History Music / SiouxsieAndTheBanshees

* BiTheWay: Siouxsie, though she doesn't identify herself under a particular sexuality.
-->"There are guys I have sex with, and there are girls I have sex with, and I don't feel the need to label anything."

** ''Kaleidoscope'' has a much more eclectic and textural sound due to the addition of John [=McGeoch=] and Budgie as guitarist and drummer/percussionist, and also dabbles in slight psychedelia and electronic elements (both of which were to crop up again to a much larger extent on later albums.

** ''Hyaena'' continues with the ArtRock and PsychedelicRock mix, but has a slightly different take on it due to the departure of John [=McGeoch=] and the arrival of [[Music/TheCure Robert Smith]] as guitarist, resulting in a more melodic and pop-influenced sound. At the same time, the album is even more experimental than its predecessor.

** ''Juju'' is much DarkerAndEdgier and more chaotic than ''Kaleidoscope'' and even dabbles in ArtRock.
** ''A Kiss In The Dreamhouse'' turns up the ArtRock even further in addition to diving headlong into PsychedelicRock.

** ''Hyaena'' continues with the ArtRock/PsychedelicRock mix, but has a slightly different take on it due to the departure of John [=McGeoch=] and the arrival of [[Music/TheCure Robert Smith]] as guitarist, resulting in a more melodic and pop-influenced sound. At the same time, the album is even more experimental than its predecessor.

* NewSoundAlbum: ''Kaleidoscope'', which had a much more textural and eclectic sound due to the addition of Budgie and John McGeoch in comparison to the much more minimal ''Join Hands'' and ''The Scream''.

* SophomoreSlump: ''Join Hands'' has this reputation, coming after their acclaimed debut and just before the popular NewSoundAlbum ''Kaleidoscope'', and gets overshadowed by both as a result. It doesn't help that it's generally considered their weakest album due to a second side that is nearly entirely full of {{Filler}} and failed experiments.

* LeadBassist[=/=]LeadDrummer: One of the more impressive things about the band is that their music tends to be rhythmically livelier and more interesting than that of their English post-punk peers; this is perhaps on account of having in Severin and Budgie one of the stablest rhythm sections in the history of music.

* ScaryScarecrows: "[[CaptainObvious Scarecrow]]." Differs from most examples in that the lyrics have a vaguely sexual subtext.

* ContraltoOfDanger: Siouxsie has a deeper-than-average voice.
* CoverAlbum: ''Through the Looking Glass''. Includes covers of Music/{{Sparks}}, Music/{{Kraftwerk}}, Music/TheDoors, Music/IggyPop, Music/RoxyMusic, and Music/{{Television}}.

* '''[[Music/TheSexPistols Sid Vicious]]: Drums (1976, died 1979)

Siouxsie and the Banshees were a [[UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} British]] rock band ([[NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly for a given definition of "rock," anyway]]) formed in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux (born Susan Ballion) and bassist Steven [[ShoutOut Sev]][[Music/VelvetUnderground erin]] (born Steven John Bailey). While their roots were very much in the PunkRock scene (the impromptu gig that led to the band's formation featured [[Music/SexPistols Sid Vicious]] on drums) they quickly branched out and began to employ a wide variety of instruments and musical styles. The band's core lineup was rounded out in 1979 by drummer Budgie (born Peter Edward Clarke). Temporary guitarists included Music/{{Magazine}}'s John [=Mc=]Geoch and Music/TheCure's Robert Smith. The band broke up in 1996.

* GothRock: TropeMakers alongside Music/TheCure and Music/{{Bauhaus}}. Though, much like The Cure, they combined it with [[NeoClassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly quite a few other genres]] and were often poppier than the norm for the genre, sometimes bordering on NewWaveMusic. The band themselves have actually repeatedly criticized the way they're so often called a 'goth band'.

** RevolvingDoorBand: They cycled guitarists with every album after ''Join Hands''.

* NeoClassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: They quickly grew out of their UsefulNotes/{{Punk}} / PostPunk beginnings and began to explore a wide variety of musical genres.

* ContralfoOfDanger: Siouxsie has a deeper-than-average voice.

* LeadBassist/LeadDrummer: One of the more impressive things about the band is that their music tends to be rhythmically livelier and more interesting than that of their English post-punk peers; this is perhaps on account of having in Severin and Budgie one of the stablest rhythm sections in the history of music.

* MsFanservice: Siouxsie is perceived as quite attractive, despite the band's overall eerie look. In fact, the reason why the Music/SexPistols guitarrist Steve Jones started dropping f-bombs to host Bill Grundy during their notorious interview was because Grundy, who was drunk at the time, made an explicit pass at Siouxsie.

* OminousMusicBoxTune: Combined with LastNoteNightmare in "Carousel."
** Also "Mother", although it's more soothing at the same time.

* StalkerWithACrush / MurderBallad: A favourite lyrical theme, such as in "Carcass" and "Head Cut."

* {{Confucius}}: Mentioned in "Hong Kong Garden."

* MsFanservice: Siouxsie is perceived as quite attractive, despite the band's overall eerie look. In fact, the reason why the Music/SexPistols started dropping f-bombs to host Bill Grundy during their notorious interview was because Grundy, who was drunk at the time, made an explicit pass at Siouxsie.

* MsFanservice: Siouxsie.

%% *LyricalDissonance

* TearJerker: There's something extremely powerful and sad about Siouxsie's vocal performance in the Nocturne version of "Painted Bird". "Into The Light" is similar.
** The mournful "Rhapsody".
** The Creatures song "Say", which is about Billy MacKenzie's suicide.
** "Little Sister" is quite haunting and sad including the lyric "Little sister break the rules / Break me in two".
** "Forever" is arguably their saddest song. The music is twirling, elegant and soft, and Siouxsie's melancholic vocals make it all the more saddening: "We, we, couldnt stand together / No, never forever".
** "Love Out Me", especially since it's the last song on their last album.

* TearJerker: Is it just me or is there something extremely powerful and sad about Siouxsie's vocal performance in the Nocturne version of "Painted Bird"? "Into The Light" is similar.

** "Icon" is at least for me another extremely powerful song of Siouxsie's.

Siouxsie and Budgie had a side project, ''The Creatures,'' from 1983 to 2005, based more on percussion and World Music influences.

* AlternativeRock

* GothRock: TropeMakers alongside Music/TheCure and Music/{{Bauhaus}}. Though, much like The Cure, they combined it with [[NeoClassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly quite a few other genres]] and were often poppier than the norm for the genre, sometimes bordering on NewWaveMusic.

* {{Pyromaniac}}: "All fire and brimstone, this jack-o'-lantern, he likes to watch the buildings burn..."

They are regularly cited as being one of the more influential {{punk}} bands in the history of the genre, and they are considered one of the [[TropeMakers founders of]] GothRock.

!!Studio Discography:

!!This band provides examples of:

[[caption-width-right:320: The band at their most normal. [[note]]From L-R: Steven Severin (bass), John [=McGeoch=] (guitar, 1980-1982), Siouxsie Sioux (vocals), Budgie (drums, 1979-1996)[[/note]]]]

we are entranced - Spellbound.''

Siouxsie and the Banshees were a [[UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} British]] rock band ([[NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly for a given definition of "rock," anyway]]) formed in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux (born Susan Ballion) and bassist Steven [[ShoutOut Sev]][[Music/VelvetUnderground erin]] (born Steven John Bailey). While their roots were very much in the PunkRock scene (the impromptu gig that led to the band's formation featured [[Music/SexPistols Sid Vicious]] on drums) they quickly branched out and began to employ a wide variety of instruments and musical styles. The band's core lineup was rounded out in 1979 by drummer Budgie (born Peter Edward Clarke). Temporary guitarists included Music/{{Magazine}}'s John [=McGeoch=] and Music/TheCure's Robert Smith. The band broke up in 1996.

They are regularly cited as being one of the more influential punk bands in the history of the genre, and they are considered one of the [[TropeMakers founders of]] GothRock.

Siouxsie and Budgie had a side project, Music/TheCreatures, from 1983 to 2005, based more on percussion and world music influences.

we are entranced - Spellbound.