First it was Nirvana, now it’s Taylor Swift. Much like Kurt Cobain dealt with in the 90’s, now Taylor Swift is dealing with accusations of ripping off the Pixies. Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick recently opened up on a debate surrounding Taylor Swift and potential musical similarities to the Pixies.
Alex Skolnick talks about Taylor Swift
He shared his perspective in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The discussion started as a music fan suggested on social media that Swift’s song “Isn’t It Romantic” may owe royalties to the Pixies. The fan noted broad interpolation rules that Swift herself has legally enforced. Skolnick responded to this claim with a measured take.
“Not qualified to weigh in as I’m not familiar with the Pixies song nor a Swifty (though I appreciate her as a person and respect the band),” Skolnick said.
“However, fwiw, there are clear influences in her songs- some so obvious, she credits the artists, including George Michael and Right Said Fred.”
Not qualified to weigh in as I’m not familiar with the Pixies song nor a Swifty (though I appreciate her as a person and respect the band). However, fwiw, there are clear influences in her songs- some so obvious, she credits the artists, including George Michael & Right Said Fred
— Alex Skolnick (@AlexSkolnick) October 4, 2025
The guitarist’s comment acknowledges Taylor Swift’s history of crediting her musical influences while remaining neutral about any specific comparison to the Pixies. This debate highlights ongoing discussions regarding musical inspiration and interpolation in contemporary pop music.
The conversation seems to reference Swift’s recent song “Actually Romantic” from her 2025 album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl’. The track features a riff that evokes the style of the Pixies, particularly reminiscent of their iconic song “Where Is My Mind?” This suggests that Swift has incorporated musical elements inspired by the alternative rock band into her song.
Kurt Cobain stated he was ‘basically trying to rip off the Pixies’ when writing “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” yet there were not any specific song structure similarities.
