Pixies Reveal Guitarist Joey Santiago Enters Rehab

The Pixies are getting ready to release a new album and launch a tour later this fall, but their attention at the moment is on guitarist Joey Santiago, who is entering rehab.

The band have revealed that Santiago (seen middle right in photo above) has checked in for a 30-day stint to help 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," says drummer David Lovering. "We ask all of our fans to support Joey while he's on this road to recovery."

In their statement, the band reveals that they still fully intend to tour the U.K. and Europe this November and December, but that Santiago's time in rehab will affect some of the band's promotional activities supporting their Head Carrier disc, which is due on Sept. 30. Their statement in full can be read below:

Today, Pixies' Black Francis, David Lovering and Paz Lenchantin confirmed that the band's lead guitarist Joey Santiago has checked into a rehabilitation center 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," said the band's David Lovering. "We ask all of our fans to support Joey while he's on this road to recovery."

While the Pixies fully intend to tour the UK and Europe this November and December, Santiago's time in rehab will affect some of the band's planned promotional activities to support their new album Head Carrier, due out September 30.

Pixies formed in 1986 in Boston and did quite well in the college rock scene of the late '80s and early '90s before their split. But their "quiet-loud" sound was highly influential on the grunge explosion of the early '90s, with Nirvana, Weezer and many others citing the band among their major influences. The band reunited in 2004 and successfully toured for a decade before releasing Indie Cindy, their first new album in 23 years, in 2014.