Hello, and welcome back for day 7 of the Halloween Countdown! We’ve arrived at Number 14, and you just cannot have a spooky song countdown without at least one tune by the Queen of The Goths, Siouxsie Sioux. While there are many choice songs to work with in her catalog, I think this best defines the creepy factor that I’m going for.
Number 14: Siouxsie & The Banshees – Eve White Eve Black
Siouxsie & The Banshees first formed in London in 1976. While they were initially associated with the punk scene, they had a lasting impression on new wave, goth rock, trip-hop, synth rock, and alternative rock. Siouxsie was the premier female example of punk rock when I first heard them, and her makeup skills were much copied in my group of pals.
“Eve White Eve Black” hails from the Nocturne album. Released in 1983, this is a live double album recorded at Albert Hall with none other than Robert Smith of the Cure playing guitar. Ostensibly about the schizophrenic woman portrayed by Joanne Woodward in The Three Faces of Eve, it showcases Siouxsie’s vocal ability to go from sweet and pure to howling and psychotic. Perfect for this countdown!
I saw them perform live in 1991, at the first Lollapalooza tour, which was a helluva show. Even though it was meltingly hot and sunny out, Siouxsie & The Banshees put on a performance I will always remember. So, of course I had to dig up the video of them playing this tune live.
From Albert Hall, with Robert Smith on guitar, here are Siouxsie & The Banshees with “Eve White Eve Black.” Enjoy!
The Countdown
- 20) Eels – Fresh Blood
- 19) Squirrel Nut Zippers – Hell
- 18) Tom Waits – Whistlin’ Past The Graveyard
- 17) Donovan – Season Of The Witch
- 16) Jeremy Messersmith – Organ Donor
- 15) Neville Brothers – Voodoo
- 14) Siouxsie & The Banshees – Eve White Eve Black