Return from hiatus makes indie band a different breed

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003 | 8:23 a.m.

The Breeders gave an answer in the affirmative last year in the form of "Title TK," the indie rockers' first disc since 1993, followed by the first full-on Breeders tour since 1995.

During the break many had questioned whether the band would ever release a follow-up to "Last Splash," the album that spawned MTV and college radio hit "Cannonball" a decade ago.

Guitarist Kelley Deal, however, says she always knew the band would get together again. After all, it's not hard for her to track down the Breeders' other senior member.

"She's my sister, so it's not like she can go anywhere. I know where she lives," Deal said in a recent phone interview from her Dayton, Ohio, home.

That sister is ex-Pixies bassist Kim Deal, Kelley's 41-year-old identical twin. That pair, along with new members Richard Presley, Mando Lopez and Jose Medeles, play the Huntridge Theatre Friday night at 6:30. Imperial Teen opens.

Originally founded as a side project for Kim Deal during her days with modern rock pioneers the Pixies, the Breeders released two albums and several EPs during the early 1990s. Since then, the exit of several musicians has derailed the band, as has Kelley's widely publicized battle with heroin addiction.

"It's something I really struggle with," she said. "If the sun is shining, I want to use."

Kelley Deal's first visit to a rehabilitation clinic -- ordered by the court after a 1995 drug-possession arrest -- resulted in nearly five drug-free years, she said.

Clean for the first time as an adult, Kelley formed her own band, the Kelley Deal 6000, releasing two albums under that moniker while her sister played in a side project of her own, the Amps.

"I needed to do that, and I also found out that I could do it (on my own)," Kelley said. "And that was amazing."

In late 1999 Kim Deal met Presley and Lopez -- formerly of punk outfit Fear -- in East Los Angeles and immediately hatched the idea for a new Breeders' lineup. But before the new group could finish its album or go back on tour, Kelley Deal relapsed, returning for more rehabilitation treatment.

"For a while, it was really easy for me to stay sober," Kelley said. "Part of that, I think, was I was with the Kelley Deal 6000, which wasn't a sober band by any means, but had sober people in the band.

"And then coming back (to the Breeders) and doing this ... I don't know why it was different, more difficult, but it was," she said, adding that as of the interview, she had put together 30 consecutive sober days.

The Breeders eventually completed work on "Title TK," releasing it to solid reviews and lukewarm sales last May. The album features the two sisters harmonizing on layered vocals on a series of typically offbeat numbers.

"I kind of knew that we were supposed to have pressure to do 'Cannonball 2,' but it's inconceivable to go in and do the same record," Kelley said. "I knew that the people who only knew us from 'Cannonball' were probably going to be disappointed and the people who knew our other stuff were going to like what we did."

The band returned to the road with a U.S. tour last year, and will head to New Zealand, Australia and Japan after three warmup shows in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Diego this week.

The Breeders' comeback has also included a guest spot on TV serial "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," a dream come true for one fan of the show.

"It was great. I got to meet Willow and Dander and Dawn," Kelley said. "I only know the characters' names, and I like it that way. I don't want to think that they're actually people."

In June the Breeders will play the annual All Tomorrow's Parties indie rock festival in Los Angeles. And, Kelley Deal said the Breeders have been asked to curate the 2004 event, giving them the opportunity of selecting the roster of bands.

One possibility? How about a certain band that hasn't played together in more than 10 years?

"We get to choose the bands, so maybe I'll try to choose the Pixies," Kelley said with humor in her voice. "(I'll tell Kim), 'OK, I need the Pixies to reunite and do a show for us please.' "