Siouxsie Sioux

Susan Janet Ballion (born May 27, 1957) is better known by her stage name, Siouxsie Sioux (pronounced "Suzy Sue"). Born in London, Siouxsie was the lead singer of Siouxsie & the Banshees, an influential, London-based punk/goth band. She is also the lead singer of another band, The Creatures. Siouxsie often uses the assumed name Susan Dallion so that her mother won't get so many telephone calls from fans.

Early life

Siouxsie Sioux, was born Susan Janet Ballion, the youngest of three children, at Guy's Hospital, in South London to a bilingual mother and alcoholic father. She attended Mottingham Secondary Modern School for Girls in Kent.

Related Topics:
London - Kent

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The Ballions had met in the Belgian Congo. She was a French-speaking secretary; he a laboratory technician who milked serum from poisonous snakes.

Related Topics:
Belgian Congo - French

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When Susan was 14 her father died from alcoholism. At age 15, she survived a life-threatening illness known as ulcerative colitis, an experience she described later as "surreal." Later she stated that "it completely de-romanticised the body for me," which possibly added to her attraction to bondage type outfits.

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While growing up, Susan was often left to look after herself as best as she was able in an undisciplined atmosphere. Even before his death, her father's alcoholism kept him incapacitated, forcing her mother to work full time. Homelife was wild and untamed. Even the garden at their home north of Petts Wood grew into a jungle, with high hedges and rambling roses, until the neighbours ganged up and complained, insisting the Ballions prune their hedges.

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