It’s a sad day for Pixies fans who have been following the famed American alt-rock back for the last decade. Bassist Paz Lenchantin has announced that she will be leaving the band, and her replacement has also been announced as well.
[See Pixies Live in the United Kingdom and Europe in 2024]
Videos by American Songwriter
Pixies released a statement on Lenchantin’s departure that provided some additional details. “Lenchantin has exited the band to concentrate on her own projects,” the statement noted. “We are grateful for Paz’s contributions, and wish her all the best going forward.”
No specific reason has been given for Lenchantin’s departure.
Who Will Replace Bassist Paz Lenchantin?
Emma Richardson has been announced as Lenchantin’s replacement. Richardson was formerly the bassist and vocalist of the English rock band Band of Skulls, which she left in 2022 to “pursue a full-time painting career.” It appears that a call from Pixies needing a bassist changed that!
“We are delighted to welcome Emma Richardson on bass,” the statement from Pixies continued. “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.”
Richardson will take over for Lenchantin on March 8 for the band’s Dublin, Ireland tour date and beyond. It is not clear if Richardson is simply a stand-in for the massive upcoming tour, or if she will be a permanent fixture in the band.
Pixies are about to embark on a massive UK, Ireland, and Europe tour before heading stateside for the US and Canada leg of the tour in June. The tour will wrap up in November with an Australian leg.
Lenchantin joined Pixies back in 2014 after former bassist Kim Shattuck was fired from the band in late 2013. She was featured in three different Pixies albums, including Head Carrier from 2016, Beneath the Eyrie in 2019, and Doggerel in 2022. She will be sorely missed!
Photo by Gareth Cattermole
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
More Latest Music News & Stories
-
Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic -
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Reba McEntire performs onstage during the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chloe Kern/WireImage) -
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 02: Morgan Wallen performs onstage for the 16th Annual Darius and Friends St. Jude Benefit at Ryman Auditorium on June 02, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ABA) -
TOPSHOT – US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift attends the MTV Video Music Awards at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California on September 27, 2026. (Photo by Lisa O'CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images) -
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 16: Chris Stapleton performs onstage during the 25th Annual Americana Honors & Awards at Ryman Auditorium on September 16, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Americana Music Association) -
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 13: Zach Top performs onstage during C2C Country to Country day one at The O2 Arena on March 13, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage) -
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 29: Kelly Hansen of Foreigner performs onstage during The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis 39th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner on September 29, 2025 at the New York Hilton Midtown raised millions of dollars to support the pioneering work of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, a designated Center of Excellence at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine and the world’s premier research center targeting spinal cord and brain injury and other neurological disorders and diseases. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis) -
(NO SUB AGENCIES IN UK, FRANCE, GERMANY, HOLLAND, SWEDEN, FINLAND, JAPAN.) Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant) 1969 during Led Zeppelin File Photos at the Led Zeppelin File Photos in Various, United Kingdom. (Photo by