Siouxsie and the Banshees — 100 Club Punk Festival Debut, London

On September 20, 1976, Siouxsie and the Banshees performed their first-ever concert on the second night of the 100 Club Punk Festival on Oxford Street. Siouxsie Sioux and bass player Steve Severin had assembled the group at very short notice, reportedly recruiting Sid Vicious on drums and Marco Pirroni on guitar. Their set — a lengthy improvisation that reportedly incorporated a version of "The Lord's Prayer" — was chaotic and confrontational, drawing bewilderment and fascination from the crowd in equal measure. It is now regarded as one of the most mythologised debuts in British punk history.

Siouxsie Sioux (Susan Janet Ballion) was born in Chislehurst in the London Borough of Bromley, and she and Steve Severin were part of the "Bromley Contingent" — the group of Sex Pistols fans that became fixtures of London's early punk scene. After their improvised 100 Club debut, Siouxsie and the Banshees assembled a proper lineup and developed one of the most influential post-punk sounds, blending tribal drumming, gothic atmosphere, and Siouxsie's extraordinary voice across albums like The Scream (1978), Juju (1981), and Peepshow (1988).

The 100 Club at 100 Oxford Street has operated continuously since 1942 and remains one of London's most historic live music venues. The September 1976 Punk Festival — which also featured The Clash, The Jam, The Buzzcocks, and Subway Sect — is regarded as a defining moment in British music history. The club continues to host performances and is widely considered a living piece of London music heritage.