Even before gothic rock and grrls entered the popular lexicon, there was Siouxsie and the Banshees. Siouxsie Sioux (b. Susan Ballion) was a member of the early Sex Pistols fanbase known as the Bromley Contingent. Siouxsie and the Banshees made their debut in 1976 with a band that included a pre-Sex Pistols Sid Vicious on drums and pre-Adam & the Ants Marco Pirroni on guitar. The band’s early singles and albums were solid examples of first-generation punk highlighted by Sioux’s often disturbing gothic affectations. Beginning with 1980’s Kaleidoscope, the Banshees (which now featured original members Sioux and Steve Severin plus drummer Budgie and guitarist John McGeoch) began to incorporate psychedelic themes while retaining punk’s abrasive energy, demonstrated to fine effect on Juju (1981) and A Kiss In The Dreamhouse (1982).
Sioux, Severin and Budgie soldiered on through the rest of the 80s with various guitarists (including The Cure’s Robert Smith), and even managed to crack the US Top 100 with Tinderbox (1986). In 1991, the band had their biggest US hit with the single, “Kiss Them For Me.” Sioux and Budgie, who had formed the offshoot Creatures in 1983, also got married that year (they would divorce in 2007). The legacy of Siouxsie and the Banshees is shared with likeminded acts The Cure and Echo & The Bunnymen, who merged punk, glam and psychedelia to create urgent (originally) and beautifully brooding (later) songs that weren’t soon forgotten. Always more appreciated in their native UK, the Banshees nonetheless inspire fierce loyalty among their international fan base and are frequently cited as influential by the 80s alternative rockers who followed them.
The Discography
Hong Kong Garden (1978)
b/w Voices. Originally released on August 18, 1978 on 7-inch in the UK (Polydor) and in Japan (Polydor, DPQ-6115); reached #7 on the UK charts. Released on November 1978 on 7-inch in the US (Polydor) with a different B side (“Overground”).
THE SCREAM (1978)
Pure / Jigsaw Feeling / Overground / Carcass / Helter Skelter / Mirage / Metal Postcard / Nicotine Stain / Suburban Relapse / Switch. Originally released on November 13, 1978 on elpee in the UK (Polydor); reached #12 on the UK charts. Re-released on digitally remastered CD with two bonus tracks (“Hong Kong Garden,” “The Staircase (Mystery)”) in 2007 in the UK (Universal, 9843511).
The Staircase (Mystery) (1979)
b/w 20th Century Boy. Released on March 23, 1979 on 7-inch in the UK (Polydor); reached #24 on the UK charts.
Playground Twist (1979)
b/w Pulled To Bits. Released on July 28, 1979 on 7-inch in the UK (Polydor); reached #28 on the UK charts.
JOIN HANDS (1979)
Poppy Day / Regal Zone / Placebo Effect / Icon / Premature Burial / Playground Twist / Mother – Oh Mein Papa / The Lord’s Prayer. Originally released on September 7, 1979 on elpee in the UK (Polydor) and in Japan (Polydor, MPF-1267); reached #13 on the UK charts. Re-released on digitally remastered CD with two bonus tracks (“Love in a Void (single version),” “Infantry”) in 2007 in the UK (Universal, 9840726).
Mittageisen (Metal Postcard) (1979)
b/w Love in a Void. Released on September 1979 on 7-inch in the UK (Polydor, 2059 151); reached #47 on the UK charts.
Happy House (1980)
b/w Drop Dead – Celebration. Released on March 7, 1980 on 7-inch in the UK (Polydor) and in Japan (Polydor, DPQ-6187); reached #17 on the UK charts.
Christine (1980)
b/w Eve White Eve Black. Released on May 30, 1980 on 7-inch in the UK (Polydor, 2059 249); reached #24 on the UK charts.
KALEIDOSCOPE (1980)
Happy House / Tenant / Trophy / Hybrid / Lunar Camel / Christine / Desert Kisses / Red Light / Paradise Place / Skin. Originally released on August 1, 1980 on elpee in the UK (Polydor); reached #5 on the UK charts.
Israel (1980)
b/w Red Over White. Released on November 28, 1980 on 7-inch in the UK (Polydor); reached #41 on the UK charts.
Spellbound (1981)
b/w Follow The Sun + Spellbound (extended version), Slap Dash Snap. Released on May 22, 1981 on 7-inch and 12-inch in the UK (Polydor, POSPX-723); reached #22 on the UK charts.
JUJU (1981)
Spellbound / Into the Light / Arabian Knights / Halloween / Monitor / Night Shift / Sin In My Heart / Head Cut / Voodoo Dolly. Originally released on June 6, 1981 on elpee and cassette in the UK (Polydor, POLS-1034), in the US (PVC, PVC/PVCC-8903), in Canada (Polydor, PDS-1-6311) and in Germany (Polydor, 2383 610); reached #7 on the UK charts. Re-released on CD on August 25, 1992 in the US (Geffen, GEFD-24050). Re-released on digitally remastered CD with three bonus tracks (“Spellbound (12-inch mix), “Arabian Knights (12-inch vocoder mix),” “Fireworks (12-inch nigel gray mix) in 2006 in Japan (Polydor, UICY-93059) and on January 25, 2007 in the UK (Universal, 9843512).
Arabian Knights (1981)
b/w Supernatural Thing + Conga Conga, Slap Dash Snap. Released on July 24, 1981 on 7-inch in the UK (Polydor) and on 12-inch in the US (PVC, PVC-9402); reached #32 on the UK charts.
ONCE UPON A TIME/THE SINGLES (1981)
Hong Kong Garden / Mirage / The Staircase (Mystery) / Playground Twist / Love in a Void // Happy House / Christine / Israel / Spellbound / Arabian Knights. Originally released on December 1981 on elpee in the UK, US, Brazil, France, Germany and Japan; reached #21 on the UK charts. Re-released on CD on March 1989 in the UK and in 1991 in Japan.
Fireworks (1982)
b/w Coal Mind. Released on May 21, 1982 on 7-inch in the UK (Polydor, POSP-450); reached #22 on the UK charts.
Slowdive (1982)
b/w Cannibal Roses + Obsession II. Released on October 4, 1982 on 7-inch and 12-inch in the UK (Polydor, POSPX-510); reached #41 on the UK charts.
A KISS IN THE DREAMHOUSE (1982)
Cascade / Green Fingers / Obsession / She’s A Carnival / Circle / Melt! / Painted Bird / Cocoon / Slowdive. Originally released on November 5, 1982 on elpee in the UK (Polydor); reached #11 on the UK charts. Re-released on digitally remastered CD with four bonus tracks [“Fireworks (12-inch version),” “Slowdive (12-inch version),” Painted Bird (workhouse demo),” “Cascade (workhouse demo)”] on 2009 in the UK (Polydor, 5314896).
Melt! (1982)
b/w Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant + A Sleeping Rain. Released on November 26, 1982 on 7-inch and 12-inch in the UK (Polydor, POSPX-539); reached #49 on the UK charts.
Dear Prudence (1983)
b/w Tattoo + Dazzle. Released on September 23, 1983 on 7-inch in the UK (Polydor, SHE-4) and in 1984 on 7-inch and promotional 12-inch in the US (Geffen, 7-29358/PRO-A-2114); reached #3 on the UK charts.
NOCTURNE (1983)
Intro-The Rite of Spring / Israel / Dear Prudence / Paradise Place / Melt! / Cascade / Pulled To Bits / Night Shift / Sin In My Heart / Slowdive / Painted Bird / Happy House / Switch / Spellbound / Helter Skelter / Eve White Eve Black / Voodoo Dolly. Originally released on double elpee in the UK (Polydor, SHAH-1); reached #29 on the UK charts. Re-released on digitally remastered CD in 2009 in the UK (Polydor, 5314894).
Swimming Horses (1984)
b/w Let Go. Released on March 16, 1984 on 7-inch in the UK (Wonderland, SHE-6); reached #28 on the UK charts.
Dazzle (1984)
b/w I Promise. Released on May 25, 1984 on 7-inch in the UK (Wonderland); reached #33 on the UK charts.
HYAENA (1984)
Dazzle / We Hunger / Take Me Back / Belladonna / Swimming Horses / Bring Me the Head of the Preacher Man / Running Town / Pointing Bone / Blow The House Down. Originally released on June 8, 1984 on elpee in the UK (Polydor, SHELP-1) and in Japan (Polydor, 28MM-0368); reached #15 on the UK charts and #157 on the US charts. Re-released on digitally remastered CD with four bonus tracks in 2009 in the UK (Polydor, 5314895).
THE THORN EP (1984)
Overground / Voices / Placebo Effect / Red Over White. Released on October 19, 1984 on EP in the UK (Wonderland, SHEEP-8) and in Germany (Polydor, 881 396-1); reached #47 on the UK charts.
Cities In Dust (1985)
b/w An Execution + Cities In Dust (extended eruption mix), Quarterdrawing of the Dog. Released on October 18, 1985 on 7-inch and 12-inch in the UK (Polydor, SHE/SHEX-9); reached #21 on the UK charts.
Candyman (1986)
b/w Lullaby + Umbrella. Released on February 28, 1986 on 7-inch and 12-inch in the UK (Polydor, SHEX-10); reached #34 on the UK charts.
TINDERBOX (1986)
Candyman / The Sweetest Chill / This Unrest / Cities In Dust / Cannons / Partys Fall / 92° / Lands End. Originally released on April 21, 1986 on elpee in the UK (Wonderland), in the US (Geffen), in Germany (Wonderland, 829 145-1) and in Japan (Polydor, 28MM-0493); reached #13 on the UK charts and #88 on the US charts.
This Wheel’s On Fire (1987)
b/w Shooting Sun + Sleepwalking (On The High Wire), She Cracked, This Wheel’s On Fire (incendiary mix). Released on January 9, 1987 on 7-inch, double 7-inch and 12-inch in the UK (Polydor/Wonderland, SHEG/SHEX-11) and in the US (Geffen PRO-A-2648/0-20609); reached #14 on the UK charts.
THE PEEL SESSIONS EP (1987)
Love In A Void / Mirage / Suburban Relapse / Metal Postcard. Released on February 1987 on EP in the UK (Strange Fruit).
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS (1987)
Hall of Mirrors / Trust In Me / This Wheel’s On Fire / Strange Fruit / This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us / You’re Lost Little Girl / The Passenger / Gun / Sea Breezes / Little Johnny Jewel. Originally released on March 2, 1987 on elpee in the UK (Wonderland, SHELP-4) and in Japan (Polydor, 28MM-0558); reached #15 on the UK charts and #188 on the US charts.
The Passenger (1987)
b/w She’s Cuckoo. Released on March 20, 1987 on 7-inch in the UK (Polydor, SHEG-12); reached #41 on the UK charts.
Song From The Edge of the World (1987)
b/w The Whole Price of Blood + Song From The Edge of the World (columbus mix), Mechanical Eyes. Released on July 1987 on 7-inch and 12-inch in the UK (Polydor/Wonderland, SHEP/SHEX-13) and in the US (Geffen, 0-20792); reached #59 on the UK charts.
Peek-A-Boo (1988)
b/w False Face + Catwalk, Peek-A-Boo (big spender mix), Peek-A-Boo (silver dollar mix), Peek-A-Boo (stockhausen & waterphone mix). Released on July 11, 1988 on 7-inch, 12-inch and CD single in the UK (Polydor, SHE/SHEG/SHEX/SHEXR/SHECD-14) and in the US (Geffen, PRO-A-3195/20977); reached #16 on the UK charts and #53 on the US charts.
PEEPSHOW (1988)
Peek-A-Boo / Killing Jar / Scarecrow / Carousel / Burn-Up / Ornaments of Gold / Turn To Stone / Rawhead And Bloodybones / The Last Beat of My Heart / Rhapsody. Originally released on September 5, 1988 on elpee in the UK (Wonderland), in the US (Geffen) and in Japan (Polydor P32P-20197); reached #20 on the UK charts and #68 on the US charts.
The Killing Jar (1988)
b/w Something Wicked (This Way Comes) + Are You Still Dying Darling?, The Killing Jar (lepidopeteristic mix). Released on September 23, 1988 on 7-inch, 12-inch and CD single in the UK (SHEG/SHEX/SHECD-15); reached #41 on the UK charts.
The Last Beat of My Heart (1988)
b/w El Dia de los Muertos + Sunless. Released on November 1988 on 7-inch and 12-inch in the UK (Polydor/Wonderland, SHEX/SHEXG-16); reached #44 on the UK charts.
THE PEEL SESSIONS EP (1989)
Hong Kong Garden / Carcass / Helter Skelter / Overground. Released on February 1989 on EP in the UK (Strange Fruit).
Kiss Them For Me (1991)
b/w Return + Kiss Them For Me (kathak mix), Kiss Them For Me (loveappella mix), kiss them for me (ambient mix), Kiss The For Me (snapper mix), Staring Back. Released on May 13, 1991 on 7-inch, 12-inch and CD single in the UK (Polydor/Wonderland, SHE/SHEX/SHEXR-19) and in the US (Geffen, GEF12-21653/PRO-A-4281/GEFDS-21650); reached #32 on the UK charts and #23 on the US charts.
SUPERSTITION (1991)
Kiss Them For Me / Fear (of the Unknown) / Cry / Drifter / Little Sister / Shadowtime / Silly Thing / Got To Get Up / Silver Waterfalls / Softly / The Ghost In You. Released on June 10, 1991 on elpee in the UK (Wonderland) and in the US (Geffen); reached #25 on the UK charts and #65 on the US charts.
Shadowtime (1991)
b/w Spiral Twist. Released on July 8, 1991 on 7-inch in the UK (Polydor, SHE-20); reached #57 on the UK charts.
Fear (of the Unknown) (1991)
b/w Fear (of the Unknown) (urban dub) + Fear (of the Unknown) (urban fear extended), Fear (of the Unknown) (house of fear extended), Fear (of the Unknown) (dub of fear), Fear (of the Unknown) (CHR with twist extended), Fear (of the Unknown) (vertigo mix). Released on November 26, 1991 on 12-inch and CD single in the US (Geffen, PRO-CD-4306/PRO-A-4361/PRO-CD-4345).
Face To Face (1992)
b/w I Could Be Again. Released July 13, 1992 on 7-inch in the UK (Wonderland); reached #21 on the UK charts.
TWICE UPON A TIME – THE SINGLES (1992)
Fireworks / Slowdive / Melt! / Dear Prudence / Swimming Horses / Dazzle / Overground (live) / Cities In Dust / Candyman / This Wheel’s On Fire / The Passenger / Peek-A-Boo / The Killing Jar / The Last Beat of My Heart / Kiss Them For Me / Shadowtime / Fear (of the Unknown) / Face To Face. Originally released on October 5, 1992 on CD in the UK (Wonderland); reached #26 on the UK charts.
O Baby (1994)
b/w Ourselves. Released on December 28, 1994 on cassette single in the UK (Wonderland), reached #34 on the UK charts.
SELECTIONS FROM THE FORTHCOMING ALBUM THE RAPTURE EP (1994)
Stargazer / O Baby / The Double Life / Tearing Apart. Released on 1994 on promotional CD EP in the US (Geffen, PRO-CD-4710).
THE RAPTURE (1995)
O Baby / Tearing Apart / Stargazer / Fall From Grace / Not Forgotten / Sick Child / The Lonely One / Falling Down / Forever / The Rapture / The Double Life / Love Out Me. Originally released on January 16, 1995 on elpee and CD in the UK (Wonderland) and in the US (Geffen, GEF-24630); reached #33 on the UK charts and #127 on the US charts. Re-released in 1997 on CD in Japan (Polydor, POCP-7007).
Stargazer (1995)
b/w Hang Me High. Released on February 6, 1995 on 7-inch in the UK (Wonderland); reached #64 on the UK charts.
THE BEST OF SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES (2002)
Dear Prudence / Hong Kong Garden / Cities In Dust / Peek-A-Boo / Happy House / Kiss Them For Me / Face To Face / Dizzy / Israel / Christine / Spellbound / Stargazer / Arabian Knights / The Killing Jar / This Wheel’s On Fire. Released on November 12, 2002 on CD in the UK (Polydor).
Dizzy (version 1) (2002)
Released in 2002 on limited-edition promotional CD single in the UK (Wonderland, DIZZY-1).
THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH (2003)
Pure / Jigsaw Feeling / Metal Postcard (Mittageisen) / Red Light / Lullaby / Lands End / I Could Be Again / Icon / Night Shift / Voodoo Dolly / Trust In Me / Blue Jay Way / Monitor / Peek-A-Boo. Released on June 2003 on CD in the UK (Sanctuary).
DOWNSIDE UP (2004)
Released on November 29, 2004 on boxed 4-cd set (Universal).
GOLD (2005)
Dear Prudence / Hong Kong Garden / Cities In Dust / Peek-A-Boo / Happy House / Kiss Them For Me / Face To Face / Dizzy / Israel / Christine / Spellbound / Stargazer / Arabian Knights / The Killing Jar (single version) / This Wheel’s On Fire // Spellbound (12” Mix) / Song From The Edge of the World (columbus mix) / Kiss Them For Me (kathak extended mix) / Peek-A-Boo (silver dollar mix edit) / The Killing Jar (lepidopteristic mix) / Cities In Dust (extended version) / Dazzle (glamour mix) / Stargazer (mambo sun mix) / Face To Face (catatonic mix). Released on 2005 on double CD in Australia (Universal, 9832578).
VOICES ON THE AIR: THE PEEL SESSIONS (2006)
Love In A Void / Mirage / Metal Postcard / Suburban Relapse / Hong Kong Garden / Overground / Carcass / Helter Skelter / Placebo Effect / Playground Twist / Regal Zone / Poppy Day / Halloween / Voodoo Dolly / But Not Them / Into The Light / Candyman / Cannons / Lands End. Released on October 23, 2006 in the US (Universal).
Into A Swan (2007)
b/w Swansway. Released on September 3, 2007 on 7-inch and promotional CD single in the UK (W14 Records, SIOUXSIE-02/1742053/1742054) and in the US (Decca, UCGR-001470-2); reached #59 on the UK charts.
MANTARAY (2007)
Into A Swan / About To Happen / Here Comes That Day / Loveless / If It Doesn’t Kill You / One Mile Below / Drone Zone / Sea of Tranquility / They Follow You / Heaven And Alchemy. Released on September 10, 2007 on elpee and CD in the UK (W14 Records, 1739955) and in the US (Universal, B-001025031); reached #39 on the UK charts.
Here Comes That Day (2007)
b/w Here Comes That Day (instrumental) + Here Comes That Day (freelance hellraiser fuzzy kerbox mix), Here Comes That Day (e&j remix). Released on October 29, 2007 on 7-inch and 12-inch in the UK (W14 Records, 1747735/1750560); reached #103 on the UK charts.
About To Happen (2008)
b/w If It Doesn’t Kill You (live). Released on March 10, 2008 on 7-inch and promotional CD single in the UK (W14 Records, SIOUXSIE-004/1757222); reached #154 on the UK charts.
