Photo: Will Fresch from San Diego, CA, United States / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Joey Santiago was born in Manila, Philippines on June 10, 1965. Joey Santiago is a guitarist and composer. The age as of 2026 is 61. Schooling on record includes Longmeadow High School and University of Massachusetts Amherst.
My Take
To me, Joey Santiago is one of rock's most underrated architects. As the Pixies' lead guitarist, he traded conventional riffs for dissonant, almost surgical lines that gave the band its uneasy, electrifying tension. That sound rippled outward and arguably shaped the entire alternative explosion of the 1990s. What I admire most is his refusal to chase the spotlight; he let the guitar do the talking, then quietly moved into film scoring after the breakup. Born in Manila and raised partly in Massachusetts, he carries a quiet, cross-cultural versatility. He is the kind of behind-the-scenes craftsman I always want to celebrate.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Joey Santiago
- Name (Japanese)
- ジョーイ・サンティアゴ
- Reading
- じょーい・さんてぃあご
- Born
- June 10, 1965 (age 61)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Snake
- Origin
- Manila, Philippines
- Occupation
- guitarist / composer
2. Background
- High school
- Longmeadow High School
- University
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Joey Santiago born?
Born June 10, 1965 (age 61).
Where is Joey Santiago from?
Joey Santiago is from Manila, Philippines.
What does Joey Santiago do?
Joey Santiago works as guitarist, composer.
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