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

Siouxsie Sioux, whose real name is Susan Janet Ballion, was born on May 27, 1957. She is a famous English singer and songwriter. She became well-known as the lead singer and main writer for the rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. This band was active from 1976 to 1996.

Siouxsie and the Banshees released 11 studio albums. They had many hit songs in the UK, like "Hong Kong Garden" and "Happy House". Their song "Kiss Them for Me" was also a hit in the US.

Siouxsie also started another group called the Creatures in 1981. With the Creatures, she released four studio albums. After the Creatures stopped performing in the mid-2000s, Siouxsie continued as a solo artist. She released her first solo album, Mantaray, in 2007. Critics really liked this album.

Many people consider Siouxsie to be one of the most important British singers in rock music. Other artists have covered her songs or used parts of them in their own music. In 2011, she won an award for her amazing contribution to music. In 2012, she received the Inspiration Award.

Siouxsie Sioux's Life Story

Early Years (1957–1976)

Siouxsie was born Susan Janet Ballion on May 27, 1957. This happened at Guy's Hospital in Southwark, England. She is the youngest of three children. Her parents met and worked in the Belgian Congo before moving to England.

Her mother, Betty, was a secretary. She spoke both French and English. Siouxsie's father was a bacteriologist. He was from Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium.

The Ballion family lived in Chislehurst, Kent. Siouxsie felt quite alone as a child. She felt her family was different from their neighbors. She later said that the suburbs made her feel "intense hatred."

When Siouxsie was 14, her father passed away. This was a very difficult time for her. She became very ill and missed a lot of school. After getting better, she watched David Bowie perform on TV. This performance inspired her.

At 17, she finished school. She started visiting gay discos with her sister's friends. In 1975, she heard about a new band called the Sex Pistols. In February 1976, Siouxsie and her friend Steven Severin went to see them play in London. They became big fans and followed the band often. A journalist called their group of friends the "Bromley Contingent."

Siouxsie became known in London for her unique style. Her fashion helped shape punk fashion. Later, her look also influenced gothic fashion. She often wore cat-eye makeup, deep red lipstick, and spiky black hair.

In September 1976, Siouxsie and Severin decided to start their own band. They didn't know how to play instruments yet. But they got a chance to perform at a festival. On September 20, 1976, their band played for 20 minutes. Siouxsie sang the "Lord's Prayer" over their improvised music.

A music critic named Jon Savage said Siouxsie was "unlike any female singer before or since." She was powerful but also distant. She was completely modern. Siouxsie then focused all her energy on her new band, Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Siouxsie and the Banshees, and The Creatures (1977–2003)

Siouxsie Sioux in 1980

In February 1977, Siouxsie and the Banshees started touring England. A year later, their first song, "Hong Kong Garden", became a top 10 hit in the UK.

Their first album, The Scream, was one of the first post-punk albums. Music magazines gave it great reviews. They said it was "real music for the new age." The album's sound was dark and sharp. The Scream is now seen as one of the best first albums ever. Their next album, Join Hands, came out in 1979. It focused on themes of war.

The 1980 album Kaleidoscope brought new sounds. John McGeoch joined as guitarist. Budgie became the drummer. He would work with Siouxsie for many years. The hit song "Happy House" was called "great Pop." Other songs used electronic sounds. Kaleidoscope became a top 5 album in the UK.

Juju followed in 1981. It reached number 7 on the charts. The songs "Spellbound" and "Arabian Knights" were called "pop marvels." While making Juju, Siouxsie and Budgie formed a new duo. They called themselves the Creatures. Their music focused on vocals and drums. Their first record, Wild Things, was very popular.

In 1982, Siouxsie and the Banshees released A Kiss in the Dreamhouse. Critics loved it. One critic called it "a feat of imagination." The song "Slowdive" had a dance beat with violins. The band used strings in their music for the first time.

In 1983, Siouxsie went to Hawaii to record the Creatures' first album, Feast. It included the hit song "Miss the Girl". This album explored exotica music. It used sounds of waves and Hawaiian choirs. Later that year, the Creatures released "Right Now." This song became a top 20 hit in the UK.

Then, with the Banshees, Siouxsie covered the Beatles' song "Dear Prudence." It reached number 3 on the UK charts. They released two more albums with guitarist Robert Smith of the Cure. These were Nocturne (1983) and Hyæna (1984). In 1985, the song "Cities in Dust" was released. It used electronic sounds and became a hit in the US. The albums Tinderbox (1986) and Through the Looking Glass (1987) also did well in the UK.

In 1988, the song "Peek-a-Boo" showed a new musical style. It used samples and was inspired by hip hop. Her new album received a five-star review. The song "The Last Beat of My Heart" used accordion and strings.

Siouxsie and Budgie then went to Spain to record the second Creatures album, Boomerang. The songs on this album had different styles. They included flamenco, jazz, and blues. It also featured brass instruments. The first song was "Standing There." A music magazine called Boomerang "a rich and unsettling landscape." In 1990, she toured with the Creatures for the first time.

In 1991, Siouxsie and the Banshees released "Kiss Them for Me." This song used South Asian instruments. It became a hit in the US, reaching number 23. After their album Superstition came out, the band played at the first Lollapalooza festival. This helped them gain more fans in America.

Siouxsie at the first Lollapalooza in Irvine, California, 1991

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

In the mid-1990s, Siouxsie started working with other artists. She sang a version of Lou Reed's "Caroline Says" with Bernard Butler. She also recorded a song called "Interlude" with Morrissey in 1994.

The last Banshees studio album, The Rapture, was released in 1995. After touring for this album, the Banshees announced they were breaking up. The Creatures then became her main band. Siouxsie also sang on a song called "The Lighthouse" with French producer Hector Zazou.

In 1998, Siouxsie performed live again. John Cale from The Velvet Underground invited her to a festival. They sang a song together. This led to them touring the US.

The next year, Siouxsie and Budgie released Anima Animus. This was the first Creatures album since the Banshees split. It had a more modern, urban sound. The Times newspaper called it "hypnotic and inventive." Siouxsie also worked with Marc Almond on the song "Threat of Love."

In 2002, Q magazine named her one of the top 10 female rock artists. In 2003, Siouxsie and Budgie released their last Creatures album, Hái!. Parts of it were recorded in Japan with a taiko drummer. One critic said her voice was the "dominant instrument." That year, Siouxsie also sang on the song "Cish Cash" by Basement Jaxx.

Solo Career (2004–Present)

In 2004, Siouxsie started touring as a solo artist. She performed songs from both the Banshees and the Creatures. A live DVD called Dreamshow was recorded at her London concert. It showed her performing with a 16-piece orchestra. This DVD became number 1 in the UK music DVD chart.

Her first solo album, Mantaray, came out in September 2007. Music critics praised it. One said, "She really is pop." The album included three singles: "Into a Swan", "Here Comes That Day", and "About to Happen". In 2008, Siouxsie sang on the song "Careless Love" for a movie soundtrack. She toured for a year and released a live DVD of her last show, Finale: The Last Mantaray & More Show, in 2009.

In June 2013, Siouxsie performed at the Royal Festival Hall in London. She played her 1980 album Kaleidoscope live. She also sang with Yoko Ono. In 2014, she and Steven Severin put together a CD of songs that inspired the Banshees.

In August 2015, her first new song in eight years, "Love Crime", was featured in the TV series Hannibal. The show's creator called it "epic."

In 2022, Mantaray was re-released to celebrate its 15th anniversary. In 2023, Siouxsie performed at several festivals. Her show in Madrid was highly praised. In early 2024, Siouxsie worked with Iggy Pop to record a new version of "The Passenger" for an advertisement.

Songwriting Themes

Siouxsie's songs often explore themes of difficult experiences. She has said that her childhood deeply affected her. She sings about "damaged lives, damaged souls, damaged relationships." She feels that early experiences can create lasting effects. Writing songs helps her to understand these feelings.

Influence on Other Artists

Siouxsie has inspired many musicians. Bands like Joy Division, U2, and the Cure have praised her. Later artists like the Jesus and Mary Chain and Jane's Addiction were also influenced by her.

Many female singers have said they admire Siouxsie's work. These include Charli XCX, Hayley Williams of Paramore, Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries, Alison Goldfrapp, Florence Welch, St. Vincent, and Anohni.

Personal Life

Siouxsie married her bandmate Budgie in May 1991. They later moved to France. They divorced in 2006.

In 2023, Siouxsie worked with PETA. She protested against animal testing. She wrote a letter to a company, asking them to stop these tests. She believes companies should be kind and not use animals for testing.

Awards and Nominations

Discography

Solo Albums

• 2007: Mantaray

Solo Singles

• 2007: "Into a Swan"
• 2007: "Here Comes That Day"
• 2008: "About to Happen"
• 2015: "Love Crime"

Collaborative Singles

• 1994: "Interlude" (with Morrissey)

DVDs

• 2005: Dreamshow
• 2009: Finale: The Last Mantaray & More Show

Collaborations with Other Artists

• Morrissey: "Interlude" (1994)
• Hector Zazou: "The Lighthouse" (1995)
• Marc Almond: "Threat of Love" (1999)
• Basement Jaxx: "Cish Cash" (2003)
• Angelo Badalamenti: "Careless Love" (2008)
• Suede: "Caroline Says" (live, 1993)
• John Cale: "Murdering Mouth" (live, 1998)
• Yoko Ono: "Walking on Thin Ice" (live, 2013)

See also

In Spanish: Siouxsie Sioux para niños