Steven Severin
September 25, 1955 — London, England
Steven Severin is an English songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer best known as the co-founder and bassist of the pioneering post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees. Born Steven John Bailey, he adopted his stage name from a character in Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's fiction, referenced in the Velvet Underground song 'Venus in Furs.' Over a career spanning more than four decades, he helped shape the sound of British post-punk before reinventing himself as a solo instrumental composer and live scorer of silent films.
Early Life and the Birth of the Banshees
Steven John Bailey was born on September 25, 1955, in England, and grew up immersed in the London music scene of the mid-1970s. Like many future post-punk musicians, he was galvanized by the raw energy of the Sex Pistols, whom he encountered as part of the loose collective of fans and hangers-on later dubbed the 'Bromley Contingent.' It was within this circle that he met Susan Ballion, later known as Siouxsie Sioux, and in 1976 the two joined forces to form Siouxsie and the Banshees. Taking the stage name 'Severin' from a masochistic character in Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's writing—famously invoked in the Velvet Underground's 'Venus in Furs'—he signaled early on an artistic sensibility drawn to darker, literary, and cinematic influences. Though he had limited formal training, Severin taught himself bass guitar and quickly developed a melodic, often unconventional playing style that avoided standard rock clichés. His partnership with Siouxsie Sioux proved to be the band's constant core, as the Banshees cycled through numerous other members, including guitarists and drummers, over the following two decades.
Siouxsie and the Banshees and the Glove
As the sole other founding member alongside Siouxsie Sioux to remain with the band throughout its entire run, Severin was instrumental in shaping the Banshees' evolving sound, from the abrasive intensity of their 1978 debut 'The Scream' to the more atmospheric and expansive work of later albums like 'Juju' and 'Hyaena.' His bass lines provided much of the band's melodic backbone, often taking on a lead role that distinguished the group from their post-punk contemporaries. He also contributed significantly to songwriting and production decisions throughout the band's career. In 1983, seeking a creative outlet outside the Banshees, Severin teamed up with Robert Smith of the Cure to form the short-lived side project the Glove. The duo released a single album, 'Blue Sunshine,' which blended psychedelic textures with dark, atmospheric pop and featured vocalist Jeanette Landray. The project allowed Severin to experiment with production techniques and songwriting approaches he would later expand upon in his solo career. Siouxsie and the Banshees continued recording and touring until their split in 1996, closing out one of post-punk's most influential and enduring bodies of work.
Did You Know?
Steven Severin took his stage name from a masochistic character in Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's writings, a reference he encountered through the Velvet Underground song 'Venus in Furs'—a fitting origin for a musician whose work often explored dark, literary, and cinematic themes.
Solo Career, Silent Films, and Legacy
Following the Banshees' dissolution in 1996, Severin launched his own record label, RE:, through which he released a series of instrumental albums exploring ambient, electronic, and cinematic soundscapes. Freed from the conventions of pop songwriting, he pursued a more experimental and atmospheric musical direction, often distributing his work directly to fans via his official website rather than through traditional record deals. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Severin became known for distinctive live performances in which he composed and performed music over screenings of silent films, merging his longtime fascination with cinema and horror aesthetics with his instrumental compositions. This work extended his reputation beyond his post-punk roots, positioning him as a serious film-score composer and sound artist. Severin's influence endures through the Banshees' catalog, which shaped generations of alternative and goth-adjacent musicians, and through his own continued output as a solo artist. His willingness to reinvent himself creatively—from post-punk bassist to independent instrumental composer—reflects a career defined by artistic curiosity rather than commercial convention.
