Black Francis is the stage name contrived by and for Charles Thompson during his residency in college rock band the Pixies, a period that ran from the group's formation in Boston during 1986 until the dark day in 1993 when Black Francis announced during a BBC radio interview that the group was disbanding. The other members of the Pixies such as Kim Deal were not yet wise to this, finding out a tad bit later when their now former associate faxed them a transcription of relevant parts of the radio show. Thompson's next show business identity was as Frank Black, often in the bandleading context of Frank Black and the Catholics.