Paz Lenchantin Departs Pixies After a Decade in the Band

The rock group has announced that Emma Richardson is joining as the new touring bassist
Black Francis David Lovering Paz Lenchantin Joey Santiago
Pixies’ Black Francis, David Lovering, Paz Lenchantin, and Joey Santiago, May 2017 (Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic)

Paz Lenchantin is leaving the Pixies in order “to concentrate on her own projects,” the band announced today. “We’re grateful for Paz’s many contributions, and wish her all the very best going forward,” Pixies wrote.

Emma Richardson, a painter who spent over a decade with Band of Skulls, will take over for Lenchantin as Pixies’ bassist, beginning with a show in Ireland later this week. See Pixies’ statement below.

Paz Lenchantin joined Pixies as a touring bassist in 2014 after the departures of Kim Deal and Kim Shattuck. She contributed a bit to Indie Cindy, before becoming a full-time band member in 2016 and working on Head Carrier, Beneath the Eyrie, and Doggerel.

In a statement to Rolling Stone, Lenchantin said, “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. 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.”

Pixies:

Paz Lenchantin, who joined Pixies in 2014, has exited the band to concentrate on her own projects.
We’re grateful for Paz’s many contributions, and wish her all the very best going forward.

We are delight to welcome Emma Richardson on bass. Emma will make her worldwide touring debut with Pixies on the first night of the “Bossanova x Trompe le Monde” European tour, beginning this Friday in Dublin.

See you on the road!
La la love you,
Pixies