Siouxsie Sioux emerged from the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols followers and built a band that outlasted and outgrew its punk origins. Her commanding vocal presence and John McGeoch's shimmering, effects-laden guitar created a sound that was at once icy and seductive.
Their range was extraordinary, from abrasive post-punk to lush pop to psychedelic experimentation. Siouxsie's visual style defined goth's aesthetic as much as the music did.
Key Albums
Dark, tribal, and hypnotic. The definitive Banshees album and a goth-rock landmark.
A ferocious debut that announced post-punk's arrival.
Lush, cinematic, and their most adventurous pop moment.
Why They Matter
Siouxsie and the Banshees defined goth rock's visual and sonic identity and proved that a female-fronted band could command respect in the aggressive male-dominated post-punk scene.