Live Banshees
Last updated: 10/10/2006 - 16:50
One of the most pioneering groups to emerge from the seventies UK punk scene - still showing the competiton how it's done, after 25 years.
Siouxsie & The Banshees - The Seven Year Itch: Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire
The Seven Year Itch Tour marked the end of a seven-year hiatus of Siouxsie & The Banshees performing live. Now you can own the re-release of their seminal live concert performance - filmed at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire, on 10 July 2002, on a shiny new format.
As this was possibly the last tour the Banshees will ever undertake, it only seemed fitting to document it on film - the only other full live concert of the Banshees ever filmed was the Royal Albert Hall (Nocturne) show, from 1983. That show – long deleted on VHS, but occasionally broadcast on television if you’re lucky enough to catch it – featured a line up so different from this one that it even featured Robert (The Cure) Smith, on guitar!
Between April and August of 2002, Siouxsie & The Banshees performed a series of massive, sell-out tours of America (25,000 people as they co headlined a festival in Palm Springs with Bjork), Japan and Britain. The Banshees, with a distinct awareness of the reputation-shredding potential of the comeback show, seemed to be inspired and excited by this challenge and this DVD is a testament to the band's unique musical presence. The Banshees exhibit, throughout these seventeen performances, a staying power and a majesty that represents a truly great British rock'n'roll band thriving in the face of both adversity and adoration.
As the introductory music faded away at those magical sell out shows on 9 and 10 of July 2002, a slow, shrill wail of guitar and a lone voice signalled that, lurking in the darkness, Siouxsie & The Banshees were back on a British stage once again. The band attacked their vast catalogue with all the passion they could muster.
Seven Year Itch
The Seven Year Itch Tour live set rejected the idea of promoting their recent Greatest Hits compilation, and instead opted for key album tracks, the ultra-rare and famously unavailable B Sides (Over 40 songs not yet available on CD; with the exception of the live versions here), and selected tracks taken from The Singles album.
Songs from their debut album The Scream set the mood, songs that on the whole had not been played since 1978. There was Icon - from Join Hands - and a splattering of never played live before B sides, including I Could Be Again and Lullaby mixed in beautifully. With such a glorious back catalogue to plunder, Siouxsie and the band could hardly disappoint the adoring eldritch rabble in the audience, all Goths, for this one night, at least.
This special DVD release also includes outstanding live renditions of the band's Top 20 hit singles Christine, Happy House, and Peek-A-Boo, as well as a striking cover version of George Harrison’s Beatles tune Blue Jay Way, performed for the very first time by The Banshees exclusively for this tour.
DVD extras on included on The Seven Year Itch are: a backstage tour by the band's drummer - and fellow member of The Creatures to Siouxsie Budgie. The documentary Getting Ready to Scratch – featuring exclusive backstage footage of The Banshees before they go on stage to perform at the Shepherd's Bush Empire. The whole show is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, DTS 5.1 Surround and Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio and in a glorious 16:9 widescreen picture format.The concert itself runs for 87 minutes.
The full track listing for this perfect sequel to 1983's similar Nocturne concert film (which portrayed the group at the Royal Albert Hall) looks like this: Pure, Metal Postcard, Happy House, Lullaby, Cities In Dust, Icon, Voodoo Dolly, Blue Jay Way, Peek-A-Boo, Jigsaw Feeling, Red Light, Christine, Land's End, I Could Be Again, Night Shift, Spellbound and Monitor.
So turn the lights down low and enjoy the electric eclectic stylings of a truly great act in fine form. The Banshees are back, for one night only – and, thanks to DVD - as many times as you like!
Siouxsie & The Banshees - a selected album discography:
The Scream (1978) – Featuring: Pure; Jigsaw Feeling; Overground; Carcass; Helter Skelter; Mirage; Metal Postcard; Nicotine Stain; Suburban Relapse and Switch.
Join Hands (1978) - Poppy Day; Regal Zone; Placebo Effect; Icon; Premature Burial; Playground Twist; Mother - Oh Mein Papa and The Lord's Prayer.
Kaleidoscope (1980) – Produced by Nigel Grey, the band and Siouxsie, Kaleidoscope was released by Geffen records – features: Happy House; Tenant; Trophy; Hybrid; Clockface; Lunar Camel; Christine; Desert Kisses; Red Light; Paradise Place and Skin.
Once Upon A Time/The Singles (1981) – Featuring: Hong Kong Garden; Mirage; The Staircase (Mystery); Playground Twist; Love in a Void; Happy House; Christine; Israel; Spellbound and the quite wonderful Arabian Knights.
See also on Lifestyle:
For more information about Siouxsie & The Banshees and the Budgie and Siouxsie side project The Creatures - visit their very own website - which includes an extensive discography, news section and as complete a biographical run down on Siouxsie and Budgie: www.siouxsiemantaray.com.
Siouxsie & The Banshees - The Seven Year Itch: Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire is out now on DVD.
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