Pixies are excellent...Sonic Youth is pretty good, too. Both did have quite an influence on Nirvana - they signed to their record label basically due to Sonic Youth being on the label as well.Two of the best and most influential bands to come out of the '80's: The Pixies and Sonic Youth. Neither had the success they deserved and didn't get a lot of radio play but they influenced many bands, including Nirvana and David Bowie.