Siouxsie and the Banshees - Halloween

  As it's Halloween today I'll take the opportunity to post a classic track from one of the biggest names associated with punk rock. Siouxsie And The Banshees formed in 1976, founder members Siouxsie Sioux and Steven Severin had met the previouss year at a Roxy Music gig. They went on to be regular attendees at gigs by a new band called The Sex Pistols and were part of a group of kindred spirits that the press labelled The Bromley Contingent.

  The first ever Siouxsie And The Banshees gig was a hastily arranged support slot at the 100 Club Festival and saw Sioux and Severin joined on stage by Sid Vicious (on drums) and future Adam And The Ants guitarist Marco Pirroni. From these humble beginnings, they coalesced into what The Times dubbed "one of the most audacious and uncompromising musical adventures of the post-punk era."

  Fast forward to 8th August 1981. This was the date of one of the very first gigs that I attended, it was at Lancaster University and was on their Juju tour (supported by John Cooper Clarke). All I remember from the gig, aside from it being bloody great, is that Siouxsie took time out to bait a group of leather jacket clad local punks by telling them The Banshees had more in common with Duran Duran than they did with bands like Discharge.

  The line up for the Juju album was Siouxsie (vocals), Steven Severin (bass), John McGeoch (guitar) and Budgie (drums). It was their 4th studio album and came out in June 1981 on Polydor. By this time the band were veering away from their punk rock roots and helping to kick start the 80's goth rock scene.

  No prizes for guessing which track from Juju that I'm posting today. This is Halloween......

The night is still and the frost it bites my face
I wear my silence like a mask and murmur like a ghost
Trick or treat, trick or treat, the bitter and the sweet
Trick or treat, trick or treat, the bitter and the sweet

The carefree days are distant now I wear my memories like a shroud
I try to speak but words collapse, echoing, echoing
Trick or treat, trick or treat, the bitter and the sweet
Trick or treat, trick or treat, the bitter and the sweet

I wander though your sadness
Gazing at you with scorpion eyes
Halloween, Halloween
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

A sweet reminder in the ice-blue nursery
Of a childish murder of hidden luster and she cries
Trick or treat, trick or treat, the bitter and the sweet
Trick or treat, trick or treat, the bitter and the sweet

I wander through your sadness
Gazing at you with scorpion eyes
Halloween, Halloween
Halloween, Halloween
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh