Siouxsie Sioux facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siouxsie Sioux
Siouxsie Sioux performing in 1980
Background information
Birth name	Susan Janet Ballion
Born	(1957-05-27) 27 May 1957 (age 68) Southwark, London, England
Genres	Post-punk new wave gothic rock alternative rock exotica
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter musician record producer
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1976–present
Labels	Polydor Geffen Sioux Records W14 Universal Decca

Susan Janet Ballion (born 27 May 1957), known by her stage name Siouxsie Sioux (pronounced SOO-zee SOO), is an English singer and songwriter. She first became famous as the leader and main songwriter of the rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, which was active from 1976 to 1996. The band released 11 studio albums and had several hit singles in the UK, including "Hong Kong Garden" and "Happy House". They also had a Top 25 hit in the United States with "Kiss Them for Me".

In 1981, Siouxsie started a second group called The Creatures. With this band, she released four studio albums and popular singles like "Right Now". After The Creatures stopped making music in the mid-2000s, she began a solo career. In 2007, she released the album Mantaray, which was praised by critics.

AllMusic has called Siouxsie "one of the most influential British singers of the rock era." Many famous artists have covered her songs, including Jeff Buckley, Tricky, and LCD Soundsystem. Her music has also been sampled by Massive Attack and the Weeknd. In 2011, she received an award for Outstanding Contribution to Music at the Q Awards.

Biography

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Siouxsie was born Susan Janet Ballion on 27 May 1957, in London, England. Her parents had met and worked in the Belgian Congo before moving to England. Her mother was a secretary who spoke French and English, and her father was a scientist from Belgium.

The family lived in a suburb called Chislehurst. Siouxsie often felt like an outsider because her family was different from their neighbors. She found comfort in books, a love she shared with her father. She later said that living in the suburbs made her feel a strong desire to be different.

When Siouxsie was 14, her father passed away. This was a difficult time for her, and she missed a lot of school due to illness. While recovering in the hospital, she saw David Bowie perform on the TV show Top of the Pops, which was a very inspiring moment for her.

At 17, she left school and started going to clubs with her sister's friends. In February 1976, she and her friend Steven Severin went to see a band called the ... Pistols. They became big fans and started following the band to their shows. A group of these fans, including Siouxsie, became known as the "Bromley Contingent".

Siouxsie became known for her unique and daring fashion style, which included spiky black hair, dramatic cat-eye makeup, and dark clothing. Her look would later influence punk fashion and gothic fashion. She wanted to shock people and challenge old-fashioned ideas.

Inspired by the idea that anyone could be a musician, Siouxsie and Severin decided to form their own band. In September 1976, they got a chance to perform at a festival. Even though they didn't have any songs prepared, they got on stage and improvised for 20 minutes. This was the beginning of her music career.

Siouxsie and the Banshees, and The Creatures

Siouxsie Sioux in November 1980 in New York City

In 1977, Siouxsie's new band, Siouxsie and the Banshees, began touring the UK. A year later, their first single, "Hong Kong Garden", was a big hit, reaching number 7 on the UK charts. Their first album, The Scream, was one of the first post-punk albums ever released and received excellent reviews.

The band's sound changed with their 1980 album Kaleidoscope. It featured guitarist John McGeoch and drummer Budgie, who would become a longtime musical partner for Siouxsie. The album had a more electronic and pop sound, and it reached the top 5 in the UK.

In 1981, while still in the Banshees, Siouxsie and Budgie formed a side project called The Creatures. This band had a simpler sound, focusing on just vocals and drums. Their first release was a success.

The Banshees' 1982 album, A Kiss in the Dreamhouse, was praised by critics for its imaginative sound, which included strings for the first time. In 1983, Siouxsie and Budgie recorded the first Creatures album, Feast, in Hawaii. It featured tropical sounds and was a new direction for her music.

Throughout the 1980s, Siouxsie and the Banshees continued to release successful albums. They had a huge hit with a cover of the Beatles' song "Dear Prudence". They also experimented with new sounds, like using samples on the 1988 single "Peek-a-Boo", which was inspired by hip-hop.

In 1991, the Banshees released the single "Kiss Them for Me", which used South Asian instruments. The song became a hit in the U.S., reaching number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The band then co-headlined the first Lollapalooza festival tour in America.

Siouxsie at the first Lollapalooza in Irvine, California, 1991

In 1992, director Tim Burton asked the band to write a song for his movie Batman Returns. They created "Face to Face" for the film.

The Banshees released their final studio album, The Rapture, in 1995. After a tour, the band announced they were splitting up. Siouxsie then focused on her work with The Creatures. They released the album Anima Animus in 1999, which blended art rock with electronica. Their last album, Hái!, was released in 2003 and was partly recorded in Japan with a traditional taiko drummer.

Solo Career

In 2004, Siouxsie began touring as a solo artist for the first time. She performed songs from both the Banshees and The Creatures. A live DVD of her London show, called Dreamshow, was released in 2005 and went to number 1 in the UK.

Her first solo album, Mantaray, came out in 2007. Critics loved it, with Mojo magazine saying that "a thirst for sonic adventure radiates from each track."

After a break, Siouxsie returned to the stage in 2013 for the Meltdown festival in London, curated by Yoko Ono. She performed the entire Kaleidoscope album live, and her performance was highly praised. In 2015, she released her first new song in eight years, "Love Crime", for the final episode of the TV show Hannibal.

In 2023, Siouxsie returned to performing live, headlining festivals in the United States and Europe. Her shows received excellent reviews, proving she is still a powerful and exciting performer.

Legacy and Influence

Siouxsie Sioux is known as a pioneer who has inspired countless artists across many different genres. Her unique voice, bold style, and experimental music have left a lasting mark on the music world.

Many famous musicians have called her an influence. The Cure's Robert Smith said that touring with the Banshees taught him a lot about music. Bono, the lead singer of U2, said he was inspired by her singing style on U2's first two albums. Johnny Marr of the Smiths praised the guitar work on Banshees' songs.

Her influence can be heard in the music of trip-hop acts like Massive Attack and Tricky. Alternative rock bands like Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers have also shown their admiration. Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio praised her ability to create beautiful and surprising pop songs.

Siouxsie has been a role model for many female artists. PJ Harvey said, "It's hard to beat Siouxsie Sioux, in terms of live performance." Shirley Manson of Garbage said she learned to sing by listening to Siouxsie's albums. Other artists who look up to her include Sinéad O'Connor, Beth Ditto of Gossip, and Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine.

In 2022, Sky Arts named her one of the 50 most influential British artists of the last 50 years.

Personal life

Siouxsie married her bandmate Budgie in 1991. They moved to France together the following year. The couple later divorced in 2007.

In 2023, she worked with the animal rights organization PETA. She wrote a letter to a large company asking them to stop testing their products on animals.

Discography

Studio albums

Solo singles

DVD

• 2005 Dreamshow No. 1 UK
• 2009 Finale: The Last Mantaray & More Show No. 4 UK

See also

In Spanish: Siouxsie Sioux para niños