Article: Black's bizarre lyrics, folk lovers' delight: Plus soulful hopes of Velvet Crush, tribute to Beatles.(Washington Weekend)(Riffs)

Since his scream first reached listener's ears in 1987, Frank Black has been one of modern rock's quirkiest characters.

His offbeat lyrics ("I was looking handsome / She was looking like an erotic vulture" or "I wish you could be what's her name / And I could be King Kong) explain how the prolific songwriter endears himself to fans.

Along with Breeders' founder Kim Deal, Mr. Black (then known as Black Francis) started his career in the Pixies. Like a mad scientist in his studio lab, Mr. Black sampled the DNA from American rock 'n' roll, late '70s British punk and '60s surf music - and fused it into an original and highly influential sound.

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