This fall The Pixies, legendary alt-rockers, are taking “Doolittle,” their classic album, on a European tour just in time for the set’s 20th anniversary.

The Pixie’s will be playing their album from 1989 in its entirety, which includes all the B-sides as well, on the trek kicking off in Dublin on October 1.  The tour will visit seven cities in Europe, including a stand of four nights in London October 6-9.  Currently there are no plans for bringing the tour to North America.

Tickets for all the concerts will be going on sale on July 3.

Black Francis, singer/guitarist said, for Doolittle’s 20th anniversary, we wanted to be able to do something special.  We thought it was a good chance to get to play all the album’s songs.  We don’t usually do that during a regular show.

The Pixies released “Trompe Le Monde, their last studio album, in 1991.  This fall they will be releasing a boxed set to coincide with their “Doolittle” shows.  The forthcoming collection is titled “Minotaur.”  It will consist of all of the albums of the band’s, including new artwork and bonus tracks.  There will also be a deluxe edition consisting of the albums on CDs of 24k gold plate as well as a Blue-Ray disc that features a performance from 1991 from Brixton Academy in London as well as all of the music videos recorded by the Pixies.

Die-hard Pixie fans will be able to splurge on a “Minotaur” limited edition, featuring everything from the deluxe collection and also a hardcover book with the artwork from photographer Simon Larbalestier and Vaughan Oliver, art director, along with a Giclee print from Oliver’s work.

Rumors of a Pixies band development have been confirmed by the group, although the development is a collector’s edition box containing the five albums from the iconic alt-rockers and not a new studio release that many were anticipating.

The “Minotaur” collection will have two different configurations.  The deluxe edition will sell for $175 while the limited edition will cost $450.  The sets will both be available as pre-orders starting June 15 at the website for Artist in Residence.

The deluxe set includes the five studio albums from the Pixies, including “Come On Pilgrim (1987), “Surfer Rosa” (1988), “Doolittle,” (1989), “Bossanova” (1990) and “Trompe le Monde” (1991) on Blue-Ray discs and 24k layered CDs. In addition there will be a Blu-Ray and DVD featuring the band’s performance in 1991 at Brixton Academy in London, an artwork book by Simon Larbalestier, photographer, and Vaughan Oliver, art director, as well as band videos on Blu-Ray and DVD.

The “Minotaur” limited edition will contain everything from the deluxe edition along with a Giclee print from Oliver’s work as well as a hardcover book featuring the project’s artwork from Larbalestier and Oliver.

The art for all five studio sets for the Pixies were directed by Oliver and all the photographs were shot by Larbalestier.  Oliver is current a UK art professor and working with students to create a package of artwork that is entirely new for the collector sets.  He thought it was quite appropriate to include Larbalestier on the project.

During a video press release on Artist in Residence’s website, Oliver said looking at his personal aesthetic and personal working, I think he is the fifth Pixie.

Frank Black, Pixies frontman, claiming he has been imbued with a deceased Dutch painter and musician’s spirit, is reclaiming his old name Black Francis.  This fall he will be releasing a new album.

Black said, privately I went back to my old stage name, as a joke almost, if that makes any sense.  I wasn’t able to get The Pixies to return to the studio.  However I transformed my yesteryear’s alter ego.  I would speak the magic syllables out loud, but as I thought, nothing happened.

My new manager, soon after, asked for me to supply a bonus track to be used on an upcoming “best of” compilation for later that year.  While preparing for the session, honestly I became gripped with Herman Brood’s spirit.  The bonus track I was preparing turned into “Bluefinger,” a record of 11 songs, in only a couple days.  Thanks Herman.

Brood was an eccentric Dutch painter and rocker.  In 1979 he scored a US top 40 hit with his single “Saturday Night.”  As an artist, he was known for his attention grabbing and outrageous antics.  His paintings were exhibited in various art galleries all over Europe.  During the late 1990′s his health declined.  After the doctors gave him just a few weeks to live, in 2001 Brood committed suicide.  He jump off of the Amsterdam Hilton’s roof.

In 1969 the Amsterdam Hilton was claimed by Yoko Ono and John Lennon, wrote Francis in a recent press release to explain the connection he felt with Brood.  The first big headlining rock show for The Pixies occurred in 1988 in Holland.  The Hilton was reclaimed by Herman Brood in 2001 for his country.  I now feel he has claimed The Pixies back, or for me at least, Black Francis.

His new album “Bluefinger” is scheduled to be released on September 11.  Last fall he recorded it in Portland, OR along with Jason Carter, drummer, Dan Schmid, bassist and Violet Clarke,  Francis’s wife on backup vocals.

Francis, aside from performing as part of the reunited Pixies for the past three years, has extensively toured with several different backing units over the past decade.  His longest run was with The Catholics.  During the late 1990′s-early 2000′s they recorded five albums together.  The last ones were recorded in 2002: “Devil’s Workshop” and “Black Letter Days.”

“Bluefinger” is the 13th studio album from Francis since he made his solo artist debut in 1993 with his self titled album.  It appeared one year after the Pixies first broke up in 1991.

This fall Frank Black, Pixies frontman, will be heading down another musical road.  He will launch a major tour along with his new band to support “Fast Man Raider Man,” a two disc set that was recently released.

In August the hard working Black will also be embarking on a solo acoustic outing, which will be a mixture of Foo Fighters support dates and his headlining dates.  He will kick things off in Salt Lake City on August 9.

Black, following his acoustic trek, will be joining up with new band members, including Billy Block, drummer, Eric Drew Feldman, bassist and Duane Jarvis, guitarist.  They will be opening two Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers shows in late September.  This will followed up with a full headlining tour that will kick off in Tempe, AZ on October 1.

The headlining tour will consist of 38 dates and stretch through to the end of November.  Shows are spread out across Canada and the US.

The solo dates in August are the first for the guitarist/singer since 1995.  He has extensively toured over the past decade with different backing units.  The Catholics are the longest lasting.  During the late 1990 and early 2000′s, Black recorded five albums with them.  The last recordings was “Devil’s Workshop” and “Black Letter Days” in 2002.

Of course during the past few years, Black has also been at the center of the celebrated Pixies reunions.

“Fast Man Raider Man” is the 11th solo album from Black since the Pixies original breakup in 1992.  It was recorded during a period of two years in Los Angeles and Nashville studios.  It features many highly accomplished guest musicians.  They include Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson, Al Kooper, legendary keyboardist and Levon Helm from The Band.  The album was released in late June to stores.

The Pixies, Weezer, Widespread Panic, Cake, Dinosaur Jr. and The Killers will be among the 60 or so acts performing at the revamped Lollapalooza festival.  It will take place in Grant Park in Chicago on July 23 and 24.

The Bravery, Kaiser Chief, Kasabian, The Black Keys, Blonde Redhead, G. Love & Special Sauce, Liz Phair, Digable Planets, Death Cab for Cutie, Billy Idol, The Arcade Fire and Dashboard Confessional will also be performing.  Lollapalooza’s website has additional confirmed acts posted and also has tickets for sale.

According to a recent press release, the event in addition to having five musical stages will also  incorporate sensory surprises, cultural elements, activities for kids, food, fashion and art.

This year will be the first time Lollapalooza will take place in one city instead of traveling as a tour.  The event was first held in 1991.  In 2004 Lollapalooza was canceled due to poor ticket sales.

Earlier in the month prior to the lineup being revealed, organizers announced all 2,000 pre-sale discounted tickets for the event sold out in just 80 minutes.