Siouxsie & The Banshees

[edit] Career Overview

Punk/goth four piece formed in 1976: Siouxsie Sioux (nee Susan Ballion) (vocals) and Steve Severin (bass) were the constant members of an aggregation that in its best-remembered line-up included John McKay (guitar) and Kenny Morris (drums). Siouxsie had been one of the hangers-on present during the Sex Pistols interview with Bill Grundy. The Banshees changed musical direction in the early 80s after recruiting Budgie (drums) and one guitarist was the Cure's Robert Smith. Siouxsie's spiky hairdo and black make-up fixed the image of what a gothic band should be years ahead of its time, and album and single releases proved equally successful.
John Peel was instrumental in kick-starting their career after John Walters had seen them supported by the Fall at the Greyhound in Croydon. He gave them a session prior to their even having a contract, played their debut release, Hong Kong Garden, at the top of his show every night for a week, and shamelessly plugged their first two LPs. Inevitably, he tired of their material, stating a clear dislike for their cover of the Beatles' Dear Prudence, and said on Peeling Back The Years in 1987 that 'the stuff the Banshees do now doesn't please me as much as the first things they did...I think the Banshees have become, not exactly predictable, but at the same time, you've got a pretty good idea of what it's going to sound like.'
Siouxsie sat in as guest presenter on the Peel show on 20 October 2004, when Peel was on holiday in Peru.

1. Love In A Void / Mirage / Metal / Suburban Relapse

2. Hong Kong Garden / Overground / Carcass / Helter Skelter

3. Placebo Effect / Playground Twist / Regal Zone / Poppy Day

Recorded 1979-04-09. First broadcast 16 April 1979. Repeated 02 July 1979.

4. Halloween / Voodoo Doll / But Not Them / Into The Light

Recorded 1981-02-10. First broadcast 18 February 1981. Repeated 09 March 1981, 21 April 1981.

5. Candy Man / Cannons / Lands End

'Metal Postcard (7 inch)' (Polydor). FF 1978 #50.
'Jigsaw Feeling (LP-The Scream)' (Polydor). FF 1978 #43, 1979 #42, 1980 #37, 1981 #35, All-Time 1982 #39.
'Mirage (LP-The Scream)' (Polydor). FF 1978 #42.
'Switch (LP-The Scream)' (Polydor). FF 1978 #41, 1979 #38, 1980 #44, 1981 #49, All-Time 1982 #42.
'Overground (LP-The Scream)' (Polydor). FF 1978 #38.
'Helter Skelter (LP-The Scream)' (Polydor). FF 1978 #34, 1979 #46.
'Hong Kong Garden (7 inch)' (Polydor). FF 1978 #22, 1979 #48, 1980 #47, All-Time 1982 #46.

'Hong Kong Gaden' performed live on 'Revolver' in 1978
'Playground Twist (LP-Join Hands)' (Polydor). FF 1979 #44.
'Icon (LP-Join Hands)' (Polydor). FF 1979 #35, 1980 #45, 1981 #40, All-Time 1982 #45.
'Love In A Void (7 inch)' (Polydor). FF 1979 #21, 1980 #51.
'Israel (7 inch)' (Polydor). FF 1981 #37, All-Time 1982 #15.
'Melt (12 inch)' (Polydor). FF 1982 #49.
'Slowdive (12 inch)' (Polydor). FF 1982 #23.
'Fireworks (7 inch)' (Polydor). FF 1982 #16.
'Dear Prudence (7 inch)' (Wonderland). FF 1983 #20.

1978

1979

07 March 1979: Jigsaw Feeling (LP - The Scream) Polydor
11 June 1979: Love In A Void (German single) Polydor
12 June 1979: Mittageisen (single) Polydor
18 June 1979: Playground Twist (single) Polydor
27 June 1979: Playground Twist (single) Polydor
28 June 1979: Playground Twist (single) Polydor
19 July 1979: Love In A Void (German single) Polydor
29 August 1979: Poppy Day / Regal Zone / Placebo Effect Icon / Premature Burial / Playground Twist / Mother – Oh Mein Papa / The Lord’s Prayer (LP - Join Hands) (Whole of the band's second album was played during the show)
11 September 1979: Premature Burial (LP - Join Hands) Polydor

1980

1981

1983

1986

1988

1991

Create a new article Upload a new image
Recent changes Help	Random page Special pages Recent changes Random page