I had been to concerts before. Most of my live music had come from festivals such as the Bite Of Seattle or Bumbershoot, but I was taken to a Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem concert in my youth and I did get to see the Beach Boys perform after a Mariners game (but that is a different story). In many ways though, Siouxsie And The Banshees was my first concert. It was the first time I went to a ticket outlet and purchased a concert ticket.
In the later part of 1988 Siouxsie And The Banshees released Peepshow, an album that saw the band branch out musically. A lot of different instruments were used, the production lush, yet it still sounded like the band fans were used to. Not only were the songs played on the radio with regularity there were a number of 12 inch extended versions that sounded good. The band had, it appeared, hit a high watermark in their career.
“Peek A Boo” (Album version)
“Peek A Boo (Silver Dollar Mix)”
Attending the concert, however, was a different experience. The opening act was late, and it wasn’t much of an opening act – just some sort of magician guy. He would have been fine had he started on time and the headlining act taken the stage immediately afterwards. Not only did he start well after the advertised start time on the ticket, it was almost an hour after he finished his set before Siouxsie And The Banshees took the stage.
“The Killing Jar” (Album version)
“The Killing Jar (Lepidopteristic Mix)”
By the time Siouxsie And The Banshees started the crowd was already upset. A lot was forgiven with the stellar songs, but something didn’t sit right with me. There was a detachment about Siouxsie’s stage presence, almost as if she were performing in front of a mirror. Not once did she acknowledge the audience. Was she strung out on drugs? Was she simply fulfilling a contractual obligation? Whatever the answer the experience left a bad taste in my mouth, so much so that I was put off of the band for a number of years.
Of course I bought the T-shirt at the concert. I have since lost it. I’d like to find it again. It won’t be the same because I wouldn’t be getting it at the concert, but still.
I walked out of the concert venue greatly disappointed, but it didn’t put me off live music. It would be a while before I listened to Siouxsie And The Banshees again, even the albums I already owned and liked. When new music from the band came out I didn’t pay as much attention to it – and the announcement of their appearance on the inaugural Lollapalooza tour actually made me not wish to attend. A decision I regret in retrospect.
Looking back, after I made my peace with the experience and getting back into the band’s music shortly before they broke up, I wish I had gotten the chance to see Siouxsie And The Banshees one more time. What happened that night in Santa Cruz may have been a fluke. Maybe it was indicative of where the band was actually at with regards to their stage presence. Regardless, the bottom line is the band leaves behind a legacy of some great music. Peepshow is a great record, and despite the lousy concert, it remains perhaps my favorite Siouxsie And The Banshees album.