The Pixies...

Eighties cult band top iTunes download list

By Anthony Barnes

20 June 2004

A cult band from the 1980s, the Pixies - whose influence far outweighed their ability to actually sell records - have finally found themselves at the top of the charts.

The band, which reformed for a series of shows this summer, are playing numerous festivals and are the most popular download on the Apple iTunes music store. The online service launched in the UK on Tuesday and allows fans to buy titles track by track.

The Pixies' track "Bam Thwok" is the first new material recorded by the band for 13 years and is only available on Apple's service.

Overall, there is no pattern to the titles downloaded so far, though the band's comparative lack of current chart hits suggests grownups are battling technology rather than teenagers.

Individual tracks are available on iTunes UK for 79p, while most albums cost £7.99 .

Material by a number of bands on independent labels, such as Franz Ferdinand and The White Stripes, is not yet available for download. Their companies have still to agree terms with Apple.

Number one in the rival Napster chart (now running as a legal service) is Maroon 5's "This Love", which is at number three in the iTunes list. Hip hop act Outkast has two entries in the top 10, at numbers four and 10, with the singles "Roses" and "The Way You Move".