Re:
online label Expect the unexpected |
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20 years in the music business with Siouxsie and the Banshees had provided Steven Severin with sufficient insight as to set up his own independent record label in the late 1990ies. Re:, as it is called, is meant to be a playground for Steven's own projects and like-minded experimental artists. Though Steven Severin's online label Re: and American publishers Re/Search have chosen a very similar company name, they are by no means affiliated. On the other hand, they have a lot in common: Re/Search founder Vale started his company in the late 1970ies when the first Punk wave flooded the USA, while Steven Severin (born Steven Bailey) started his career in 1977 when he and Susan Dallion (better known as Siouxsie Sioux) formed Siouxsie and the Banshees. Siouxsie and Steven had been dedicated followers of the Sex Pistols when they came out, and soon decided to have a go for themselves. The original Banshees were Steven on bass, Pete Fenton on guitar and Kenneth Morris on drums. Pete was soon to be replaced by John Mc Geoch, and the band played quite a couple of concerts. Come 1978, Siouxsie and the Banshees were signed by major label Polydor and released their first record, the single "Hong Kong Garden". Surprisingly, this song turned out to be a real success and even made it to the Top 10 singles charts in the UK. When Kenneth and then guitarist John Mc Kay deserted the Banshees, in came drummer Peter Clarke (aka Budgie, formerly with Punk outfit Slits) and - temporarily - Robert Smith, who had just left The Cure. Follow-up records "Kaleidoscope" and "Juju" proved to be very successful albums, and after that, the Banshee family temporarily split in two for some extra band projects. First of all, Siouxsie and Budgie
formed The Creatures, a rather oddball offspring. Steven and Robert, on
the other hand, answered with their project The Glove and a record, "Blue
Sunshine". The core group, Siouxsie and the Banshees, continued churning
out successful records and had quite a couple of singles in the UK charts,
notably two cover versions: "Dear Prudence" (by The Beatles) and "Wheel's
on Fire", originally penned by Bob Dylan. Occasional personnel changes
took place, but Steven and Budgie remained part of the Banshees. By the
late 1980ies, Siouxsie and the Banshees had turned into a successful band,
but always trying to push themselves forward rather than sell out and
do a routine job. This kept them a loyal following until the band split
up in 1996. |
Steven Severin
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