The Pixies were one of the first rock bands to be characterized as "alternative rock", and a key influence for many of the bands who pioneered the genre (e.g. Nirvana, Radiohead, Blur). Formed in Boston in 1986, this non-traditional rock quartet created a style that blended punk, jazz, surf and rock n' roll into something original for their time. They created five studio albums during their five year creative period, and broke up in 1991. The band reunited in 2004 to critical and popular acclaim.