Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago checks into rehab

A picture of Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago
Joey Santiago (Image credit: Getty)

Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago has checked into a rehab centre to tackle to drug and alcohol addictions.

The 51-year-old will be in the facility for at least a month, the band have confirmed in a statement signed off by frontman Black Francis, drummer Dave Lovering and bassist Paz Lenchantin.

It comes just weeks ahead of the release of the band’s upcoming sixth album Head Carrier, due out on September 30. Pixies have a European tour booked for November and December and they say they intend to honour those dates.

Pixies say: “We need to confirm that Joey Santiago has checked into a rehabilitation centre for at least 30 days to treat his alcohol and drug issues.

“This is the best thing that Joey could have done, and we’re very proud that he’s taken this step, and we ask everyone to support Joey while he’s on this road to recovery.

“We fully intend to tour the UK and Europe this November and December, however Joey’s time in rehab will affect some of the our planned promotional activities to support the new album release.”

Pixies’ planned European tour kicks off in Austria on November 15 and wraps up in Birmingham on December 8. They also have shows lined up for Australia in March of next year.

Pixies tour dates 2016⁄2017

Nov 15: Vienna Stadthalle, Austria
Nov 16: Poznan Hala Arena, Poland
Nov 17: Prague Forum Karlin, Czech Republic
Nov 18: Montreux Auditorium Stravinski, Switzerland
Nov 20: Barcelona Sant Jordi Club, Spain
Nov 21: Porto Coliseu, Portugal
Nov 23: Paris Zenith, France
Nov 25: Antwerp Lotto, Belgium
Nov 27: Amsterdam HMH, Netherlands
Nov 28: London O2 Academy Brixton
Nov 29: London O2 Academy Brixton
Nov 30: Leeds Academy
Dec 02: Glasgow Barrowland
Dec 03: Newcastle Academy
Dec 04: Manchester Apollo
Dec 06: London O2 Brixton Academy, UK
Dec 07: Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, UK
Dec 08: Birmingham Academy, UK
Mar 02: Brisbane Riverstage, Australia
Mar 04: Melbourne Margaret Court Arena, Australia
Mar 07: Sydney Hordern Pavilion, Australia

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Stef wrote close to 5,000 stories during his time as assistant online news editor and later as online news editor between 2014-2016. An accomplished reporter and journalist, Stef has written extensively for a number of UK newspapers and also played bass with UK rock favourites Logan. His favourite bands are Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Stef left the world of rock'n'roll news behind when he moved to his beloved Canada in 2016, but he started on his next 5000 stories in 2022.