Born on 27 May: Siouxsie Sioux (Banshees), high priestess of English new wave

Born in 1957, the English civil registry still knows her as Susan Janet Ballion, but for the rest of the world, Siouxsie Sioux is her only name.

She founded the Banshees in 1977 with Steve Severin and instantly became the somewhat gothic high priestess of the English punk movement. Musically, the group quickly evolved towards a more adventurous new wave, which became almost mystical when Siouxsie and drummer Budgie recorded "Anima Animus" in 1999 under the name The Creatures. The album features unusual percussion (aqua-marimba), the Japanese koto, more classical violins and electronic swirls. Astonishing!

In less than twenty years, with an open mind and a clear desire to explore new musical territory, the Banshees recorded some of new wave’s most iconic songs, such as "Hong Kong Garden" (their debut single in 1978), "The Staircase (Mystery)" in 1979, the winning trio "Israel"/"Happy House"/"Christine" in 1980, "Spellbound" in 1981, "Fireworks" and "Slowdive" in 1982, their cover of the Beatles’ "Dear Prudence" in 1983, "Swimming Horses" in 1984, "Cities In Dust" in 1985, and their cover of "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop in 1987, or "Peek-A-Boo" in 1988, marking an extraordinary decade for the London band. All these songs, which were often commercial hits, above all reflect a growing inventiveness and the use of unconventional instruments shunned by the new wave scene: violins and accordion, notably.

Subsequently, first with The Creatures and then solo, Siouxsie became ever more demanding, solely venturing down the challenging musical paths that suited her. That hasn’t stopped her from writing songs like "Here Comes That Day" in 2007. Listening, you can understand why the standard-bearers of English trip-hop from Tricky to Massive Attack have claimed her legacy or covered some of her compositions.

In May 2023, after a 15-year break from the stage, she returned to touring, starting at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels (Belgium), a venue especially loved by the Banshees. And there was no need for a new album to fill the halls. Let’s hope she doesn’t disappear from the radar for too long...

Anecdote:

In a snub to Christmas songs—a tradition to which all Anglo-Saxon artists usually conform—the Banshees even covered, in approximate French, "Il est né le divin enfant" in 1982, on the B-side of the "Melt" 7-inch. It's well worth a listen!

(MH with Stéphane Soupart - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Siouxsie with the Banshees, for the programme Generation in Brussels (Belgium) in 1987