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Nocturne

by Siouxsie and the Banshees

Released: November 25, 1983

Post-punk

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Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Lineup Change.

The Album

This marked the beginning of a friendship between the two bands. It also features a few B-sides, such as "Pulled to Bits" and "Eve White/Eve Black," as well as a live version of the Beatles' song "Dear Prudence." This song had been recorded earlier in the year in Stockholm and released as a single in September 1983. In 2024, Nocturne was remastered and cut at half speed at Abbey Road studios.

Inside the Recording

Co-produced by Mike Hedges, Nocturne features performances recorded at two shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London, on 30 September and 1 October 1983, with Robert Smith of The Cure on guitar.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

"Nocturne" is a live double album and video…

"Nocturne" is a live double album and video by the English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released on 25 November 1983 by Polydor Records.

In late 1982, after guitarist John McGeoch left…

In late 1982, after guitarist John McGeoch left the band before their A Kiss in the Dreamhouse tour, Steven Severin invited Smith to join the Banshees for their British and European tour.

The album primarily includes material from the band's…

The album primarily includes material from the band's 1981 album Juju and their 1982 album A Kiss in the Dreamhouse.

The music heard before "Israel" is an excerpt…

The music heard before "Israel" is an excerpt from Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring (1913).

It was reissued on double vinyl with new…

It was reissued on double vinyl with new artwork and a fold-out poster for Record Store Day, distributed worldwide via independent websites.

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Siouxsie and the Banshees - Nocturne

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The Complete Album Story

"Nocturne" is a live double album and video by the English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released on 25 November 1983 by Polydor Records. Co-produced by Mike Hedges, Nocturne features performances recorded at two shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London, on 30 September and 1 October 1983, with Robert Smith of The Cure on guitar.

The album primarily includes material from the band's 1981 album Juju and their 1982 album A Kiss in the Dreamhouse. It also features a few B-sides, such as "Pulled to Bits" and "Eve White/Eve Black," as well as a live version of the Beatles' song "Dear Prudence." This song had been recorded earlier in the year in Stockholm and released as a single in September 1983. The music heard before "Israel" is an excerpt from Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring (1913).

In 2024, Nocturne was remastered and cut at half speed at Abbey Road studios. It was reissued on double vinyl with new artwork and a fold-out poster for Record Store Day, distributed worldwide via independent websites.

Background and release

Siouxsie and the Banshees had performed live with Robert Smith on guitar in September and October 1979 when Smith and his band, The Cure, supported the Banshees on tour. This marked the beginning of a friendship between the two bands. In late 1982, after guitarist John McGeoch left the band before their A Kiss in the Dreamhouse tour, Steven Severin invited Smith to join the Banshees for their British and European tour. In 1983, after touring Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, and with the release of the "Dear Prudence" single, Smith officially became a member of the band. The live recordings for Nocturne were made in London a few weeks later.

The album was released in late November 1983. A video version of Nocturne was issued on VHS the same year and later remastered for a DVD release in 2006. The DVD features bonus content including the Play at Home TV special from 1983, the "Dear Prudence" music video, and performances from The Old Grey Whistle Test. The album was remastered and reissued on CD in 2009.