Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Prepare to be chilled to the bone by the screaming wails of a right bunch of Banshees.
I'll be the first to admit that frequently this feature throws up a right load of old cobblers. This week is different though. There are some good ones. Honest!
THE BANSHEES #1
We start with these California high school students who formed a band called The Black Knights in 1962, changing their name to The Banshees two years later when they found a lead singer. They continued playing together, with some membership changes, throughout the 60s under a number of different names, including The Aerial, Kensington Forest and Gypsum Heaps.
THE BANSHEES #2
From Belfast in 1965 - well, it's good to have some actual Irish Banshees on here, even if they sound more like they come from Nashville. Nothing wrong with that, of course. Male and female vocals provided by Dinkie O'Day and Mel Austin respectively, with Dave "Tiger" Taylor on bass. Grrr!
THE BANSHEES #3
Released in June 1966, the only single from these Chicago-born Banshees sounds like it belongs ten years later. The term "proto-punk" is used in a couple of the texts I read, and it's clear this is considered quite an influential tune, even if it is their only surviving recording (except the b-side, which was a more typical 60s ballad). They broke up the following year.
THE BANSHEES #4
Banshees traditionally herald the death of a loved one, so that could explain why Scottish folk singer Matt McGinn chose this particular backing band for his 1971 charity single, from which all proceeds were donated to the Lord Provost of Glasgow's Ibrox Disaster Fund.
THE BANSHEES #5
The Banshees most people know come with the addition of one Susan Janet Ballion, aka Siouxsie Sioux... and in fact, she was the only constant member from their formation as a scrappy post-punk band in 1976 through their epic world-conquering goth-pop high in the late 80s / early 90s, to their eventual dissolution in 1996. To quote Paul Morley...
They sneaked hell into the pop charts, as well as a brittle, opulent heaven and a jarring lewdness. Considering their song topics included mental illness, medical terrors, surreal diseases, depraved urges, sinister intensity, unearthly energy, sexual abuse, childhood disturbances, sordid mysteries, unbearable nervous anxiety, fairytale fears, urban discontent and the bleak dignity of solitude, it was astonishing that they ended up as much as anything else a sublime singles band.
Whether they get your vote or not, I think we can all agree that they epitomise the Banshee ideal better than any other band here today.
THE BANSHEES #6
The Banshees - Tired Old Men
Liverpudlian Banshees formed in 2018, featuring singer/songwriter Vinny Pereira and guitarist Paul Anthony Holligan (not pictured).
THE BANSHEES #7
Female-fronted Canadian Banshees from 2010.
"If you've ever been abandoned via highlighter note you'll understand this one."
BANSHEES #8
Back to Ireland to meet these shouty Irish Banshees from 2014...
Know him by his name
Know him by his number
Know him as your shame,
And point the blame at mother
THE BANSHEES #9
It's 2016 now, and here are two young ladies - one from Florida, one from Pennsylvania - with an ode to the former Alec Holland...
THE BANSHEES #10
"Harking back to the club scenes of the 90s - panic, punk and angst all mixed up into a journey of the mind." They sound a bit like Reverend & The Makers to me.
You can buy their full digital discography for just six quid on the Camp of Bands.
THE BANDSHES #11
See what they did there?
An indie folk trio from Hartford, Connecticut - this one's from 2019.
THE BANSHEES #12
Today's final offering comes from these "Contemporary and Traditional Irish Folk Balladeers" all the way from the good old US of A.
Which Banshees leave you howling with delight?
Here's my favourite...
