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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSIOUXSIE and the BANSHEESUK post-punk punk band. Vocalist Siouxsie Sioux (b Susan Janet Dallion, 27 May '57, London) met bassist Steve Severin (aka Steve Havoc, b Steve Bailey, '55, London) at a Sex Pistols gig '75; with Billy Idol they were part of the infamous 'Bromley contingent' of Pistols fans. With Marco Pirroni (later with Adam Ant) and Sid Vicious (soon joined Pistols) they made an inauspicious debut at 100 Club Punk Festival '76 with 20-minute version of 'The Lord's Prayer', which incl. bits of 'Twist And Shout', 'Rebel, Rebel' and 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door'. Guitarist John McKay, Kenny Morris on drums, Severin and Sioux were the first proper Banshees lineup, with strong live following by the time they got a record deal; The Scream '78 incl. manic version of the Beatles' 'Helter-Skelter'; they were criticized for Nazi infatuation (lyric 'Too many Jews for my liking'; Siouxsie flaunted swastika), tried to atone with 'Israel' single '80, but stigma remained. Join Hands '79 incl. abbreviated 'Lord's Prayer'; on its release McKay and Morris quit, the Cure's Robert Smith was drafted in and Budgie (b Peter Clarke, 21 Aug. '57, St Helens, Lancs, formerly with Big in Japan) joined on drums. Kaleidoscope '80 incl. minor hits 'Christine' and 'Happy House'; Smith went back to Cure; ex-Magazine John McGeoch (b '55, Greenock, Scotland) joined on guitar. JuJu '81 saw them descend into their own psychedelic maelstrom; Once Upon A Time: The Singles '81 was premature best-of. A Kiss In The Dreamhouse '82 was McGeoch's last; he was sacked and went to work with Public Image Ltd; Smith came back. Siouxsie and Budgie married and branched off as the Creatures, whose Feast '83 incl. hit singles 'Right Now' and 'Miss The Girl'; Severin and Smith as the Glove released Blue Sunshine '83. Two-disc live Nocturne '83 was a success, but Hyaena '84 was so dismal that Smith quit; Tinderbox '86 delighted fans, but their gloomy gothic rock now seemed less relevant. They were the first UK group to visit Argentina after the Falklands War. Through The Looking Glass '87 incl. covers of hits by Tom Verlaine, Iggy Pop, the Doors, Roxy Music, but they came seriously unstuck on Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit'; cover of Bob Dylan's 'This Wheel's On Fire' issued on a single. Peepshow '88 and Superstition '91 were better, and then they grew up: with The Rapture '95 (five tracks prod. by John Cale) her voice had matured, the band was tight and the mood escapist, with just a touch of the old gothic. |