Siouxsie & The Banshees
Siouxsie Sioux (b. Susan Dallion, 27 May 1957, London, England) was part of the notorious ‘Bromley contingent’, including Steve Severin (b. Steven Bailey, 25 September 1955), which followed the Sex Pistols in their early days. Siouxsie had also taken part in the 100 Club Punk Festival, singing an elongated version of The Lord's Prayer with a group that included Sid Vicious on drums. The fledgling singer also achieved some minor fame after a verbal exchange with television presenter Bill Grundy which unwittingly prompted the Sex Pistols’ infamous swearing match on the programme "Today". Within months of that incident Siouxsie put together her backing group the Banshees, featuring Pete Fenton (guitar), Steve Severin (bass) and Kenny Morris (drums). Siouxsie flirted with Nazi imagery, highlighted by black make-up and frequently exposed breasts. By mid-1977 Fenton was replaced by John McGeogh, and the group supported Johnny Thunders And The Heartbreakers as well as recording a session for the BBC disc jockey, John Peel. By 1978, the group had signed to Polydor and released their first single, the excellent Hong Kong Garden, which reached the UK Top 10. THE SCREAM soon followed, produced by Steve Lillywhite. Less commercial offerings followed with The Staircase (Mystery) and Playground Twist, which was soon succeeded by JOIN HANDS. During a promotion al tour, Morris and McKay abruptly left, to be replaced by former
Slits drummer Budgie and temporary Banshee Robert Smith, on leave from the Cure. Siouxsie's Germanic influences were emphasized on the stark Mittageisen (Metal Postcard), which barely scraped into the Top 50. Both Happy House and Christine were more melodic offerings, which brought greater commercial success. 
After the success of KALEIDOSCOPE, the group embarked on a world tour, including a concert behind the Iron Curtain. Another Top 10 album JUJU was followed by some extra-curricular activities. Siouxie and Budgie formed an occasion al offshoot group, the Creatures, who enjoyed Top 10 success in their own right, as well as recording an album. Smith and Severin also recorded successfully together as the Glove. After the string-accompanied A KISS IN THE DREAMHOUSE, the group reconvened in the autumn of 1983 to play a concert for Italy's Communist Party. A highly commercial version of the Beatles’ Dear Prudence provided the group with their biggest UK hit, peaking at number 3. Early in 1984 the evocative Swimming Horses maintained their hit profile, while further personnel changes ensued with the enlistment of John Carruthers from Clock DVA. He, in turn, was replaced by Jon Klein. Regular albums during the mid-'80s showed that the group had established a loyal cult following and could experiment freely in the studio without a significant loss of commercial appeal. Having already enjoyed success with a cover song, Siouxsie tackled Bob Dylan's This Wheel's On Fire, which reached the UK Top 20. An entire album of cover versions followed with the interesting THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS. A change of musical direction with PEEP SHOW revealed the group as uncompromising as ever. 1991 saw them back in the charts with the dance-oriented Kiss Them For Me and SUPERSTITION. They continue to play adventurous music, occasion ally tinged with forays into more commercial territory.