lead vocals on the song "Gigantic." She also helped write this song with the band's frontman, Black Francis. The album Doolittle followed in 1989. Kim contributed the song "Silver" to this album.
During the recording of Doolittle, Kim and Black Francis sometimes had disagreements. Kim said the recording sessions became more like "work" instead of "fun." The band also felt tired from releasing three records and touring a lot in just two years. This led to some tension, especially between Kim and Francis. The band decided to take a break after their tour.
Forming the Breeders
In 1988, while touring Europe with the Pixies, Kim Deal started writing new songs. She talked with Tanya Donelly, a guitarist from another band, about starting a new project. They decided to form a band called the Breeders. Kim named it after the folk band she had with Kelley as a teenager. They recorded a demo tape.
The Breeders' demo tape was sent to the head of a record label, 4AD. He quickly signed them. The Breeders allowed Kim to write more songs. Their first album, Pod (1990), was mostly written by Kim. It was recorded in Edinburgh. Many musicians praised Pod. Nirvana's lead singer, Kurt Cobain, said it was one of his favorite albums. He wished Kim could write more songs for the Pixies.
Pixies Albums and Breakup
After recording Pod, Kim returned to the Pixies. They recorded Bossanova in 1990. The band's last studio album was Trompe le Monde (1991). The recording sessions for this album were difficult. The whole band was rarely together during the process.
Kim Deal did not sing on many songs during this time. One of the few songs she sang on was a cover of Neil Young's "I've Been Waiting for You." She also sang on "Alec Eiffel" on Trompe le Monde. However, she did not write any songs for this album. The Pixies broke up in early 1993.
Success with Last Splash
After the Pixies broke up, Kelley Deal joined the Breeders as the lead guitarist. The band then released Last Splash in 1993. This album was very successful and received great reviews. It sold over a million copies within a year.
During the Breeders' peak popularity in the 1990s, they had many popular music videos on MTV. These included "Cannonball", "Safari", "Divine Hammer", and "Saints." The band also released an EP called "Head to Toe" in 1994. They performed on the main stage at the Lollapalooza festival that summer. The band took a break in 1994. However, they never officially broke up. They later released Title TK in 2002.
The Amps and Other Projects
Kim Deal formed the Amps in 1995. She used the name "Tammy Ampersand" for this band. Their only album, Pacer (1995), was generally liked but did not sell many copies.
Kim also helped produce music for other bands. She worked with the band Guided by Voices. One song on Pacer, "I Am Decided," was co-written by their lead singer, Robert Pollard. Kim Deal has also lent her voice to many other music projects. These include songs by This Mortal Coil in 1991 and Sonic Youth in 1995.
Pixies Reunion and Recent Work
In 2004, Kim Deal returned to the Pixies when they reunited. They released a new song called "Bam Thwok" and toured North America. They performed at the Coachella Festival in 2004 and headlined Lollapalooza in 2005. The Pixies also toured the UK and played at the Reading and Leeds Festivals.
In 2003, Kim moved back to Dayton to help care for her mother. In April 2008, the Breeders released their fourth album, Mountain Battles. They followed this with an EP called Fate to Fatal a year later. On June 14, 2013, it was announced that Kim Deal had left the Pixies. She has since released new solo music on her website. As of 2023, she does not have contact with her former Pixies bandmates.
Solo Music and Breeders Albums
In December 2012, Kim Deal played a solo show in the UK. She performed several new songs there. At the same time, she released her first solo song, "Walking with a Killer." She continued to release more solo music in 2013 and 2014.
In April 2013, a special 20th-anniversary edition of the Breeders album Last Splash was released. Kim reunited with Kelley Deal, Josephine Wiggs, and Jim Macpherson for a Last Splash anniversary tour. They toured North America, Europe, Australia, and South America. In August 2014, it was reported that this same group was working on new music.
A new song called "Wait in the Car" was released on October 3, 2017. On March 2, 2018, the reunited Breeders released All Nerve. This was their first studio album in ten years. It received many positive reviews. The Breeders also worked with Courtney Barnett on her May 2018 album. Kim and Kelley sang backing vocals on some of her songs.
In August 2024, Kim Deal announced her first solo album, Nobody Loves You More. It was released on November 22, 2024. The album features collaborations with other artists. Music magazines like Mojo and Uncut listed it as one of the best albums of 2024.
Discography
Pixies
- Come on Pilgrim (1987)
- Surfer Rosa (1988)
- Doolittle (1989)
- Bossanova (1990)
- Trompe le Monde (1991)
The Breeders
- Pod (1990)
- Safari (EP, 1992)
- Last Splash (1993)
- Live in Stockholm 1994 (1994)
- Head to Toe (EP, 1994)
- Title TK (2002)
- Mountain Battles (2008)
- Fate to Fatal (EP, 2009)
- All Nerve (2018)
The Amps
- Pacer (1995)
Solo
- Nobody Loves You More (2024)
Solo Singles
- "Walking with a Killer" b/w "Dirty Hessians" (2012)
- "Hot Shot" b/w "Likkle More" (2013)
- "Are You Mine?" b/w "Wish I Was" (2013)
- "The Root" b/w "Range On Castle" (2014)
- "Biker Gone" b/w "Beautiful Moon Clear" (2014)
- "Coast" (2024)
- "Crystal Breath" (2024)
Images for kids
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Deal performing with the Breeders in 2018
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Kim Deal playing bass at a 2004 Pixies concert in Kansas City alongside Black Francis, under pink lighting
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Deal performing with the Breeders, c. 2002
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Deal in concert with the Amps in 1995
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Deal performing in 2009
See also
In Spanish: Kim Deal para niños
