Their first single "Hong Kong Garden" reached the top ten in the UK in the summer of 1978. Their debut full-length The Scream (1978) is today considered as a classic. NME wrote in its review, "The band sounds like, some unique hybrid of the Velvet Underground mated with much of the ingenuity of Tago Mago-era Can, if any parallel can be drawn... certainly, the traditional three-piece sound has never been used in a more unorthodox fashion with such stunning results." Indeed, "Switch" placed Siouxsie and the Banshees as pioneers of the post-punk movement.
Their sophomore Join Hands (1979), perhaps their darkest record, followed up. Guitarist McKay and drummer Morris had left the band shortly after its release. This change allowed Siouxsie the Banshees to play different music. They recruited drummer Budgie and the gifted John McGeoch, formerly of Magazine, who would play guitars on the three following records. McGeoch's work with Siouxsie the Banshees would later be praised by the likes of Radiohead and the Smiths.
Their third record Kaleidoscope (1980) released. Including tracks "Happy House" and "Christine", showed a brand new musical departure with liquid guitars and atmospheric synthesizers. This eclectic record was a success and it reached the top five in the national UK charts. One year later, fourth full-length Juju (1981), with the vibrant "Spellbound", was yet another success for the band.
The last session McGeoch recorded with Siouxsie and the Banshees was for the "Slowdive" single off the classic A Kiss in the Dreamhouse (1982). The British press greeted this fifth release enthusiastically. NME wrote on its review, "I promise. This music will take your breath away." McGeoch, worn out by the recording process of these songs, was hospitalized on his return from a promotional trip to Madrid, Spain. At the same era, Siouxsie and drummer Budgie formed the Creatures to record music more based on percussion.
In late 1982, McGeoch was replaced by famed Robert Smith, from the Cure. Smith became a full-time member between the years 1982 and 1984. He contributed to the classic live album, and later would be DVD, Nocturne (1983) and to the sixth studio album Hyaena (1984) as co-composer.
Guitarist John Valentine Carruthers, from band Clock DVA, replaced Smith in May, 1984. He played on the successful seventh full-length Tinderbox (1986), which included the first hit single of the band in the US, "Cities in Dust". The following covers album Through the Looking Glass (1987) with "This Wheel's on Fire", allowed the band to broaden up their sound.
Following a lengthy break, the rest of the band recruited another, new guitarist Jon Klein, from Specimen and the multi-instrumentalist Martin McCarrick to record ninth studio Peepshow (1988). The hit single "Peek-a-Boo" was considered as avant-garde for its abrasive sounds.
After the most impressive tour of their career, Siouxsie and the Banshees stopped for a while and then the Creatures reappeared with critically acclaimed sophomore Boomerang (1989). One of the most languorous songs from this record, "Killing Time", was covered live by Jeff Buckley a few years later.
In May 13th, 1991 Siouxsie the Banshees returned with the single "Kiss Them for Me", mixing the Beatles strings over a dance rhythm. This track peaked in the US singles charts at number 23, allowing them to reach a new audience. Melody Maker praised the last two studio albums by the band, Superstition (1991) and The Rapture (1995). The latter, partially produced by John Cale, included the swansong "Forever".
Morrissey later recorded a duet with Siouxsie titled "Interlude". This one, off-single was published under the banner of the two artists' names. After 20 years together, Siouxsie and the Banshees split in April, 1996. Siouxsie and Budgie thet announced that they would carry on recording as the Creatures. They released their third studio Anima Animus (1999) to critical acclaim.
The box set Downside Up (2004) was released, compiling 51 unreleased B-sides and the highly praised out-of-print The Thorn EP. Most of these numbers like, "Something Wicked (This Way Comes)" and "Red over White", are considered by fans as 'classics.' After carrying on recording as the Creatures, Siouxsie released her debut solo Mantaray (2007). The record was hailed by both Pitchfork and Mojo.
Influence on Other Artists
Siouxsie and the Banshees have influenced musicians worldwide across many genres.
The band had a strong impact on Trip Hop acts such as:
* Tricky covered "Tattoo" to open his second solo album Nearly God. Here's his version: Tattoo. The original version of "Tattoo" was recorded in 1983 and is available on the Banshees Downside Up box set.
* Massive Attack covered and sampled the music of Metal Postcard on their song "Superpredators (Metal Postcard)" for the movie soundtrack The Jackal.
Siouxsie and the Banshees also inspired the following artists :
* LCD Soundsystem covered "Slowdive" for the cd-single "Disco Infiltrator". Here's the original Slowdive and the LCD Soundsystem version Slowdive (XFM session)
* Jeff Buckley covered live a Siouxsie / The Creatures song called 'Killing Time' originally composed in 1989 on the album Boomerang. Here's the original Killing Time.
* Morrissey stated this in 'GQ' in 1994 : "None of them are as good as Siouxsie and the Banshees at full pelt. That's not dusty nostalgia, that's fact."
* The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr from The Smiths stated on the BBC radio 2 in february'2008 that he rated very high McGeoch for his work on Spellbound.
* Garbage singer Shirley Manson wrote in the foreword of the official Siouxsie and the Banshees biography in 2003 by Mojo magazine journalist Mark Paytress : "I learned how to sing listening to The Scream and Kaleidoscope."
* Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood claims that while recording their song "There There", producer Nigel Godrich tried to get guitarist Jonny Greenwood to sound like the Banshees' John McGeoch.
* PJ Harvey selected in her top ten favourite albums of year 1999 : Anima Animus by The Creatures. aka Siouxsie.
*Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro also makes a parallel between his band and the Banshees in Siouxsie's official biography: "There are so many similar threads : melody, use of sound, attitude, sex-appeal. I always saw Jane's Addiction as the masculine Siouxsie and the Banshees."
*The Beta Band sampled the bridge of Painted Bird on their track Liquid Bird from the Heroes to Zeros album.
*Red Hot Chili Peppers covered Christine live at the V2001 festival. In 2002, their guitarist John Frusciante stated in an article featured on Total Guitar Magazine about Banshees guitarist John McGeoch : "He’s just a great guitar player, full stop. I wanted to listen to these people who weren’t just about technique but more about textures. People like John McGeoch. People who used good chords." also declaring that John McGeoch was an influence for the sound on the Red Hot Chili Peppers album By The Way.
*The Mars Volta covered Pulled to Bits (Live At The Royal Albert Hall) for the 'Wax Simulacra' single.
*Arcade Fire singer Win Butler suggested to the band Devotchka to cover the 1988 Siouxsie song : The Last Beat Of My Heart. One can listen to the Devothcka version on their Curse Your Little Heart ep.
* The Cure leader Robert Smith declared in 2003 in Mark Paytress's Siouxsie biography : "Siouxsie and The Banshees and Wire were the two bands I really admired. They meant something." He also pinpointed what the Join Hands tour brought him musically. "On stage that first night with the Banshees, I was Blown away by how powerful I felt playing that kind of music. It was so different to what we were doing with The Cure. Before that, I'd wanted us to be like The Buzzcocks or Elvis Costello, the punk Beatles. Being a Banshee really changed my attitude to what I was doing." He also talked about the band to Steve Sutherland in 1985 to describe "The Head On the Door" : "It reminds me of the Kaleidoscope album, the idea of having lots of different sounding things, different colors."
*U2 selected Christine for a compilation made for Mojo and The Edge presented an award to Siouxsie at a Mojo ceremony in 2005.
www.siouxsie.com
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Split in 2002
Love In A Void
Siouxsie and the Banshees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Clouding my eyes must be the potion
Spots on my eyes must be the lotion
Love in a void, it's so numb
Avoid in love, it's so dumb
Love in a void
Too many bigots for my liking
Rabid dogs that aren't biting
Love in a void, it's so numb
Avoid in love, it's so dumb
Love in a void
Jaded reputation on which you're staking
Lots of money for the making
For all the stars they're just faking
Love in a void, it's so numb
Avoid in love, it's so dumb
Love in a void
The song "Love In A Void" by Siouxsie and the Banshees is a commentary on the futility and emptiness of love. The lyrics express frustration with the various obstacles that prevent love from being genuine and fulfilling. The first verse critiques the various distractions and illusions that can cloud one's perception of love, such as the "fools" who block one's motion and the "potion" that clouds one's eyes. The second verse takes aim at the societal barriers to love, such as bigotry, harsh criticism, and the "rabid dogs" who feign aggression. The final verse calls out the artificiality of celebrity culture, highlighting the fact that even the biggest stars are "just faking."
Overall, the song presents a bleak and cynical view of love, emphasizing the difficulties and disillusionment inherent in trying to form meaningful connections with others. The repetition of the refrain "Love in a void, it's so numb / Avoid in love, it's so dumb / Love in a void" reinforces this sense of aimless wandering and futility.
Line by Line Meaning
Too many fools blocking my motion
There are too many people who are impeding my progress and getting in my way
Clouding my eyes must be the potion
Something is causing me to not see things clearly, as if there is a potion that is obscuring my vision
Spots on my eyes must be the lotion
There are blemishes on my eyes that need to be cleared up, perhaps through the use of a lotion
Love in a void, it's so numb
The feeling of love is empty and devoid of any emotional significance
Avoid in love, it's so dumb
It is foolish to try and seek out love and form connections because there is no deeper meaning to it
Too many bigots for my liking
There are too many people who are prejudiced and intolerant in ways that are displeasing to me
Too many critics, too few writing
There are too many people who are quick to judge and criticize, but not enough people taking the time to express themselves through writing
Rabid dogs that aren't biting
There are aggressive and vicious people who aren't actually following through with their threats
Jaded reputation on which you're staking
Someone is relying on a negative and cynical image of themselves that they have cultivated as the basis for their actions and decisions
Lots of money for the making
There is a lot of opportunity for financial gain to be had in pursuing this jaded reputation
For all the stars they're just faking
Celebrities and other public figures are often not being genuine or authentic in their public personas
Love in a void, it's so numb
The feeling of love is empty and devoid of any emotional significance
Avoid in love, it's so dumb
It is foolish to try and seek out love and form connections because there is no deeper meaning to it
Love in a void
The feeling of love is empty and devoid of any emotional significance
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN COLTRANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
P J
Too many fools blocking my motion
Clouding my eyes must be the potion
Spots on my eyes must be the lotion
Spots on my eyes must be the lotion
Love in a void it's so numb
Avoid love it's so dumb
Love in a void
Too many Jews for my liking
Too many critics too few writing
Rabid dogs that aren't biting
Rabid dogs that aren't biting
Love in a void it's so numb
Avoid love it's so dumb
Love in a void
Jaded reputation on which you're staking
Lots of money for the making
For all the stars they're just faking
For all the stars they're just faking
Love in a void it's so numb
Avoid love it's so dumb
Love in a void
Bruce McElroy
This is still one of the best punk performances captured on film.
iroj
@asd fgh Maybe they were Post Punk by 1979 ,but this is a raw Punk Rock song ,
Joel Macedonia
❤ F'kn A! (F'k Indeed)...hope to suggest to female friend to Karoakee it. Need to hear it Live in person.
Karl Priede
Hands down.
asd fgh
Post punk, no punk...
Ohaio Sienta
Just because you liked this performance doesn't mean it the best "ever"
Joe Stunner
Any time you're pissing off the middle class, you know you're doing something right.
MeroveeG
If you pretend that pissing off the middle class is great, you must must be something like a rich arrogant guy? Excepted that poor comment, what a guitar sound!!!
Dan Slash
If you're only pissing off the middle class you aren't aiming high enough.
ciro Vazquez
Hahahahajajajjaja!!!!