Paz Lenchantin has left the Pixies and said the news was a ‘surprise’ to her (Picture: Getty Images)
Pixies’ longtime bassist Paz Lechantin has announced she is abruptly leaving the group after 10 years.
The musician, who joined the band in 2014, will be replaced by Emma Richardson but hinted that the move was not her decision, leading to speculation of a feud.
It comes just as the alt rock band – who famously featured on the Fight Club movie soundtrack – are preparing to launch their new tour in Dublin, Ireland on Friday.
Pixies, also consisting of Joey Santiago, Black Francis and David Lovering, initially announced Paz’s departure on Monday saying: ‘Lenchantin has exited the band to concentrate on her own projects. We are grateful for Paz’s contributions, and wish her all the best going forward.’
Suggesting the split was amicable, the band added in their Instagram caption: ‘La la love you…’
Paz, who played bass, soon followed up herself and told Rolling Stone in a statement: ‘It has been a dream of dreams these past 10 years to have been accepted as a Pixie by the band and by fans and an honor to have contributed to the Pixies legacy.’
However, hinting that she was cut from the line-up, Paz added: ‘My departure is a bit of a surprise to me as it is to many, but it looks like they have a solid plan figured out which in turn has pushed me to move onwards onto new projects that I am excited about.’
Fans were devastated to hear the news, with @The_Ren1981 writing: ‘Sad to hear the news about Paz Lenchatin leaving Pixies. She’ll be missed.’
@doukhobour added: ‘Losing Paz will hurt Pixies, permanently. Doggerel was her best record. She toured dutifully & was a superfan. She deserved loyalty, tolerance, gratitude.’
Fuming over Paz’s departure, @PaintedHighway said: ‘When I saw Pixies last summer, Paz was the only person onstage who looked like she wanted to be there…and she REALLY wanted to be there. Another dumb chapter in the Pixies’ afterlife.’
The Pixies first announced the news and sent Paz ‘love’ (Picture: FilmMagic)
The Pixies will begin their tour on Friday with a new bassist (Picture: Getty Images)
@mbpressoffice wrote on X: ‘Paz has left the Pixies and I’m sad about it. Getting a bit Spinal Tap drummer eh what.’
@LifeInTheMetaxy weighed in: ‘Who doesn’t love Paz Lenchantin? Well, evidently the Pixies no longer do. [sadface].’
Pixies have a long history of bass players with Kim Deal originally playing with the band from 1986 to 2013 before leaving for Breeders. She was briefly replaced by the late Kim Shattuck, who died in 2019 before Paz joined on a permanent basis from A Perfect Circle.
The bassist also has writing credits on Pixies’ 2019 album Beneath the Eyrie and last recorded with the group on 2022’s Doggerel, while performing her last show in September 2023 at the Hollywood Bowl.
Pixies have released eight studio albums and recorded the song Where Is My Mind? which featured at the end of Hollywood blockbuster Fight Club which starred Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.
The group will launch their tour on March 8 in Dublin, Ireland when new bassist Richardson will make her debut.
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