Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 April 11

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Today's featured article
Black Francis (born 1965) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career. After releasing two albums with 4AD, he left the label and formed a backing band, Frank Black and the Catholics. He reformed the Pixies in 2004 and continues to release solo records and tour as a solo artist. His vocal style has varied from a screaming, yowling delivery as lead vocalist of the Pixies to a more measured and melodical style in his solo career. His cryptic lyrics mostly explore unconventional subjects, such as surrealism, incest and biblical violence, along with science fiction and surf culture. His use of atypical meter signatures, loud–quiet dynamics and distinct preference for live-to-two-track recording in his career as a solo artist give him a distinct style within alternative rock. As frontman of the Pixies, his songs (such as "Where Is My Mind?" and "Debaser") received praise and citations from contemporaries, including Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. Cobain once said that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was his attempt at trying to "rip off the Pixies". However, in his solo work and records with the Catholics, he received fewer popular and critical accolades. (more...) Recently featured: Sideshow Bob – Battle of Vimy Ridge – Biddenden Maids Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that on the southern slopes of Maja e Thatë (pictured) lies the Cave of Haxhia, a Nature Monument of Albania, explored by Polish speleologists? ... that Henry Hallowell Farquhar, the leading scorer on the first Michigan Wolverines basketball team in 1909, became a professor at Harvard Business School? ... that The Who's bassist John Entwistle kept skeletons in the bedroom of his Victorian mansion Quarwood to frighten guests? ... that British World War II fighter ace Noel Agazarian was rejected by Trinity College, Oxford, allegedly because its President objected to his ethnicity? ... that Polish writer Łukasz Orbitowski was one of the pioneers of setting horror stories in mundane, modern Polish cities? ... that the composite hull of the Beacon-class gunvessels was described by Admiral G. A. Ballard as built "along the lines of an extremely elongated packing crate"? ... that Manuel Gálvez promoted Juan Manuel de Rosas as an archetype of Argentine values? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
American golfer Bubba Watson wins the Masters Tournament. Joyce Banda is sworn in as the President of Malawi, following the death of Bingu wa Mutharika (pictured). An avalanche strikes a Pakistan Army base in Siachen, burying at least 135 people in snow. Mali's National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad claims military victory and declares the independence of the state of Azawad. Following an allegation of academic misconduct, Pál Schmitt resigns as President of Hungary. UTair Flight 120 crashes shortly after take-off from Roshchino International Airport, Tyumen, Russia, killing 32 people. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
April 11 1544 – Italian War of 1542–1546: French and Spanish forces fought a massive pitched battle in the Piedmont region of Italy. 1814 – The Treaty of Fontainebleau was signed, ending the War of the Sixth Coalition, and forcing Napoleon to abdicate as ruler of France and sending him into exile on Elba. 1908 – *Blücher* (pictured), the last armored cruiser built by the German Imperial Navy, was launched. 1921 – Emir Abdullah established the first centralized government in the recently created British protectorate of Transjordan. 1996 – While attempting to set a record as the youngest person to pilot an airplane across the United States, the aircraft flown by seven-year-old Jessica Dubroff crashed in Cheyenne, Wyoming, killing her and two others. More anniversaries: April 10 – April 11 – April 12 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now April 11, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A 1773 engraving showing the Greek legend of the Calydonian Boar, which was sent by Artemis to ravage the region of Calydon in Aetolia because its king failed to honor her in his rites to the gods. Many Olympian heroes took part in hunting the boar, and it was eventually killed by Meleager and Atalanta, as depicted here.

Engraving: François Louis Lonsing, after Giulio Romano; Restoration: Adam Cuerden

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