Guided By Voices isn't just considered one of the best indie bands, but one of the best bands of the last few decades.

Scoff all you want, but Spin named its 1994 record "Bee Thousand" among the best of the last 25 years, Amazon.com said it was the best indie rock album ever, and the Wall Street Journal said band leader Robert Pollard's "hooks have always ranked among rock's best."

The band has gone through several lineup changes and eventually broke up in 2004. Now, the "Bee Thousand"-era lineup of Guided By Voices is back to headline Saturday's Maha Music Festival at Aksarben Village.

Pollard will be joined by Tobin Sprout and Charles "Mitch" Mitchell on guitar, Greg Demos on bass and Kevin Fennel on drums to play classic Guided By Voices songs from the early '90s.

And shortly after Maha, they'll play Hopscotch Music Festival and disband again.

Before their last gigs, Sprout answered some of our questions about this incarnation of the band and what Guided By Voices has meant to him and others.

Q. How did the classic lineup get back together?

A. Matador Records asked us to headline their 20th anniversary show in Las Vegas last year, and they asked for this lineup, which was on the label. We figured if we're going to spend all that time rehearsing to get the songs back, we might as well do a tour.

Q. Were you surprised?

A. Yes, completely surprised. I was not expecting it and hadn't been in touch with some of the band members since 1996. When Bob asked me if I would be interested, I didn't even have to think about it.

Q. What have you been doing since leaving GBV in 1996?

A. I've made two albums with Robert Pollard as Airport 5, as well as several of my own albums and film scores. I've made my living as an artist and a writer/illustrator of children's books.

Q. Did you see later lineups of GBV perform? What do you see as different about this lineup than the later Guided By Voices?

A. Not to take anything away from the later lineups because there were some great musicians, but it just seems to me that this lineup became the face of the band, I guess.

Q. What have you enjoyed most about these reunion shows?

A. Being on stage with these guys and playing music. It's really a pleasure to be making music with Robert, Mitch, Kevin and Greg. Robert is an amazing songwriter.

Q. Any surprises?

A. I'm surprised at how many young people are in the crowd (along with the old timers). Most of them must have been in grade school when these albums originally came out.

Q. So, these shows are the reunited band's last. Why is that?

A. I don't want it to end, but I think we see this tour for what it is, a reunion tour. It's great that it's been really lucrative, but we all have careers and kids.

Q. "Bee Thousand" has been called one of the best records made in the last few decades. What do you think about that?

A. I think that speaks for itself, right? I'm flattered.

Q. What's your favorite GBV album?

A. "Vampire On Titus."

Q. What's your favorite GBV song you're ever written? What's your favorite Robert Pollard song?

A. Of my songs — "Mincer Ray." Of Robert's songs, I'd say "Subspace Biographies" from his second solo album.

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