Siouxsie and the Banshees Newcastle City Hall 18th August 1981

Siouxsie and the Banshees Newcastle City Hall 18th August 1981
siouxsietixaug81Five months later and the Banshees were back at the City Hall again, this time with a new album “JuJu”. “JuJu” was one of their most successful releases, receiving positive reviews in the music press, and a favourite with fans. Siouxise, interviewed in Sounds magazine at the time: “I rate Aretha Franklin, Nico, really like Yoko Ono’s voice…I have to hark back. Still think Jim Morrison’s got the best ’singing corpse’ voice. I want our gigs, records or whatever – to stand out as an event, to be remembered, talked about – or affect somebody after they’ve heard or seen us…You can’t listen to it as background music…it needs involvement from the listener to work properly, and that involvement sometimes brings out good things in people.” siouxsieprogoct81
1981 was another successful year for the Banshees in terms of singles, with “Spellbound” and “Arabian Knights” both making the UK charts. Siouxsie had transformed from the cold “ice queen of punk” into the “Mother of Goth” and the “The Woman Of A Thousand Costumes” and wild hair.
In concert the band were as impressive and stunning as ever.
I think the support for the City Hall concert may have been Linton Kwesi Johnson?
Setlist: Israel; Halloween; Spellbound; Placebo Effect; Pulled to Bits; Tenant; Night Shift; Sin in My Heart; So Unreal; Voodoo Dolly; Christine; Head Cut; Arabian Knights; Eve White/Eve Black. Encore: Happy House; Monitor
I loved the new material, you could lose yourself in the mad, swirling, trance-like madness of it all. But I also longed to see them play some of the older songs; Metal Postcard, Helter Skelter or Love in a Void; any of them would have made the show just perfect for me.

6 responses to this post.

  1. John RM's avatar

    Posted by John RM on September 7, 2020 at 8:15 pm

    Definitely LKJ as support. “Monitor” was best song of the night

    Reply

  2. Terry Jennings's avatar

    Posted by Terry Jennings on February 28, 2024 at 2:25 pm

    I was at a record signing before that gig. Was it on that day or before the Tuesday I just can’t remember. Anyway thet band did sign everything I gave them. Siouxsie “christ how much you got there?” me a lot.

    Reply

    • vintagerock's avatar

      Posted by vintagerock on February 28, 2024 at 2:28 pm

      Sounds great Terry. Hope you kept them. Happy days. I have a signed print by Siouxsie which I bought from her website. But not the same as getting it signed by the lady herself. Respect my friend Peter

      Reply

      • Terry Jennings's avatar

        Posted by Terry Jennings on February 28, 2024 at 2:37 pm

        I’m in the middle of selling all my stuff and was trying to get clarification of the record signing. I want to give the buyer some actual record of where and when I got it done. I did meet them on other occasions after that and they said “no more stuff” 🤣🤣🤣. But they still signed for me😌😁

      • vintagerock's avatar

        Posted by vintagerock on February 28, 2024 at 5:39 pm

        Authentication is the key my friend. You need as you say a record of when and where you bought each item. Ideally you should have a photograph of you with Siouxsie signing the item 🙂 good luck Peter

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