painted bird

In honor of Mischief Night and Halloween, I thought I would post on a very influential lady in my life. I spent a good 2 years in high school doing my best to channel her. Siouxsie Sioux was born Susan Janet Ballion on May 27, 1957 in London, England. She had a rough childhood due to an alcoholic father that died when she was 14 and a serious stint with ulcerative colitis at 15. In her later teen years she found an interest in glam music and fashion and became well known around town as one of the Bromley Contingent kids, keeping company with Sex Pistols members and hanger-ons and their ring leader, Malcolm McLaren. It was he who set up the first Siouxsie and the Banshees show in September 1976. Within a year they had released their first recording and soon were on the way to becoming chart topping band in the UK.
Siouxie was punk's princess. She created her classic kohl-rimmed, spiked hair look inspired by silent screen stars like Theda Bara. She moved from princess to goth queen in the 80's with a heavy dose of Japanese. In the 90's she reinvented herself into a sleek-bobbed flapper. And this lady doesn't show and signs of stopping OR aging. Her influence is easily seen on many performers that have come after her from Boy George and The Cure to PJ Harvey, Shirley and Marilyn Manson, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.