Siouxsie and the Banshees

[tango fistula]

One of the OG's and NEVER NEVER EVER mentioned when discussing 77 U.K. punk rock...

Never mentioned.

I'm sure the main reason is "they arent a punk band" and lo and behold there's that rigid definition
that separates the real music fan from the poseur.

They pass every test I have for punk music...creativity, hooks , sharp vision and iconoclastic.

Iconoclastic being a biggie as this band was the last holdout of the record company feeding frenzy...getting a full
creative control contract and percentages for very little sign-up advance. BRILLIANT move in 1978. The poor
CLASH never had that kinda foresight ....to Strummers chagrin

I think...like Velvet Underground(briefly) they have an unconventional female vocalist who
rubs men the entirely wrong way.

Yeah they put out some dreck....stay together 20 years with a group and you will too...I sure have!

Thoughts?

[WrEtcH]

one of my faves. kinda a bummer like SONIC YOUTH where Siouxsie & Budgie's divorced messed up their situation now (though Siouxsie has released a solo album.) it sucks we're talking about reissues instead of a new album and tour. otherwise, I love this band. to me their best was "juju." "tinderbox" was quite good and "superstition" was a good alternative album. the last tour for "seven year itch" was a great one where they finally revisited their older catalog and played their more darker material. it came at a great time when both BAUHAUS and THE SIISTERS both reunited (which was sorta a goth reunion trifecta.) I've seen the most recent tours dating back to "peepshow." I'd kill to see another gig like "seven year itch."

[Gary]

I never really bothered with them until a few years ago I picked up the first one and loved it,other than the odd tune here and there,I've not been into much else I've heard.

[version sound]

I've never really gotten into Siouxsie. I really loved Boomerang by The Creatures for some reason, though I never explored their other records.

[Welly]

I've never really gotten into Siouxsie. I really loved Boomerang by The Creatures for some reason, though I never explored their other records.

Check out... Once Upon a Time (singles) and Ju Ju.

If you like them, then pick up the first three... The Scream, Join Hands and Kaleidoscope.

[lewdd]

Doesn't Steve Jones play on Kaleidoscope?

[Welly]

Doesn't Steve Jones play on Kaleidoscope?

On a few.

[version sound]

I've never really gotten into Siouxsie. I really loved Boomerang by The Creatures for some reason, though I never explored their other records.

Check out... Once Upon a Time (singles) and Ju Ju.

If you like them, then pick up the first three... The Scream, Join Hands and Kaleidoscope.

I almost bought a used copy of Once Upon a Time a few weeks ago. I think my perception of Siousxsie was somewhat tainted by the "Kiss Them For Me" alterna-pop era, and that's the main reason I haven't really explored her catalog.

[lewdd]

To me, the band falls into the same group with the likes of The Primitives, Sugarcubes, etc. that were part of the MTV 120 Minutes genre.

[version sound]

To me, the band falls into the same group with the likes of The Primitives, Sugarcubes, etc. that were part of the MTV 120 Minutes genre.

Except I LOVED The Primitives and Sugarcubes and really didn't care for the 120 Minutes era Siousxie. She didn't have the pop chops of either.

[Welly]

You're both wrong, ha ha.

They became synonymous with eighties goth, hence largely overlooked by da punx, were also a top forty band, but were not an indie band in the vein of what you're talking about.

In fact, their later spacey-goth-pop stuff was with Robert Smith in the band.

Prior to this they featured John McGeogh of Magazine (amongst others).

So if anything, Banshees in the post-punk era fits in with the Cure, Sound, Magazine etc.

[version sound]

So if anything, Banshees in the post-punk era fits in with the Cure, Sound, Magazine etc.

Key phrase bolded. I'm talking about 1991. "Kiss Them For Me" sampled Schooly D., for Jah's sake. Not much classic post-punk about that.

[Welly]

So if anything, Banshees in the post-punk era fits in with the Cure, Sound, Magazine etc.

Key phrase bolded. I'm talking about 1991. "Kiss Them For Me" sampled Schooly D., for Jah's sake. Not much classic post-punk about that.

Well there WAS a cut-off point. This shit doesn't exist.

[Gary]

You're both wrong, ha ha.

They became synonymous with eighties goth, hence largely overlooked by da punx, were also a top forty band,

This,and everything they did after is why I overlooked the earlier stuff for so long.

[Welly]

You're both wrong, ha ha.

They became synonymous with eighties goth, hence largely overlooked by da punx, were also a top forty band,

This,and everything they did after is why I overlooked the earlier stuff for so long.

Yeah, I had a pal in school who was obsessed with them, so if anything I was over-exposed to all of the early stuff, but when there was DK, Black Flag, Hüsker Dü and MDC records to get into, shit like this just didn't matter.

[patient_ot]

Dig them quite a bit.

Haven't heard The Scream in years though, because I largely prefer the stuff afterwards where they added more melody and veered into post-punk territory.

Albums like JuJu, Hyaena, and Tinderbox are absolutely essential if you ask me. Kaleidoscope and A Kiss are a bit uneven but have a lot of great songs.

[lewdd]

when there was DK, Black Flag, Hüsker Dü and MDC records to get into, shit like this just didn't matter.

They were too soft for my tastes at that time too.

[earthdog70]

I dig them. Only saw them at Lollapalooza and I was under the influence of some questionable chemicals so I'd love to see them now

Looking forward to the upcoming re-issues, my collection only includes Peepshow at this point

[MJH]

When I was a kid I had Once Upon A Time and would regularly play that along with the DKs, Pistols and the rest - I genuinely liked the music, but it didn't hurt that the cute punk/goth girls liked them too...Violent Femmes and Dead Milkmen comes to mind also.

[JGJR]

one of my faves. kinda a bummer like SONIC YOUTH where Siouxsie & Budgie's divorced messed up their situation now (though Siouxsie has released a solo album.) it sucks we're talking about reissues instead of a new album and tour. otherwise, I love this band. to me their best was "juju." "tinderbox" was quite good and "superstition" was a good alternative album. the last tour for "seven year itch" was a great one where they finally revisited their older catalog and played their more darker material. it came at a great time when both BAUHAUS and THE SIISTERS both reunited (which was sorta a goth reunion trifecta.) I've seen the most recent tours dating back to "peepshow." I'd kill to see another gig like "seven year itch."

I love the Banshees. Juju and Hyaena are my favorites, but other than those, they were always better as a singles band to me. Once Upon a Time is such a great compilation. And of course they were a punk band early on. Sid Vicious was their original drummer and they were Bromley Contingent folks, FFS.

And I saw all of those reunion tours. The Bauhaus one was by far the best.

[JGJR]

I've never really gotten into Siouxsie. I really loved Boomerang by The Creatures for some reason, though I never explored their other records.

Given your tastes, I think you'd love them. I know of your love of The Slits' Cut (an album I love, too) and Budgie was their drummer from 1980 onwards.

[JGJR]

You're both wrong, ha ha.

They became synonymous with eighties goth, hence largely overlooked by da punx, were also a top forty band, but were not an indie band in the vein of what you're talking about.

In fact, their later spacey-goth-pop stuff was with Robert Smith in the band.

Prior to this they featured John McGeogh of Magazine (amongst others).

So if anything, Banshees in the post-punk era fits in with the Cure, Sound, Magazine etc.

All accurate except that Robert Smith was only in the band for the Nocturne live album and Hyaena (one of my favorites, like I said before), so this was 1984 or so before they got John Carruthers from Clock DVA and after McGeoch left. The McGeoch/Smith era is best IMO, though I dig the 1st few Lps as well.

[JGJR]

When I was a kid I had Once Upon A Time and would regularly play that along with the DKs, Pistols and the rest - I genuinely liked the music, but it didn't hurt that the cute punk/goth girls liked them too...Violent Femmes and Dead Milkmen comes to mind also.

Word. I just saw The Dead Milkmen play in a cemetery a few weeks ago. Great band.

[Welly]

All accurate except that Robert Smith was only in the band for the Nocturne live album and Hyaena (one of my favorites, like I said before)

I know, it's not a fucking exam.

[JGJR]

All accurate except that Robert Smith was only in the band for the Nocturne live album and Hyaena (one of my favorites, like I said before)

I know, it's not a fucking exam.

Yes it is. Red marks for you. Now try better next time.

[Welly]

All accurate except that Robert Smith was only in the band for the Nocturne live album and Hyaena (one of my favorites, like I said before)

I know, it's not a fucking exam.

Yes it is. Red marks for you. Now try better next time.

Harsh marking. Mofo.

[JGJR]

All accurate except that Robert Smith was only in the band for the Nocturne live album and Hyaena (one of my favorites, like I said before)

I know, it's not a fucking exam.

Yes it is. Red marks for you. Now try better next time.

Harsh marking. Mofo.

You try teaching college kids basic math (or maths as you all call it) that they should have learned in grade school and are uninterested in learning (I actually did this for a few years) and you'd be harsh with grading, too!

[Welly]

"The kid's right, but fuck it... 0/10"

[jason powell]

I love Siouxsie and the Banshees, I think they are criminally underrated. I always thought of them as post punk, I never even knew Sid Vicious had been in the band until the internet was invented. Like, I would put them in the same category as the Cure, because the early Cure was almost punkish minimalist power pop. But, I also always thought that Siouzsie and the Banshees had a heavier, punk edge to them, like their drums were faster and more tribal sounding to me in some songs, like "Spellbound", and I think that lumping them in with like the Cure and Bauhaus does them no credit. You need to be in the right mood to sort of "get" how good they were, I think. Like, listen to some Beach Boys for contrast, then notice how stripped down and energetic the Banshees sound in comparison. But, don't listen to Pornography or Bela Lugosis Dead or the Smiths, it will color your expectations because they aesthetically fit right in there, and they're much better appreciated on their own. I'd definitely recommend Juju and Tinderbox.

[WrEtcH]

I love the Banshees. Juju and Hyaena are my favorites, but other than those, they were always better as a singles band to me. Once Upon a Time is such a great compilation. And of course they were a punk band early on. Sid Vicious was their original drummer and they were Bromley Contingent folks, FFS.

And I saw all of those reunion tours. The Bauhaus one was by far the best.

I think they have those hidden gems that aren't singles or were on radio airplay. "Scarecrow" off "Peepshow" is a great tune that wouldn't make any greatest hits albums.