Without formally acknowledging the departure of Kim Shattuck following the band’s fall European tour, the Pixies this morning announced her replacement for shows in North America, Europe and South America next year: Paz Lenchantin, who played in A Perfect Circle and Billy Corgan’s brief post-Smashing Pumpkins outfit Zwan.

Over the past few weeks, the members of the Pixies — Black Francis, Joey Santiago, David Lovering and new bassist Kim Shattuck — have been treating fans to photos and video through a collection of new Twitter, Vine and Instagram accounts named “The Actual Pixies.”

The Pixies today followed up last week’s free release of a surprise new track with more revelations, namely that the band is about to embark on a “massive global tour” to debut material off its follow-up to 1991’s Trompe le Monde with The Muffs frontwoman Kim Shattuck replacing the departed Kim Deal.

Two weeks after announcing the departure of bassist Kim Deal, the Pixies this morning surprised fans with the release of “Bagboy,” the band’s first new song since 2004 and one that sounds like may feature the backing vocals of the group’s now-former bassist. But it doesn’t.

The Pixies this morning announced that bassist Kim Deal — who has spent much of this year touring with the reunited Last Splash-era lineup of The Breeders — has left the band , and, in a statement attributed to Black Francis, Joey Santiago and David Lovering, say “we will always consider her a member of the Pixies.”

Today’s roundup of interesting web nuggets includes two members of the Pixies discussing a new album, the 30th anniversary of ‘Dance Craze,’ a new streaming song from Nick Lowe’s ‘Labour of Lust’ album and a word from Soundgarden.