'88 Hetfield

My Favourite Artists :: Siouxsie & The Banshees/The Creatures/Siouxsie Sioux

I First discovered …  Siouxsie Sioux in the usual cliché way, nosing through my step-dad’s record collection. He had a copy of Kaleidoscope, which I’d never heard, and I had an afternoon to kill. It’s safe to say that any album that starts with a song as good as Happy House is going to win many a music fan over.  

I realised I was a fan … when I wrote an open letter - to no one - about how Siouxsie Sioux was the greatest front-woman music had ever seen. I never showed anyone that “letter” and it took me hours to write, although an edited version did make it’s way on to Myspace when I had a Myspace account many years ago. In short, if you don’t like Siouxsie we can’t be friends ;) 

The high point for me as a fan … was, without a doubt, seeing Siouxsie live at the Camden Roundhouse in London. It was a solo gig, but she did play a fair few Banshees’ songs. I’m lucky enough to have seen everyone I’ve ever wanted to see live, Siouxsie was easily one of the best performers I’ve had the pleasure of seeing. On a side note I will say that the gig was slightly tarnished by the old punks & goths, there is nothing like a bunch of ageing punks, I’ve never been surrounded by such a miserable crowd. 

Seeing Siouxsie live = awesome. Listening to all the old goths and punks complain about the younger people in the audience = irritating.

The low point for me as a fan … hasn’t really happened yet, and I’d be surprised if there ever comes a day when Siouxsie or any of the other Banshees does something that disappoints me in any way. It’s safe to say, Siouxsie is pretty much bullet proof. 

Best tracks :: Happy House, Love Out Me, Trophy, Painted Bird, Into The Light, Icon, Return, But Not Them, Heaven And Alchemy, Into A Swan, Drop Dead/Celebration, Sleepwalking, Dazzle, Playground Twist, Head Cut … I could go on for a while so I’ll leave it there. 

Worst tracks :: There’s a planet in my kitchen … and … that’s it, just that one, and even that song has a certain charm.

Best album :: A Kiss In The Dreamhouse

Worst Album :: It’ll have to be Superstition, it’s not a bad album as such, it’s just an album that shows its age.

I wish she’d/they’d work with … no one. I’m glad they are no longer putting out albums under the Banshees’ name. It’s very rare for a group/artist to have an untainted legacy, and I don’t want to see a Siouxsie & The Banshees’ Rock Band or duets with artists that are way beneath them, so let’s leave it as it is … a great catalogue of albums by a great band. 

Have they still got it? Siouxsie’s live show at the Camden Roundhouse proved, to me at least, that she can still rock with the best of them … and her solo album was a lot better than many will have you believe … ultimately though, it’s not a question that needs answering, they are gone but the music is timeless. (Except Superstition, which has aged … just a tad … maybe a bit more than a tad, everyone’s allowed one slip, right?)

My all time favourite female artist.