Although this Bostonbred band was around for only a short time in the late '80s and early '90s, the Pixies melodic punk and surf-rock sounds inspired bands such as Nirvana who in turn influenced a generation of musicians. Vans' Pixies release salutes the band with artwork from their 1997 best of compilation album Death to the Pixies. The artwork, depicting a nude frontman Black Francis giving a thumbs down salute, was originally seen on the band’s first posters and t-shirts.