Paz Lenchantin (born December 12, 1973) is an Argentine-American musician. She is best known for having been the bass guitarist and backing vocalist of the alternative rock band Pixies, playing with the band and recording three studio albums between 2013 and 2024.[1] Prior to joining Pixies, Lenchantin was a member of Entrance, A Perfect Circle, Silver Jews and Zwan.
In April 2024, Consequence named Lenchantin the 75th greatest bass guitarist of all time, noting: "Not only did she fit in beautifully in [A Perfect Circle and Pixies], but she was also a shining light in Billy Corgan's short-lived band Zwan. In addition to her bass playing, she's also an accomplished vocalist and a skilled violinist."[2]
Early life
Lenchantin moved to Los Angeles from Argentina, Mar Del Plata in 1979. She began playing piano at age five.[3] She then took violin lessons at age 8 and taught herself how to play guitar at age 12.[3] She also frequently collaborated with her brother Luciano Lenchantin before his death in 2003. In the 1990s, Paz was a piano teacher, a music programmer for video games, and a sound composer for the Sci-Fi Channel.[4]
In 2002, Lenchantin, Melissa Auf der Maur (Smashing Pumpkins and Hole), Samantha Maloney, and Radio Sloan (the Need) created a new band, the Chelsea. The all-female supergroup played only one show on February 2, 2002, before going their separate ways. An audience recording of said show was later bootlegged. Lenchantin returned to play strings and piano with A Perfect Circle in recording their cover album Emotive, released November 2, 2004, and debuting at number 2 on the Billboard 200. She also contributed a solo cover of the song "The Hollow" to A Perfect Circle's CD/DVD release aMOTION. Lenchantin was a member the Entrance Band, contributing bass, violin and vocals on their albums Prayer of Death (2006) and The Entrance Band (which she co-produced)(2009). She also appeared on the previous Entrance album Wandering Stranger Produced by Chris Coady(2004).
Since 2012, Lechantin has been touring with Josephine Foster supporting the Blood Rushing album promotion.[5] In December 2013, Lenchantin was announced as the new touring bassist for Pixies, in replacement of founding band member Kim Deal and touring bassist Kim Shattuck, for their 2014 tour.[6] In July 2016, Lenchantin confirmed that she was a full-time member of Pixies.[7]
On 4 March 2024, the Pixies announced that Lenchantin had left "to concentrate on her own projects". In a statement to Rolling Stone, Lenchantin said that the choice was not hers and that her "departure [was] a bit of a surprise to [her] as it is to many".[8]
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