Siouxsie Sioux English author and performer Date of Birth: 27.05.1957 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Siouxsie Sioux
2. Early Life and Influences
3. Introduction to Punk and Formation of 'The Banshees'
4. Success with 'The Banshees'

Biography of Siouxsie Sioux

Siouxsie Sioux, born Susan Janet Ballion on May 27, 1957, in southeast London, is an English author and performer best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band 'Siouxsie and the Banshees' (1976–1996) and the offshoot band 'The Creatures' (1981–2005).

Early Life and Influences

Siouxsie was the youngest of three children in her family. Her parents met while working in the Belgian Congo, where her mother, an Englishwoman, worked as a secretary and her father, a Belgian, was a bacteriologist and snake venom collector. The family returned to England in the late 1950s and settled in the suburbs of London. Siouxsie's father, who turned into an alcoholic, died of cirrhosis when she was 14, which had a negative impact on her health. She suffered from a severe bout of ulcerative colitis and barely survived.

In her youth, Siouxsie was a loner and enjoyed listening to music. Her favorite musicians included David Bowie, Lou Reed, Marc Bolan, Bryan Ferry, and Iggy Pop. She gradually found like-minded individuals who shared her interest in glam rock. At the age of 17, she dropped out of school and started frequenting local gay discos where many of her sister's friends went.

Introduction to Punk and Formation of 'The Banshees'

In November 1975, a new band called 'Sex Pistols' performed at a local art college. Siouxsie didn't attend their performance, but a friend told her that their lead singer had threatened the audience during the concert. Intrigued, Siouxsie and her friend Steven Severin went to London in February 1976 to hear the 'Pistols.' After talking to the band members, Siouxsie and Steven decided to follow them constantly. Siouxsie began to gain recognition in London clubs for her eccentric attire, which later became a staple of the punk movement. She also anticipated the gothic style with her red lipstick, dark eye makeup, spiked hair dyed black, and black clothing.

In September 1976, while following the 'Pistols' to France, Siouxsie wanted to "shock the bourgeois" and wore a black armband with a swastika, for which she was assaulted. To distance herself from accusations of neo-fascism, she had to write two songs, 'Metal Postcard (Mittageisen)' and 'Israel.'

In the same year, Siouxsie and Steven decided to form their own band, 'The Banshees,' even though neither of them could sing or play at the time. On September 20, 1976, during their first performance, Siouxsie improvised by reciting poetry and prayers while the band played.

Success with 'The Banshees'

In December 1976, Steve Jones from 'Sex Pistols' verbally attacked a drunk host, Bill Grundy, during a live TV show on 'Thames Television.' Grundy had flirted with Siouxsie, which she didn't appreciate. She decided to focus entirely on her own band, 'The Banshees,' and distance herself from her old friends. In 1977, they embarked on their first tour of England, and a year later, their single 'Hong Kong Garden' reached the top ten in the UK charts.

'The Banshees' were one of the most influential bands in the UK for over a decade until they announced their split. In the 1990s, Siouxsie began collaborating more frequently with other artists, and from 2004 onwards, she has focused solely on her solo career.

In May 1991, Siouxsie married Budgie, whose real name is Peter Edward Clarke. Budgie was the drummer for 'The Banshees' and 'The Creatures' and worked closely with Siouxsie for many years. In 1992, they moved to France and settled somewhere near Toulouse. In August 2007, Siouxsie announced that she and Budgie had divorced.

Siouxsie Sioux is considered one of the most influential British singers of the rock era. Her songs have been covered by artists such as Jeff Buckley, Tricky, Massive Attack, and LCD Soundsystem. She has received critical acclaim from a wide range of musicians, and in 2011, she was awarded the 'Q Award' for Outstanding Contribution to Music.