History Music / SiouxsieAndTheBanshees

-->"Spellbound"

Siouxsie and the Banshees were a [[UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} British]] rock band (for a given definition of "rock," anyway) formed in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux (born Susan Ballion) and bassist Steven Severin (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/{{The Cure|Band}}'s Robert Smith. The band broke up in 1996, and had a one-off reunion in 2002.

* MsFanservice: Siouxsie is perceived as quite attractive, despite the band's overall eerie look. In fact, the reason why the Music/SexPistols guitarist 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.

Siouxsie and the Banshees were a [[UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} British]] rock band (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/{{The Cure|Band}}'s Robert Smith. The band broke up in 1996, and had a one-off reunion in 2002.

* GothRock: TropeMakers alongside Music/{{The Cure|Band}} and Music/{{Bauhaus}}. Though, much like the Cure, they combined it with [[GenreMashup 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,' factoring into their shift to a more accessible sound and the minimization of their ghoulish image on ''Superstition''.

* ShoutOut: "Peek-A-Boo" has the line "Golly, jeepers, where'd you get those weepers? Peep show, freak show, where did you get those eyes?", which is enough of an overt nod to Hollywood showtune "Jeepers Creepers"' opening lines that the band had to give "Jeepers" songwriters Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer a co-writing credit to avoid legal action.

%%* TakeThat: "Drop Dead." (Zero-Contexe Example)

* PuttingOnTheReich: Siouxsie Sioux would occasionally don Nazi armbands in early performances, tying in with PunkRock's wider appropriation of fascist imagery and history for shock value. The scene -- and the band with them -- ultimately abandoned the Nazi allusions when the musicians realized that it was attracting actual neo-Nazis who thought they were in good company.

* GothRock: TropeMakers alongside Music/{{The Cure|Band}} and Music/{{Bauhaus}}. Though, much like The Cure, they combined it with [[GenreMashup 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'.

* InvoluntaryDance: "Spellbound."

* ManicPixieDreamGirl: "She's a Carnival."

** ''Hyaena'' continues with the Art Rock and PsychedelicRock mix, but has a slightly different take on it due to the departure of John [=McGeoch=] and the arrival of [[Music/{{The Cure|Band}} 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.

* PunkRock: At the beginning of their career. They quickly moved on.

* ReCut: The original CD edition of ''Tinderbox'' adds the B-sides "The Quarterdrawing of the Dog", "An Execution", "Lullaby", and "Umbrella" and the 12" version of "Cities in Dust" as bonus tracks. The 2003 remaster, meanwhile, removes the B-sides and adds the 12" remix of "The Sweetest Chill", an early version of "Song from the Edge of the World" with John Valentine Carruthers on guitar, and the demo version of "Starcrossed Lovers".

* TakeThat: "Drop Dead."

* {{Backmasking}}: The intrumentation to "Peek-a-Boo" was created this way.

** LooksLikeCesare: Siouxsie and Robert.

* 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. It also was due to the band having a [[RevolvingDoorBand Revolving Door Lineup]] of guitarists, which meant more focus could be put on the bass and drums.
* LighterAndSofter: ''Superstition'', being a much more danceable, accessible and poppy effort than previous (and later) albums, dabbling with SynthPop and AlternativeDance. Compare "Kiss Them For Me" or "Shadowtime" with virtually any song from their other albums, and this becomes very apparent.

** RevolvingDoorBand: They cycled guitarists every few years after ''Join Hands'' was released.

%%* OurBansheesAreLouder
%%* PostPunk

* ContraltoOfDanger: Siouxsie has a deeper-than-average voice, but a wide range (from from [=G2=]-[=G#6=]). Her unique vocals are part of why the band are so beloved.

* DreamTeam: When Music/{{The Cure|Band}}'s Robert Smith joined the band as a guitarist.
** Could also be said about Budgie and John [=McGeoch=], having just left Music/TheSlits and Music/{{Magazine}} respectively when they joined the Banshees.

** In the band's early years, she would sometimes perform onstage [[NippleAndDimed topless]]. This also made its way into The Creatures' album covers.

* LongRunnerLineUp: The core members of the band were the same for nearly all the 17 years of their run: Siouxsie, Steven Severin (the founding members) and drummer Budgie. The latter was recruited to play for their 1979 ''Join Hands'' tour: he was originally supposed to be a temporary member, after the previous drummer [[RageQuit quit abruptly mid-tour]], but ended up remaining until the band's breakup in 1995. The fact that [[RomanceOnTheSet he hooked up with and subsequently married Siouxsie]] probably helped.

* [[Music/{{Magazine}} John McGeoch]]: Guitars (1982-1984, died 2004)

** "The Lord's Prayer" from ''Join Hands'': 14:08.
* EverythingIsAnInstrument: "Red Light" uses a camera shutter as an instrument.

* LongRunnerLineUp: The core members of the band were the same for nearly all the 17 years of their run: Siouxsie, Steven Severin (the founding members) and drummer Budgie. The latter was recruited to play for their 1979 ''Join Hands'' tour: he was originally supposed to be a temporary member but ended up remaining until the band's breakup in 1995. The fact that [[RomanceOnTheSet he hooked up with and subsequently married Siouxsie]] probably helped.
** RevolvingDoorBand: They cycled guitarists every few albums after ''Join Hands''.

* DarkSkinnedBlonde: Budgie.

* GothRock: TropeMakers alongside Music/TheCure and Music/{{Bauhaus}}. Though, much like The Cure, they combined it with [[GenreMashup 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'.

** ''Hyaena'' continues with the Art Rock 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.

* DreamTeam: When Music/TheCure's Robert Smith joined the band as a guitarist.

Siouxsie and the Banshees were a [[UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} British]] rock band (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, and had a one-off reunion in 2002.

* [[Music/TheCure Robert Smith]]: Guitars (1979, 1982-1984)

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, and had a one-off reunion in 2002.

* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: Typically 4-5. They sometimes go up to 6, especially their early work. They've also been known to go lower, or off the scale completely. After all, they were [[NeoClassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly eclectic]].

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

Siouxsie and Budgie had a side project, ''The Creatures,'' from 1983 to 2005, based more on percussion and influences from various locations: Hawaii, Spain, France and Japan.

* IdenticalLookingAsians: Another factor in "Hong Kong Garden."

* OurBansheesAreLouder
* PostPunk